Blair Castle contents sale raises £1.2m
16 March, 2012-
Blair Castle
The sale of contents from Dalry’s Blair Castle has raised more than twice as much as expected.
The Herald reports today that furniture, paintings and antiques from Scotland’s oldest continually inhabited mansion raised £1.2 million when they were auctioned off over two days by Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh. They were expected to fetch £500,000.
Among the items sold on the second day yesterday was a rare letter from Mary Queen of Scots excusing the then Laird of Blair from his duties at court due to gout. It went for £5000.
A painting of Lord Frederick Roberts, who inspired the phrase "Bob’s your uncle", made £9500, while an 1804 painting depicting a scene from The Last of Leith Races sold for £36,000.
An unusual 19th century exercise machine was also sold for £2000 and a small French 18th century pocket watch made £3400.
There were 1000 items being sold by Luke and Caroline Borwick, the current owners of Blair Castle. They have also sold the castle and will live in a house on the estate.
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