Collections once belonging to Bottesford master craftsman will be sold at auction

Auctioneer Golding Young & Mawer will sell hundreds of antiques, paintings, tools and pieces of furniture gathered from the home and outbuildings of the late Thomas Keen.

Mr Keen was an ‘old school’ restorer at the top of his profession. He was well known in the area and further afield, and was a regular buyer at Golding Young in Grantham throughout the last 30 years.

Not only did he conduct work for many top museums and galleries, he collected an eclectic mix of items throughout the local area and the country over a long period of time.

Auctioneer Craig Bewick said: “Several things make this collection special. The name associated with it; single owner collections usually do well, especially those from someone so well known, but also the mixture and rarity of items helps.

“Not only are his collection of woodworking tools, veneers, woods and so on to be sold, but also his private collection of paintings, furniture, antiquities, silver, pottery and bygones. From Grecian vases to early Persian brass candlesticks through to Georgian furniture, a world-class collection of paintings and the tools he used to restore, we have a fresh to the market named collection from a well-known master craftsman of his trade, who was well known as such not only in the local area but further afield.”

There will be around 500 lots in total, including Robert Adam-style fireplaces, a George Bullock-style table and an early Fat Cow naïve oil painting.

Antiquities to be sold include a Grecian vase and a very rare brass money box.

l The auction will take place at the Grantham Auction Rooms in Old Wharf Road, Grantham, on Wednesday, March 2, at 10am. Viewing is the day before, between 10am and 4pm. For further details, cal Mr Bewick on 01476 565118.