Auction Preview: Top 5 Highlights from Our May Fine Art & Antiques Auction

Top 5 Highlights from Our Upcoming May Fine Art & Antiques Auction

The catalogues for our two-day May Fine Art & Antiques Auction are officially live, and our specialists couldn’t be more excited. Broadcasting and bidding live from our Bath saleroom (BA1 7LR) on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th May, this sale brings together some of the most extraordinary 19th-century European porcelain, stunning cold-painted bronzes, rare botanical natural history, and a heavily featured section of fine vintage wines.

Whether you plan to join us in person, secure a phone line, or place your bids live online, our team has combed through the lots to bring you the top five standout items you should watch closely when the gavel falls.

1. The Room-Stopper: A 19th Century Meissen Group Figure of Diana & Endymion (Lot 23)

• Estimate: £1,000 - £2,000

• Why We Love It: This spectacular, hand-painted porcelain group figure is the definition of Meissen artistry at its zenith. Depicting the classical mythological figures Diana and Endymion, the piece is remarkably complex, with intricate drapery, expressive modeling, and delicate hand-painted details that have survived beautifully. It is expected to draw major attention from serious continental porcelain collectors.

• Honourable mentions in this category include Lot 28 (Sultan Riding an Elephant) and Lot 33 (The School of Love), both sharing the same premier estimate.

2. The Historical Portraiture: John & Johanna Engledue Marital Miniature Pair (Lot 16)

• Estimate: £800 - £1,500

• Why We Love It: Johanna's portrait depicts her wearing a necklace featuring John's miniature - something we've never seen before! With full provenance and housed in custom made bound leather cases. 

3. The Masterpiece Bronze: Franz Bergman's "Slave Trader & Odalisque" (Lot 12)

• Estimate: £800 - £1,200

• Why We Love It: Franz Bergman is world-renowned for his mastery of Austrian cold-painted bronze, and this large, highly dramatic figure study perfectly demonstrates why his works remain globally coveted. The texture, contrast, and preservation of the cold-painted pigments on this piece are exceptional.

• Be sure to also look at Lot 31 (Arab Rider with Gun) and Lot 80 (Running Arab Soldier), which also showcase Bergman's legendary work with estimates of £700 - £1,000.

4. The Fine Art Masterpiece: John Piper (1903-1992) – "Brighton Aquatints" (Lot 500)

• Estimate: £2,500 - £4,000

• Why We Love It: Leading our fine art category is a spectacular set of 12 limited-edition aquatints by the legendary British modernist John Piper. Sourced from a highly exclusive run of just 50 copies, these prints showcase Piper's unmistakable architectural drama and mastery of tone. This lot represents a premier acquisition opportunity for 20th-century British art investors.

5. The Regional Masterworks: The Kenneth Webb Bristol & Bath Oil Series (Lots 278, 302, 313, 319)

• Estimate: £1,500 - £2,500 each

• Why We Love It: We are incredibly proud to present a stunning series of oil on canvas paintings by Kenneth Webb (b. 1927). Capturing beloved local landscapes with exceptional texture and color palette, the lots include Georgian Bristol (Lot 278), Old Houses Near Sally Lunn's, Bath (Lot 302), Christmas Steps, Bristol (Lot 313), and A Bristol Pub (Lot 319). They offer a beautiful intersection of high-caliber fine art and deep local heritage.

How to Take Part in the Sale

In Person - turn up to our Bath saleroom (BA1 7LR) on the day. Doors open from 9am, auction starts at 10am. 

Online - bid live online right here. 

Telephone - contact us to arrange telephone bids.

Absentee - contact us to arrange commission / absentee bidding.

Good luck to all our bidders!