Equine art played a major role in the auction, capturing the spirit of Guy Reed’s passion for horse racing. One of the most notable pieces was Harry Hall’s 1882 portrait of the Victorian champion racehorse Adventurer. Hall, renowned as one of the greatest racehorse portraitists of the 19th century, depicted the bay stallion standing proudly in a farmyard. The painting fetched £2,300 under the hammer. Another highlight was Jacqueline Stanhope’s depiction of Reed’s celebrated mare, La Cucaracha, standing on the lawn at Copgrove Hall. Stanhope, considered one of the world’s leading living equine artists, captured the scene with exquisite sensitivity, and the work sold for £800.
The fine furniture from Copgrove Hall also captured bidders’ imaginations, offering an insight into the grand country house lifestyle. A French vitrine, estimated at £2,000–£3,000, sold for £4,300. However, the standout piece was a Robert ‘Mousey’ Thompson adzed oak bench, featuring Thompson’s signature carved mouse motif, which drew competitive bidding and sold for £8,000. Items from Nidd Hall added another layer of historical significance to the sale. A 19th-century rosewood tripod table, possibly by the esteemed furniture makers Gillows, achieved £1,700.
A collection of Edwardian Adam Revival furniture stood out for its green-painted and parcel-gilt designs. A kidney-shaped dressing table, featuring floral painted motifs and urn decorations, along with a matching stool, fetched £1,100, whilst a break-bowfront quadruple wardrobe, adorned with painted panels of maidens and floral garlands, sold for £2,000. The crowning piece from this collection was an exquisite four-poster bed, dressed in silk curtains and featuring a painted panel of maidens leading a chariot holding Eros. This remarkable bed achieved a final price of £9,200, making it one of the top-selling items in the auction.