The lavish contents of an Elizabethan country house that featured one of the world’s finest collection of needlework have sold for more than £1million.
Micheál Feller, a butcher in Oxford, and his wife Elizabeth lived in the fittingly-named Upper Slaughter Manor near Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds countryside for more than 35 years.
They sold their home as part of a downsizing process and gave away almost 1000 items. These included rare embroidery, English furniture, pottery, and paintings.
Two-day auction by Woolley and Wallis featured the Fellers’ collection of over 300 samplers and other needleworks.
It was expected to raise £500,000 but a flurry of interest meant the contents fetched an overall hammer price of £864,000, with extra fees taking the final figure to £1.08million. The needlework collection alone made £268,275.
According to the auctioneers, the Fellers were “over the moon” with the results and several pieces were purchased by significant national or international collections.
The two-day sale made more than £1million and was included a collection of over 300 samplers and needleworks. Pictured: Auctioneer, Mark Yuan-Richards is holding a William IV needlework slave emancipation sampler sold for £2500
Yellow needlework shoes, one of which was held here by auctioneer Emily O’Donnell, sold for £2000 were part of the sale
Micheal Fuller is a trade butcher and Elizabeth his wife have the rightly named Upper Slaughter Manor located in the Cotswolds. They own it since 1985. Pictured: Auctioneer Mark Yuan-Richards holding a Victorian needlework sample that had an estimate of £1,200
The Victorian bedroom includes an early Victorian bed that had a £1,200 estimate and Victorian rosewood armchairs (to the left of the room) that were estimated at between £5,00 and £1,000
A pair of carved marbled angels had an estimate for £6,000 and the columns they’re on had an estimate of £1,500 (left). A 17th century Elizabethan style cupboard had an estimate of £8,000 (right)
The Fullers sold nearly 1,000 items, including rare embroidery, English furniture and pottery, and downsized. Pictured: A china dinner service with an estimate of £500
The sale featured a collection of historical household items known as “Treen”. Treen are small domestic wooden objects, especially antiques.
The panelled room had a George II yew and walnut dresser with drawers which had an estimate of £8,000. There were also three portraits of children from the 1600’s which had estimates of £1,500 each
Auctioneer Yuan-Richards with a 17th Adam and Eve plate that had an estimate of £3,000. Yuan-Richards is pictured with some Manor House items packed into one Woolley and Wallis saleroom.
According to Mr Yuan-Richards, the Fellers were thrilled with the outcome of the sale. The collecting community was equally enthusiastic. Upper Slaughter Manor
The auctioneer added: ‘The success of the auction is largely down to the rarity and extent of the collection that Micheal and Elizabeth have put together over the last few decades. “Several of the pieces are now in significant collections at national and international levels.”
A white marble bird bath (centre) had an estimate of £3,000 and a pair of carved marbled angels (one of them pictured right in the far corner of the room) had an estimate of £6,000
The Manor house featured some of the 300 needlework and samplers from the Fellers collection (left). A 17th century oak settle had an estimate of £5,000 and a portrait of William III (on the wall) had an estimate of £3,000 (right)
Auctioneer Mr Yuan-Richards added: ‘The Fellers were present in the saleroom for both days and, although it was an emotional time for them, they enjoyed watching items they have collected and loved find new homes where they will be similarly appreciated’
A variety of flasks were up for sale, including this picture from the Woolley and Wallis salesroom. The objects helped make more than £1million
There were various pottery pieces in the sale and this oak cupboard that had an estimate of £1,500 (left). You can see the huge collection of needlework hanging in the entire manor.
This stunning staircase adds to Cotswolds’ rustic charm.