Christie's to handle Nick Gifford-Mead's scaling-down sale

Above: A George III Carved and Gilded Wood Chimneypiece In the manner of Thomas Johnson, circa 1760. The jambs and frieze with tenuous rococo ornament, mounted on a later painted panel, with statuary marble slips 53in. (136cm.) high; 64in (162.5cm) wide; the opening 44in. (113cm.) high x 40in. (101.5cm.) wide. Estimate: £15,000-20,000


London UK -

Thursday 29 October, 10.30am
Christie’s South Kensington

NICHOLAS Gifford-Mead started dealing in architectural antiques over thirty-five years ago and has been specialising in fire furniture, particularly in chimneypieces, ever since. Adopting the fundamental ethos that the stock must be original or sympathetically restored to realise it's true form, Nicholas travels extensively to source his stock in order to furnish some of the most prestigious houses in Great Britain and abroad, and Christie’s South Kensington is proud to be the next venue to be supplied with a selection of this stock which will be for sale in October 2009.

With estimates ranging from £500 to £50,000, an extensive collection of fine English and European chimney pieces, fire backs, andirons, shovels, tongs, fenders and sculpture will be on offer, comprising of approximately 170 lots, all of which embody Nicholas’ astute eye and unsurpassed depth of understanding, knowledge and interest in the field. Dealing in some of the best architectural items to be found from both the British Isles and abroad, Nicholas Gifford-Mead prides itself on the originality and provenance of its pieces which combined with a distinguished individual taste make for a compelling auction of architectural antiques.

Highlights include the simple elegance and restrained rococo style of a George III carved and gilded wood chimney piece (estimate: £15,000-20,000) alongside the grandeur of a large Italian stone chimney piece with armorial overmantle (estimate: £4,000-6,000); complemented by a selection of fire irons including a George III steel and brass set (estimate: £1,200-1,800) with with ball-knop finials and the shovel blade pierced with lattie ornament and a range of elegant fire grates including a large polished steel and cast iron fire grate in the George III style (estimate: £3,000-5,000) – all of which would add the perfect finishing touch to any home this winter.


Above: A Set of George III Steel And Brass Fire Irons. Late 18th century. With ball-knop finials, the shovel blade pierced with lattice ornament. Estimate: £1,200-1,800


Above: A Large Polished Steel and Cast Iron Fire Grate. In the George III style, late 19th or early 20th century. Of serpentine outline, the railed basket flanked by foliate engraved panels, above a fluted pierced fret within tapering standards applied with paterae bosses and surmounted by urn-shaped finials 32.1/2in. (82.5cm.) high; 34.1/4in. (87cm.) wide; 20in. (51cm.) deep. Estimate: £3,000-5,000


Above: A Large Italian Stone Chimneypiece Armorial Overmantel. Estimate: £4,000-6,000

Christie's plc