Lot 1

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF LORD AND LADY WHITE OF HULL SOLD BY THE WHITE TRUST AND LADY WHITE OF HULL Until his death in 1995, Lord White was best known as a daring corporate raider and one of the founders, with Lord Hanson, of Hanson Plc, the great British conglomerate. But Lord White not only collected companies, he was also a passionate collector of European furniture, paintings and silver. While English through and through, he lived a truly international life with homes in Bermuda and Los Angeles. He and his wife, Victoria, a native Californian, created an extraordinary house in Bel Air which combined the informality and comfort of Los Angeles with the grandeur of an English country house. Here, Lord and Lady White grouped some of their finest pieces: a Régence bureau plat attributed to André-Charles Boulle (lot 239) and an exceptional Empire Savonnerie carpet purchased from Christie's (lot 221). Also in this room was a magnificent canvas by Melchior de Hondecoeter (estimate: $400,000-600,000) which will be included in a specialist Old Master Paintings sale on October 16. Born Vincent Gordon Lindsay White in 1923, Lord White served with the élite Special Operations Executive in World War II. He later joined forces with the then James Hanson and together they built Hanson Trust into a formidable international operation. Knighted in 1979, he was made a life peer in 1991. Following his death, his widow has reached the difficult decision to put the collection and house up for sale in order to start a new life. FURNITURE AND OBJECTS OF ART

A PAIR OF MASON'S IRONSTONE BLUE-GROUND LARGE VASES AND COVERS

CIRCA 1820

Details

A PAIR OF MASON'S IRONSTONE BLUE-GROUND LARGE VASES AND COVERS
Circa 1820
Each of octagonal baluster shape with domed covers and gilt dragon handles at the sides and decorated with large gold insects between gilt borders on the rim and footrim
21¼in. (54cm.) high (2)

Provenance

The Estate of Nancy J. Greene, sold Sotheby's New York, 8 December 1989, lot 275