Is valuation day painting an Old Master?

INTERNATIONAL art experts are being consulted to determine whether an oil painting discovered during a charity valuation day in the Cotswolds is an Old Master.

The small oil painting on copper plate was shown to experts from Cirencester-based auctioneers and valuers Moore Allen & Innocent at an event in Cheltenham on Saturday.

The event was held at the Sue Ryder Hospice in Leckhampton to raise money for the charity.

Members of the public were invited to pay £3 per item, or a fiver for three items, to have family heirlooms looked over by an expert.

Auctioneer Philip Allwood said: “I was handed a picture of The Madonna. She's wearing a blue cloak and has her hands clasped together. I was very excited when I saw it.”

Philip believes the portrait was painted by the artist Guido Reni, who was working in Italy between in the early to mid 1600s, and has now called on experts in Europe to verify the painting.

“It's an exceptionally well-painted piece that has the potential to be worth tens of thousands of pounds,” said Philip.

Also causing some excitement was a portrait of an old woman, possibly a gold weigher, which could be attributed to David Teniers II.

The Dutch artist lived between 1610 and 1690 and is renowned for his character studies. Again, art experts are being consulted to determine whether the portrait is an original.

“If it's right, it could be worth well into four figures,” said Philip.

The paintings were two of the highlights of a very successful four-hour event, which saw four valuers working flat out and queues of between 20 to 30 people at any one time. The event raised £700 for the charity.

“We saw Lelique glassware, some lovely Raj Indian silver, and a Moorcroft vase, which the owner reckoned was worth £30 to £40. He was delighted when we told him it was worth more like £300 to £500,” said Philip.

“There was also a Civil War canon ball and a Daum Nancy glass lamp stand, which the owners put on eBay then removed when they immediately got a bid of £500 and realised how valuable it might be. I think they could get up to £800 at auction.”

And among the more recent antiques was an autograph book from the 1960s, filled with the signatures and pictures of now-forgotten musicians who never made it as big as The Beatles, alongside the names of two who did.

The signatures of John Lennon and George Harrison alone make the book worth £200 to £300, and the collection also includes the signatures of The Shadows – including Hank Marvin but without, sadly, Sir Cliff.

For more information about buying and selling antiques at auction, log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk More information about Sue Ryder can be found at www.suerydercare.org

A portrait of The Madonna, thought to be by Guido Reni	A portrait of an old woman, possibly a gold weigher, which could be attributed to David Teniers II
The signatures of John Lennon and George Harrison, contained within an autograph book of 1960s pop stars