Family heirlooms from the stately home where the late Antiques Roadshow expert Hugo David Montagu Morley-Fletcher was born are set to be sold at auction.
The title was held by the Maitlands, later the Marquesses of Tweeddale, from the 15th century up to the late 1960s.
This historic site was the place of birth for Morley-Fletcher in 1940, and it likely played a significant role in shaping his decision to pursue a career as a ceramics and antiques expert. He passed away in 2022.
Morley-Fletcher tracked down family heirlooms and artwork from a collection that was broken up when the family home was sold in the late 1960s after the death of his grandfather, the 11th Marquess.
He bought back his collection and gathered a collection of Old Masters and ceramics, along with family portraits.
A descendant will hold an auction in March to sell family heirlooms that have been passed down through six generations.
Pictures will be sold on March 12, and ceramics will be sold through the auction house’s fine and decorative sale on March 11.
At 29 years old, Morley-Fletcher was named the head of the ceramics department at Christie’s European division, and he spent the next 40 years working at the renowned auction house.
He spent over 25 years as a renowned expert on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and was a co-founder of the French Porcelain Society, in addition to writing four books on ceramics.
Dominic Simpson, a colleague of 10 years at Christie’s, noted, “Hugo had a natural talent for art, often immediately focusing on the essential characteristics of an object.”
He had a broad knowledge that went beyond ceramics, and was also skilled in recognizing and appreciating various types of decorative art, including paintings and other works of art, no matter what they were made of.
Italian painter Adam Colonia (1572-1651)
The painting, which dates back to 1628, was loaned to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in 1975 for an exhibit. It is valued at approximately $2,000 to $3,000.
A Meissen porcelain dessert plate with a characteristic lobed shape, as described in Morley-Fletcher’s book, Meissen Porcelain In Colour, is also included in the sale.
The plate, created in 1735, features two Chinese-inspired figures against a scenic backdrop of a seaside setting with trees perched on cliffs and distant vessels on the horizon.
The plate is an “Earl of Jersey type,” named after a distinctive type associated with the Villiers family, and is estimated to sell for between $2,000 and $2,700.
Lara L’vov-Basirov, the head of Old Master, British and European pictures at Roseberys, stated: “The collection of Hugo Morley-Fletcher showcases a lifetime of collecting and connoisseurship from a true Renaissance man.”
The collection showcases his diverse tastes, encompassing stunning Old Master portraits alongside unique pieces of porcelain, demonstrating a profound interest in acquiring a wide variety of captivating artworks.
Anna Evans, associate director and head of furniture, fine and decorative sculpture, and clocks at Roseberys, stated, “Hugo Morley-Fletcher was a standout expert in the ceramics industry, having authored several notable books on the subject.”
This collection showcases the breadth of his interests and his ongoing pursuit of intellectual curiosity.
This collection features pieces from some of Europe’s top porcelain manufacturers, presenting a unique chance for seasoned collectors to purchase rare and exquisite items from a true master of the craft.
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