July auction for The Captain Campbell Collection
It was a discovery of artworks which is already being described as ‘significant.’ More than 300 pieces of art are now set to be auctioned having been found in a secluded Somerset bungalow.
The eclectic collection was quietly and meticulously assembled over decades by distinguished Royal Navy hydrographer and commanding officer, Captain Richard J Campbell OBE.
A Naval hero, Captain Campbell surrounded himself with beautiful paintings, bronzes and art glass to adorn the walls and shelves of his home in the Quantock Hills.
The extent and quality of his collection only recently come to light. It includes more than 135 works produced across three centuries from the early 1800s, showcasing a number of significant pieces.
‘It is rare for one person to embrace such a wide variety of tastes and techniques, from traditional oil and watercolour paintings to contemporary sculpture and art-glass,’ says Duncan Chilcott, Auctioneer.
‘As auctioneers it has been a privilege to curate the Captain Campbell Collection and to play a part in bringing such a significant collection to light.’
Captain Campbell kept details of all his acquisitions since his first purchase in 1962. The paperwork shows that he bought from top-level London fine art galleries – as well as respected West Country dealers from Honiton and Plymouth.
Peter Layton studio ovoid glass bottle. Image: Chilcotts.
Collection includes three paintings by Marcel Dyf
Experts point to four works by English artist Edward Seago and point out that the value of an oil painting from this artist is £20,000 (plus 25% buyers’ premium).
The collection includes three paintings by the French artist, Marcel Dyf. He was greatly inspired by the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements.
Other artists include: William Wyllie, Montague Dawson, Alexandre Louis Jacob, Charles Brooking and Dominic Serres. Common themes include marine and nature, reflecting Campbell’s long naval career and interest in the natural world.
He was just 13 when he became a cadet at BRNC Dartmouth in 1946, serving first on submarines then becoming a specialist in hydrographic surveying. This skill took him around the world including Antarctica aboard the HMS Endurance.
During the Falklands War, Captain Campbell led the conversion of deep ocean survey vessel HMS Hydra into a hospital ship, which transported wounded personnel to Uruguay. For this significant contribution, he was appointed OBE in the 1983 New Year’s Honour’s List.
In later years, he settled in a rural village near Taunton to work at the Hydrographic Office, retiring in 1994 and remaining in his bungalow until his death in 2023.
He was a generous supporter of the creative industries, including commissioning pieces from West Country makers.
Though he had no children of his own, he was close to his two nephews and a niece who lived in South Africa and holidayed in Somerset.
Hamish Mackie impala bronze limited edition. Image: Chilcotts.
Broad interest in art and history
The sculptural element of the collection reflects this connection with Africa with superb bronzes of mostly African animals from foremost British wildlife sculptors, such as Mark Coreth and Hamish Mackie
His broad interest in art and love of history are evident in a striking selection of glassware dating from eighteenth century engraved wine glasses through to contemporary colourful studio-glass vases.
The antique glasses are mainly English, such as a Georgian air-twist Jacobite wine glass, but also include a Dutch Zeeland province armorial wine glass, thought to be dated to around 1750.
Modern pieces, engraved with the makers’ signatures, include works by influential glass artists such as Peter Layton, James Denison-Pender and Jonathan Harris.
Estimates range from around £100 for the studio glass to £20,000 for an Edward Seago oil painting (plus 25 percent Buyers Premium).
Pre-sale viewing and the auction will take place at the Dolphin Sale Room in Honiton High Street. Viewing is from 09 July to 11 July (0900 – 1600). The auction starts at 1000 on 12 July. The sale will offer in-person bidding and live online bidding via www.the-saleroom.com and www.easyliveauction.com
Breaktime News previously reported on pottery from the eighteenth century being centre stage at an auction at Chilcotts in Honiton.
