A large private collection of fine Asian art, valued between £80,000-£140,000, will be sold by Newcastle auctioneers Anderson & Garland on the 6th 7th and 8th September 2016. The collection belonged to George Yuille Caldwell who was born at Crook, Co. Durham in 1924 and lived for most of his adult life in Singapore where he practiced as a doctor.
Fred Wyrley Birch Specialist at Anderson & Garland said “This very important sale represents a life time of collecting by one man. Dr George Yuille Caldwell had an exceptional eye for detail and many of items in the sale are of museum quality.”
Included in the sale is a rare pair of celadon jade quatrefoil wine cup stands, valued at £8,000-£12,000, a Wucai ‘dragon and phoenix’ box and cover thought to date from the 16th century, the cover has two dragons chasing a flaming pearl amidst clouds, estimate £5,000-£8,000.
There is also a blue and white ‘dragon’ scribe’s box though to date from the 16th century valued at £5,000-£8,000. A pale ‘lavender’ jade bowl valued at £2,000-£3,000 and a jade ‘dragon and phoenix’ ruyi scepter valued at £2,000-£3,000.
Dr George Yuille Caldwell was educated at Durham School and joined Newcastle Medical School in 1941. He interrupted his studies in 1943 when he volunteered for the Royal Navy and served in the Mediterranean until demobilisation in 1946. He then returned to Newcastle to complete his medical studies and qualified in 1951. After stints in various hospitals around the North East he made a voyage to the Far East as a ship’s doctor on a passenger / cargo ship belonging to Glen Line. In 1958 he applied for and was accepted for a position with Dr. Bain and partners, medical practitioners, in Singapore where he remained until his death earlier this year.
Mr John Caldwell, Dr George Yuille Caldwell’s nephew said “My uncle was passionate about his collection of porcelain and jade, he collected and bought things that he liked on his travels around the Far East. It is with sadness that we have decided to sell, but there are so many beautiful and rare items in the collection, we felt that it was important that they should be passed on to someone who would love and cherish them as much as my uncle did.”
Fred Wyrley Birch, Specialist at Anderson & Garland added “The items are in incredible condition, with some dating from the 16thcentury. They have been beautifully looked after and with the buoyant Asian Art market we think they will do well. We have already had a great deal of interest from around the world, from Chinese collectors in particular.”
The sale will take place at Anderson & Garland’s Newcastle auction rooms on the 6th 7th and 8th September 2016.