£1,000 - £1,500
POTTER, Helen Beatrix. Autograph letter, signed (H. B. Heelis) to Elizabeth Tyson. September 6, 1938. Unpublished and unrecorded.
22.5 x 17.5cm, laid, lined notepaper, 2 pages, with autograph envelope addressed Miss Tyson, Busk House, Ambleside (2)
To the local antique dealer concerning Miss Owen, now in Rome, on removing the contents of Belmount Hall
"There will be some things - odd & ends - from Belmount Hall included in Nicholson's sale on Thursday 15th at the Palace Rooms Bowness. Miss Owen was over from Italy from a short time, very tired, very unhappy about parting with her things, always changing her mind. She packed up her books and sent them to London... She was impossible to advise, or help much; she ended by leaving suddenly, and left a good deal locked up in the house... A certain amount she directed to be sold, so a house might be left without a caretaker, or rates. Her last "caretaker" has been ill; also she was not satisfied; altogether the poor old thing was in an upset way.
There is some cut glass amongst, and some lustre - not much of value. She sent away the oriental, the Worcester tea service, and the sofa table which I am not sorry for. If she is disappointed about prices, it is better to be sold at Christies! The books went to Sotheby's. I do not know what she has done with the silver. There are a few things I would like to buy - not many... Of course Miss Owen has muddled up the selling by dividing & dispersing - but really the house is in such a deplorable state that Mr Heelis & I are rather glad she did not want it there - she did not want people to know even that was selling. Which is a reason for not saying all this over the telephone.
The upper & back portions of Belmount contained very little furniture. And not the sort that could sell, old fashioned & heavy." [with postscript] "P.S. I did not tell Mr Johnson about the oriental & the silver - he was just asked to sell some "surplus furnishings" in another sale. I really don't know what she has done with some things - I believe some good china is locked up. Several pieces I liked are not there..."
Provenance: Elizabeth Tyson (1878-1970) thence by descent in her extended family to the present vendor
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