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Althorp auction raises more than £21 million
Items from Althorp belonging to the Spencer family in Northamptonshire which were auctioned off at Christie's this week made more than £21m.
Numerous items including old Masters paintings, carriages and other treasures owned by the family fetched a total of 21,076,288 when they went under the hammer at the London auction house.
One of the main lots, a portrait by Sir Peter Paul Rubens entitled A Commander Being Armed for Battle which was painted in the early 17th century, sold for 9,001,250.
A second painting, King David, by 17th-century Italian artist Giovanni Francesco Barbieri fetched 5,193,250 – a record price for the artist at auction.
A group of 19th-century horse-drawn carriages from the Spencer Carriage Collection and valuables from Althorp's attics, stables and cellars also went under the hammer, fetching 2,024,038 for the 757 lots, more than double pre-sale expectations. Lots on sale attracted internet bids from as far afield as Australia, China and Kazakhstan. The Spencer State Chariot sold for 133,250.
The trustees of Althorp Estate said in a statement: "The trustees are pleased that the auctions at Christie's attracted such significant worldwide interest from both collectors and public institutions, and that they realised a total of 21.1m."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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