by Steph Johnson

Last updated at 11:49, Friday, 19 March 2010

A guitar owned and signed by pop star Sting is just one of the lots in a fine arts sale next week to raise money for Cumbrian flood victims.

Mark Wise with the guitar

Sting, who owns a home at Grasmere, has donated a signed Fender bass for the Mitchells sale in Cockermouth for the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund.

The guitar, which has been given a guide price of £500-£800, is being sold alongside a Wordsworth manuscript and a letter from Beatrix Potter. A framed limited edition print of Calva Bridge in Workington and maps of Cockermouth are also going under the hammer.

Mitchells expects that the rarity and quality of the lots will attract dealers, private buyers and visitors from across the UK to Cockermouth, providing a timely boost to the town’s economy.

Auctioneer Mark Wise said: “It’s a two-day sale and they are usually well attended. Hopefully after the sale people will go into Cockermouth and go to the shops or have a meal. Antiques shops tend to get spin-off trade as well.”

Handwritten signed lines of William Wordsworth’s poem The Excursion, written at Rydal Mount in December 1841, are expected to fetch £600-£1,000.

Beatrix Potter’s letter to The Herdwick Sheep Enquiry at Keswick in 1943 could make £5,000.

Renowned local artist Sheila Fell’s painting Haymaking at Millers Farm 1 has been valued at between £15,000-£20,000. Mitchells holds the world record price for a Sheila Fell painting after selling Farmland at Aspatria for £32,200 in 2009.

Other highlights include paintings by celebrated artist Edward H Thompson and contents from Dalkeith House in Newcastleton.

There are 1465 lots in total and prices start at just a few pounds for some pieces.

The fine art sale will take place next Thursday and Friday at 10am at Mitchells’ saleroom in Cockermouth town centre.

For more information and to see the catalogue, visit www.mitchellsfineart.com.

First published at 11:24, Friday, 19 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk