Auction of Gatewick House items ‘exceeded sale expectations’

Sir Edward Burne-Jones items were sold off this week…

Works passed down through the family of one of the greatest artistic figures of the 19^th century, the Pre-Raphaelite painter and designer, Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898), exceeded expectations on Wednesday (Oct 16) when the contents of Gatewick House in Sussex were offered for auction.

The works came from the Yorke family, who purchased the historic manor house in 1953, when David Yorke (1919-1997) married Anne Mackail (1922-1984), the great-granddaughter of Edward Burne-Jones.

Joe Robinson, Dreweatts Head of House Sales & Collections:

“Sir Edward Burne Jones-remains an iconic figure in the world of art, therefore it has been a privilege to present works which had such a personal connection to him. It is collections like those at Gatewick which, when unlocked for sale, create an excitement for collectors who are compelled by objects which tell a historic narrative. We are delighted with the results”

Among the works was a bird pattern textile hanging by the famed English designer and artist William Morris (1834-1896), a lifelong friend of Burne-Jones, which sold for £6,048 against a pre-sale low estimate of £2,000 (lot 312).

Burne-Jones and William Morris met as undergraduates at Oxford in 1853 and dedicated their lives to the arts, becoming hugely successful both in their own right and in their collaborative projects. Burne-Jones designed furniture, tapestries, stained glass, jewellery, theatre sets and fine art, which would lead to him becoming an associate of the Royal Academy in 1885. Morris founded the furnishings and decorative arts company Morris & Co. which focused on the Medieval aesthetic, with hand craftsmanship and traditional textile arts as its main focus.

Both artists would have a profound effect on interior decoration and the decorative arts and still do to this day, with Morris designs still offered by Sanderson & Sons and Liberty of London.