Dick Turpin rides again: Five highlights coming up at a Sworders auction
04 January 2024 This month Sworders hosts asale of items from the colourful figure Maurice Turpin – known to his friends at Dick.
This bronze portrait of Lilian Shelley, an artist's model, music hall entertainer and cabaret singer in London during the 1910s and 20s, is the work of celebrated British artist Sir Jacob Epstein (1880-1959) and has an estimate of £2000-3000.
Though not to be confused with the 18th-century highwayman, the British dealer was a colourful figure in his own right. Sporting a pair of thick glasses and his signature walrus moustache, he made himself known at the many auctions he attended congratulating his friends and heckling his rivals with each major lot. He is remembered as a major figure from the heyday of British antique furniture dealing.
He died in 2005 and his commercial stock was sold off in two sales at Christie’s titled The Legend of Dick Turpin. This sale comprises the contents of his Barons Keep residence, which housed hundreds of examples of furniture, works of art and paintings from Europe and Asia.
Though there are plenty of examples of large pieces of furniture included in the sale, some of the most delightful objects are the smallest. Take this early 20th-century Russian malachite trinket box, which is estimated at £300-500.
These four pietra dura panels probably come from 19th century Florence. They are of various sizes and each depict fruit – suitably enough for Turpin, whose father was a fruit seller.
This George III Blue John urn, made at a time when the material was prized and widely produced, is offered with an estimate of £500-800.
Scottish artist James Tassie (1735-99) was a gem engraver and modeller remembered for his miniature medallion heads of the rich and famous. He also sold a number of ‘Tassie casts’ or engraved medallions for collectors. This collection of glass relief portraits depict Admiral Karl Howe (twice), James Tansel, Admiral Lord Duncan, plus an unidentified portrait. The collection of miniatures has an estimate of £800-1200.
