An Award-Winning Decade

Sworders will hold a prestigious anniversary sale on the 19 June marking ten years since the opening of our award-winning saleroom on the edge of Stansted Mountfitchet. 

The creation of what was Europe’s largest straw bale building in it's year of construction was a labour of love for Sworders directors who struggled for five years to be granted planning permission for the project. When work finally began in 2006, craftsmen arrived in Essex from far-afield - the timber frame from Scandinavia and the cedar shingle roof fitted by a team from New Zealand. 

While the total bill was close to £1.7m, the principal building material - ordinary straw bales compressed in a baler - cost a relatively modest £4,000 with much of the workforce provided by trainees keen to learn a valuable new skill. Shortly after opening it's doors, the building won a sustainability award from the RICS.

Over the last decade our beautiful saleroom has been a fitting environment for a series of incredible sales. Highlights include a Dame Barbara Hepworth alabaster sculpture selling for £250,000 in 2012 and an early 16th century oak aumbry cupboard selling for £65,000 in June 2017.

^{Dame Barbara Hepworth DBE (1903-1975) 'Two Rotating Forms II', 1966. Sold for £250,000 plus buyers premium in 2012}

Inviting Entries

We are currently welcoming examples of fine furniture, British and European paintings, silver, clocks and works of art for the sale, to be held on Tuesday 19 June. A number of high calibre lots are already consigned including a pair of George lll coromandel lacquer press cupboards formerly owned by Robert Barclay (1751-1830) of Bury Hill, Dorking (estimate £10,000-15,000) and four pieces of four presentation silver that belonged to Lord Hawke (1860-1938), the former England and Yorkshire cricket captain.

^{The Bury Hill Cabinets, a pair of George lll press cupboards incorporating 17th century lacquer panels. Estimate £10,000-15,000 at Sworders' 10th Anniversary Sale.} 

The closing date for entries is Friday 4 May.

To find out more about the forthcoming sale or to discuss potential consignments, please contact:

Guy Schooling
guyschooling@sworder.co.uk

01279 817778