THE SELECTED CONTENTS OF DYKES HILL HOUSE, MASHAM, NORTH YORKSHIRE, FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF THE 2nd EARL AND COUNTESS OF SWINTON AND SOLD ON THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE 4th EARL AND FAMILY AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE LORD SWINTON WILL TRUST
The Swinton Sale, which will include a selection of fine English and Continental Furniture, Paintings, Sculpture, Chinese Works of Art, Silver, Meissen, Sèvres, Books and Objects d’Art from one of Yorkshire’s most important landed estates, will be held at Tennants Auctioneers, North Yorkshire, on 13th September.
The Swinton Estate which spans approximately 20,000 acres encompasses some of the most beautiful landscape in North Yorkshire and has been in the ownership of the Cunliffe-Lister family since the 1880s. The Earl of Swinton is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1955 for the prominent Conservative politician Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Viscount Swinton. The 1st Earl, who was a close friend of Sir Winston Churchill, was succeeded by his grandson in 1972 because his son, Major the Hon. John Yarburgh Cunliffe-Lister lost his life whilst serving his country in the Second World War. The 2nd Earl, David Yarburgh Cunliffe-Lister, notably served as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard and deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords under Margaret Thatcher from 1982 to 1986. In 1959 the 2nd Earl became engaged to Susan Sinclair, the daughter of Sir Ronald Sinclair of Dunbeath Bt. Shortly before their marriage, Susan, the future Lady Masham, suffered a life changing injury when she was thrown from her horse causing her to be paralysed from the waist down.
Undeterred by this tragic accident the marriage went ahead and was widely reported in the national press. The newly married couple proceeded to design and build a spectacular house not far from Swinton Park to accommodate Lady Masham’s injury, which became the family seat and was named Dykes Hill House. The 2nd Earl died in 2006 and his widow Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Countess of Swinton, Baroness Masham of Ilton, DL, continued to lead a full life as a British crossbench member of the House of Lords. Amongst her many achievements, she was a former Paralympic athlete and was also the founder and lifelong President of the Spinal Injuries Association. She died on 12th March 2023.
Whilst a number of the chattels have been retained by the family, the remaining contents of Dykes Hill House provide a rare glimpse of what epitomises the quintessential taste of the English aristocracy. Amongst the many items included in the sale are a pair of William IV Silver Candelabra by John Houle (estimate: £8,000-12,000 all figures exclude buyer’s premium), which belonged to the former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, and spectacular painting depicting a view of Santa Maria della Salute at the entrance to the Grand Canal in Venice, attributed to a Follower of Bernardo Bellotto (estimate: £7,000-10,000). There are finely mounted pieces of Chinese ormolu porcelain acquired by Samuel Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Baron Masham of Swinton, around 1890 for Swinton Park. There is also a handsome Charles II Black Japanned Cabinet on Stand highlighted with gilt decoration dating from the late 17th century (estimate: £3,000-5,000) and a highly chased William IV Silver-Gilt Kettle on Stand by Paul Storr (£6,000-8.000), and a George II Silver-Gilt Cup and Cover, presented to Lt. Co. Thornton Sn by the non-commissioned officers and soldiers serving under him in the Yorkshire Regiment in 1795 (estimate: £4,000). Of historical interest are a George VI Silver Seal Matrix of the Duchy of Lancaster and a George VI Silver Seal Matrix of the County Palatine of Lancaster, which belonged to Philip Cunliffe-Lister, Viscount Swinton and later 1st Earl of Swinton, who held the position of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (estimate: £3,000-5,000 each). As tradition dictated, holders of this office were presented with the official seals on the death of the monarch.
Overall, this sale offers an exceptional opportunity to acquire works of art that have been collected over many years with taste and foresight.
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