A PICTURE FIND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 15

A PICTURE FIND

WORTH THOUSANDS

The story of how a little panel picture discovered some months ago in an old Scots mansion was recognised as valuable, sent to London for expert examination, and sold for a fortune, was told recently by Mr. McCrae Wilson, auctioneer, of Arbroath, says the "Sunday Graphic." The picture, which came up at Christie's, London, among "different properties," was sold for 2100 guineas. It is believed to be a Rembrandt, one of the first of the great master's works, but how it came to the old mansion house of Abbethune, some mile from Arbroath, is a mystery.

Mr. McCrae Wilson, who, while estimating the property in the mansion, saw the picture was valuable, told something of its history.

"It belonged to a Miss Alexina MacGregor, a descendant of a very old Scots family who lived for many years in Abbethune.

"She died about four years ago, and the property passed to her sister. The sister died the following year, and Abbethune went to her daughter.

"This woman died in 1936, and Abbethune was then inherited by Mr. Harold Bazley, of Woodland, Ottrey St. Mary, Devon.

"He decided to sell the property and when I was valuing it I grouped together a number of pictures which I decided to send to London to be expertly examined. I had an idea that the picture was a good one. Christie's were not quite sure of its value, and it was put up for auction among 'different properties.'

"Had I sold it at an ordinary sale this picture, which is now worth a fortune, would probably have fetched no more than £5 or £10."