French Empire and Louis XV giltwood furniture and diamond jewellery are among the highlights of next week's antiques and fine art sale at Mitchells in Cockermouth.

The three-day sale, which starts on Wednesday, November 28, features more than 2,000 lots, including jewellery, watches, silverware, table boxes, clocks and mirrors.

The sale also includes the principal contents of Rocklands, a large lakeside residence in the Windermere area, the second home of a notable UK family.

The contents include furniture originating from the Tuileries Palace made by one of the foremost 19th century Parisian cabinet makers, Pierre Benoit Marcion (1769-1840), who supplied furniture to Napoleon. A fine suite of Empire giltwood seat furniture by Marcion comprising a pair of fauteuils and four side chairs, circa 1810, sold by Malletts in May 2000 for the discounted price of £74,765, has a conservative estimate of £15,000 to £25,000. A pair of Louis XV giltwood bergere chairs upholstered in sage green brocade, circa 1750, sold by Malletts for the discounted purchase price of £21,640 in May 2000 has an estimate of £3,000 to £5,000. An English George III painted scroll end window seat upholstered in green silk brocade, circa 1760-70, sold by Malletts for the discounted purchase price of £12,985 in May 2000 is expected to make £2,000 to £3,000.

From the same property is oil on canvas Portrait of Philip Harding Esq., circa 1790, by Sir Martin Archer Shee PRA (Irish 1769-1850), which is expected to sell for £5,000 to £8,000. A north Italian School of The Marches Madonna and child tempera gold icon, circa 1300-1320, sold for £17,500 in June 2002, also has a £5,000 to £8,000 estimate. A large 18th century continental tin glazed earthenware bird cage, probably Dutch in origin circa 1780, originally sold for £6,500, is expected to make £2,500 to £3,500.

Among the jewellery section is a solitaire diamond ring, +/- 2.7 carats, platinum set valued at £3,000-£5,000, a diamond and aquamarine brooch, formerly the centre piece from a tiara, in white-coloured metal setting, valued at £2,000 to £3,000, and a diamond double clip brooch, in white-coloured metal setting, with a £2,000 to £4,000 estimate. A Victorian diamond brooch, formerly the centre piece of a tiara, with silver mounts and gold back, set with old cut diamonds with a total diamond weight of +/- 7 carats, is expected to make £1,500 to £2,000. A late 19th century diamond pendant with an openwork design mounted in silver and gold and set throughout with old brilliant cut diamonds with a weight of +/- 3.30 carats has a valuation of £1,500 to £2,000. The pendant comes with a fitted case marked "Frazer & Haws, Regent Street, Piccadilly".

Other furniture includes a George III mahogany double breakfront bookcase sold in 1973 for $16,500 by Needham's Antiques, New York, which has an auction estimate of £3,000 to £5,000. A Robert Mouseman Thompson of Kilburn 1950s sideboard fitted with a series of drawers and cupboards is expected to sell for £2,000 to £3,000.

Of local interest is a watercolour by Edward Horace Thompson (1879-1949), Skating Bassenthwaite, which has an estimate of £3,000 to £4,000. A watercolour by Bernard Eyre Walker (1887-1972), At Dusk, Langdale Valley, painted from Wallthwaite is expected to sell for £400 to £600.

Other notable pictures include a late 18th century oil painting on canvas in the manner of Francesco Guardi, entitled Piazza San Marco Venice, which is valued at £1,000 at £1,500, an oil on canvas entitled Darby's Hard, Gorleston by Campbell Archibald Mellon (1876-1955), estimated at £1,500 to £2,000, and a pastel entitled Madam Zimmerman and Family on the Beach at Le Touquet, by Theodore Zimmerman (b1937), signed and inscribed on the back with the artist’s atelier stamp which is valued at £500 to £800.

Other highlights will include Mitchells’ inaugural sale of specialist and antiquarian books and a private collection of over 50 lots of Chinese and Vietnamese propaganda dating from the Chinese Cultural Revolution period 1966-1976. A porcelain sculpture modelled as a Chinese man and woman astride a rocket representing industry and agriculture with a banner reading "surpassing Great Britain and catching up United States" is expected to sell for £200 to 300.

Day one of the sale on Wednesday, November 28 will include books, Asian art, paintings, drawings and prints. Day two on Thursday, November 29 will include 20th century lots, ceramics and glassware, jewellery, watches and pocket watches, silver and allied wares, objects of art, collectors’ items and metalware. Day three on Friday, November 30 will include a classic car, textiles, table boxes, wall clocks, barometers, mirrors, furniture, longcase clocks and dining tables.

The saleroom is open for viewing on Sunday, November 25, 11am-3pm, Monday, November 26, 10am-5pm, Tuesday, November 27, 10am-7pm, and throughout the sale.

n For more details and pictures, visit whitehavennews.co.uk

n Entries are now invited for Mitchells' next vintage and antique toy sale on February 23, 2019. The closing date for entries is January 25.