Bonhams Monreith House Sale Totals £765,543, Led by Mughal Dagger Hilt
The Facts
Bonhams announced the successful sale of The Contents of Monreith House, a historic Scottish estate of Clan Maxwell, across two auctions in July from its Edinburgh saleroom. Part I, a live auction held on July 8, attracted strong bidding across historic furnishings, works of art, and family heirlooms. Part II, an online auction concluding on July 9, drew international participation. The combined sales achieved a total of £765,543. Standout results included a Mughal gem-set jade sheep head dagger hilt from North India, 18th/19th century, which sold for £48,640 against an estimate of £10,000–15,000. A portrait of Sir William Maxwell, 3rd Baronet, by Robert Harvie fetched £29,440, far exceeding its £3,000–5,000 estimate. A mid-16th century two-hand sword, reputedly used at the Battle of Dryfe Sands, sold for £28,160, more than triple its high estimate.
The Signal
The strong results underscore sustained demand for country house collections with deep provenance and historical coherence, a key signal for collectors of Scottish heritage and decorative arts. The sale's performance—particularly the multiple lots exceeding estimates by several multiples—indicates that objects with documented family history and regional significance continue to command premiums in the current market. For collectors, the Monreith House sale reinforces the value of intact, multi-generational estates over dispersed collections, as the narrative continuity appears to drive bidding intensity across categories from arms and armour to Old Master paintings.
The Morning Signal · Daily
Enjoying this? Get the daily wire.
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
- Artists: Robert Harvie, Clifton Tomson, John Worsdale
- People: Charlie Thomas, Charles Graham-Campbell, Sir William Maxwell, 4th Baronet, Sir Herbert Maxwell, Gavin Maxwell, Sir William Maxwell, 3rd Baronet
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Prices: £765,543, £48,640, £29,440, £28,160, £24,320
📊 Market Intelligence
Get deeper analysis, artist indices, and auction analytics on Art Collector IQ →
The Morning Signal · Daily
Get stories like this in your inbox
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
The Jobs Digest · Weekly
New art-world jobs, every Monday
The Jobs Digest rounds up the week’s new museum, gallery, and auction-house openings — with salary when disclosed. One email a week, unsubscribe anytime.
