Antiques from Yelford Manor go under the hammer

The haul was collected over 30 years by former Daily Mail journalist and author Roger Rosewell, 70, and his wife Christine Huddleston, 58, to fill the historic £2m Yelford Manor, near Witney, which they bought in 1984.

The couple moved out of the five-bedroom Tudor manor house to another historic home in Chatham Docks, Kent, last autumn so decided to sell off their collection to start a new one based on the 18th-century Georgian navy.

Mr Rosewell said: “It was a lovely house with some amazing period survivals including fireplaces and panelling.

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“We ended up being able to furnish it in a way that complemented the house, with furniture the same age as the surfaces in the house. You are not going to find this kind of collection anywhere else.”

Items include 16th-century brass ceiling lights and candlesticks, a rare 16th-century elm and oak iron-bound chest and a 17th-century Charles II backstool.

There are also 10 extremely rare 16th-century bronze mortars, used by apothecaries and grocers throughout the early modern period.

One was cast at a foundry in Burford owned by Edward Neale and was made for town resident Francis Keble, who lived in Main Street and traded as a mercer (textile merchant).

• Roger Rosewell and Christine Huddleston are selling the artefacts

Mr Rosewell said: “The Neale family made particularly fine mortars and they were especially well cast.

“The Francis Keble Mortar is the best of them all.”

Bonhams art specialist Megan Wheeler added: “It’s a particularly fine and beautifully, crisply carved mortar.

“It’s unusually big and has very rare handles.”

She added: “It’s a fabulous collection and we are very excited about it.”

Yelford Manor dates from 1499 and was built on Norman foundations.

The house has passed through just five families over the past 1,000 years.

Asked why the couple decided to sell their idyllic home, Mr Rosewell said: “We only have one life. We need to do more things with it than one.

“I wanted a more urban and exciting life and I’ve always been very interested in the Georgian navy so we’re going to start a new collection and fill our home with objects based on it.”

The auction will take place at Bonhams, Banbury Road, Kidlington on Wednesday, January 21.

It will be featured online and is expected to draw buyers from around the globe.

SOME OF THE ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION

1. A pair of rare James I carved oak heraldic finials that date to 1610. These were carved in the shape of wild beasts and bear the coat of arms of the De Warrene family which was extinct by the 17th century, but whose coat of arms was later quartered with that of the Howard families – Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Surrey. The finials were probably used to decorate a grand staircase. £7,000-£10,000.
 

2. A Charles II panel back armchair dating to 1680. £700-£1,000

3. This Charles II mirror dates to 1660. It depicts the three theological virtues: Charity depicted beneath a canopy with children on her lap, Faith depicted by a book and cross, and Hope as an anchor, £6,000-£8,000

4.This rare bronze 16th-century mortar was cast by the Edward Neale foundry in Burford for Mercer Francis Keble, who lived in Main Street. It is exceptionally finely cast with a very rare type of handle. Mortars were used for mixing herbs, spices and dyes. £8,000-£10,000

5. A rare Elizabethan oak joint stool which dates to 1580. £7,000-£10,000

6. This oak and marquetry inlaid tester bed dates to the late 16th century. £8.000-£12,000

7. A rare James I oak panelled armchair dating to the 17th century.  £4,000-£6,000

8. A Charles II Oak refectory table dating to 1660. £4,000-£6,000

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