About Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®
Independent British Fine Art & Antiques Dealers | Historic Paintings, Portraiture, Sporting Art & Decorative Arts
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® is an independent, family-run British fine art and antiques dealership and online gallery, incorporated in England and Wales on 22 April 2024 under company registration number 15666518.
Led by directors Michael and Victoria, the company specialises in carefully selected British and European paintings, sculpture and decorative arts, serving private collectors, galleries, interior designers, art consultants and institutional buyers throughout the United Kingdom and internationally.
With our registered office in Covent Garden, London, and trading operations based in Cheshire, we combine historical research, considered attribution, detailed condition reporting and professional customer service.
Our approach emphasises artistic quality, historical significance, transparency and the preservation of original works of art.
Professional Memberships, Industry Affiliations & Recognition
Fine Art Trade Guild – Elected Member
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® is an elected member of the Fine Art Trade Guild, a recognised professional organisation supporting standards, integrity and responsible practice within the fine art and framing industries.
Our membership reflects our commitment to professional conduct, ethical trading and the accurate presentation of original works of art.
The House Directory – Select Member
We are a Select Member of The House Directory, a specialist British directory connecting interior designers, architects, private clients and design professionals with established suppliers and specialist businesses.
Our published profile highlights our expertise in British and European fine art, historic portraiture, sporting paintings, sculpture and decorative antiques.
https://www.thehousedirectory.com/company/cheshire-antiques-consultant-ltd/
HMRC – Registered Art Market Participant
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® is registered with HM Revenue & Customs as an Art Market Participant under registration number XRML00000211615.
We maintain appropriate anti-money laundering and financial sanctions compliance procedures in accordance with applicable United Kingdom legislation.
Registered United Kingdom Trade Mark
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® is a registered United Kingdom trade mark under registration number UK00004303420.
Private Online Gallery
Private Virtual Viewings by Appointment
We operate exclusively online and do not maintain a public showroom.
Private one-to-one virtual viewings are available by appointment, allowing prospective purchasers to examine artworks remotely and discuss condition, dimensions, attribution, provenance and historical context.
High-resolution photographs, additional images and detailed condition information are available upon request.
We aim to provide collectors with the information necessary to make informed purchasing decisions.
Areas of Specialisation
Fine Art & Works of Art | 17th–21st Century
Our principal specialisms include:
- British and European oil paintings, watercolours and mixed-media works
- Historic portraiture and figurative paintings
- Marine, naval and maritime subjects
- Equestrian, hunting and sporting paintings
- Animal paintings and rural subjects
- Landscapes, coastal views and cityscapes
- Still life, interiors and genre compositions
- Military and historical subjects
- Sculpture and three-dimensional works
Our catalogue includes works by identified artists, attributed paintings, historical schools and carefully researched unsigned compositions.
Each artwork is selected with consideration for artistic quality, condition, historical interest, provenance where established, and decorative merit.
Antiques & Decorative Arts
Our wider collection may include:
- Bronze and other sculpture
- Hallmarked silver and decorative metalwork
- Antique carved objects
- Porcelain, glassware and ceramics
- Decorative wall art
- Garden and architectural antiques
- Collectible decorative objects dating principally from the 18th to 20th century
Our inventory is continually evolving, with pieces selected for their craftsmanship, individuality and suitability for traditional and contemporary interiors.
Sustainability & Enduring Craftsmanship
We actively support sustainability within the fine art and antiques trade through the preservation, continued appreciation and responsible reuse of historic works of art and decorative objects.
By extending the useful life of existing pieces, the antiques trade can help reduce demand for newly manufactured decorative goods while preserving traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Historic paintings, sculpture and period furnishings bring individuality, character and enduring aesthetic value to both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Payments & Purchasing
Purchases are arranged in accordance with the applicable LoveAntiques purchasing arrangements and our company Terms & Conditions.
We accept secure online card payments, PayPal, Klarna, Apple Pay and Google Pay, where available, for transactions up to £5,000.
Transactions exceeding £5,000 are payable by bank transfer.
Proforma invoices containing our company payment details are available upon request.
Cash on collection may be accepted by prior written arrangement, subject to a maximum of £8,000 and applicable legal and anti-money laundering requirements.
All transactions remain subject to availability, applicable payment requirements and relevant consumer protection legislation.
Shipping & Delivery
UK and worldwide shipping is available.
Delivery quotations are provided upon request, taking into account the artwork's dimensions, value, destination and specialist handling requirements.
Artworks are carefully and professionally packaged using appropriate protective materials.
We use established tracked courier services, including DHL, FedEx, DPD and Parcelforce, together with specialist fine art transport providers where appropriate.
Insured delivery services are arranged where available, subject to the applicable insurance terms, exclusions and coverage.
Larger paintings, antique furniture and particularly fragile objects may require specialist door-to-door transportation.
Customs & International Orders
International orders are generally supplied on a Delivered at Place (DAP) basis unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Under DAP arrangements, international purchasers are responsible for applicable import duties, import VAT, customs clearance charges and other destination-country taxes or fees.
Following the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, EU customers may be subject to additional import procedures and charges.
Purchasers in the European Union, United States and other international destinations are encouraged to consult their local customs authorities before purchasing.
Where a shipment is refused or returned because of unpaid customs charges, any refund and associated shipping costs will be handled in accordance with the agreed sale terms and applicable consumer protection legislation.
Attribution, Provenance & Condition
All artworks, antiques and decorative objects offered by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® are individually selected and catalogued in good faith using the research, documentation and information available at the time of cataloguing.
Artist attributions, dating, provenance, historical interpretations and related catalogue commentary represent our professional dealer opinion unless expressly identified as established facts supported by documentary evidence.
As many works are antique or previously owned, they may exhibit age-related wear, historic restoration, surface irregularities or other characteristics consistent with their age and history.
Known material condition issues are disclosed in the relevant catalogue descriptions or condition reports.
Prospective purchasers are welcome to request additional photographs, condition information, provenance details or a private virtual viewing before completing a purchase.
Our catalogue research and descriptions do not constitute a formal valuation, independent authentication certificate, investment recommendation or professional appraisal service.
Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution
Original artworks are supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.
The certificate records the relevant catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated and details of the sale, providing an accompanying document for the artwork's ongoing ownership and provenance record.
The certificate represents our professional dealer attribution and does not constitute independent authentication or a guarantee of future market value.
Returns, Consumer Rights & Important Information
All items remain subject to prior sale and availability.
Purchases are governed by our applicable Terms & Conditions and Returns Policy, together with any applicable LoveAntiques marketplace terms.
Where statutory distance-selling cancellation rights apply, customers are entitled to exercise those rights in accordance with applicable consumer protection legislation.
Nothing in our catalogue descriptions, attribution statements or terms excludes or restricts statutory consumer rights.
Company Information
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®
Registered Office:
71–75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9JQ
United Kingdom
Trading Operations:
Mickle Trafford
Chester
Cheshire
United Kingdom
Please note: We operate exclusively online. We do not maintain a public showroom or offer customer visits at either address.
Company Registration Number: 15666518
Date of Incorporation: 22 April 2024
Registered in England and Wales
VAT Registration Number: GB 466128775
HMRC Art Market Participant Registration: XRML00000211615
Registered UK Trade Mark: UK00004303420
Professional Membership: Fine Art Trade Guild – Elected Member
Industry Directory: The House Directory – Select Member
Website: https://cheshireantiquesconsultantltd.com/
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® – Independent British Fine Art & Antiques Dealers.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
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WC2H 9JQ
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Equestrian Oil Portrait Young Lady, Believed to be Miss Beatrice Mary Clifford (b.1861), Aged 14 Attributed to Alexander Maclean
REF: LA549445
£15,000
€17,982
$20,077
LoveAntiques Dealersince Mar 2017557 sales by dealerFree Delivery
LoveAntiques Dealersince Mar 2017557 sales by dealerFree Delivery
Description
Equestrian Oil Portrait of a Young Lady, Believed to be Possibly Miss Beatrice Mary Clifford (b.1861), Aged 14
Attributed to Alexander Maclean (Scottish, 1840–1877)
Circa 1875
The Sitter: Beatrice Mary Clifford (1861 – c.1930)
Beatrice Mary Clifford was born in 1861, the eldest daughter of William Henry Clifford (1821–1908) and Caroline Clifford (née Phelps, 1829–1916) of Chestal House, Dursley, Gloucestershire.
Her maternal grandfather, James Phelps of Chestal, was a prosperous wool merchant and banker who built the family’s elegant country seat around 1848. The union of the Phelps and Clifford families combined industrial prosperity with landed heritage, establishing one of Gloucestershire’s most respected households.
Growing up amid the refined atmosphere of Chestal — surrounded by parkland, stables, and formal gardens — Beatrice enjoyed a privileged education in refinement and equestrian skill. Riding was central to family life and identity, and this portrait reflects her confidence and genteel upbringing. No documentary evidence confirming the identification accompanies the painting and the association should therefore be regarded as a traditional attribution. The identification of the sitter is offered as a non-guaranteed professional opinion based upon evidence available and should not be regarded as definitive statement of fact. Nevertheless, the connection adds considerable cultural and historical interest to the work
Subject & Medium
A magnificent Victorian oil on canvas portrait depicting a young equestrian lady, poised with grace and composure. She stands in dignified three-quarter profile, dressed in a black riding jacket, white blouse, and turquoise cravat, holding her riding crop while wearing golden-brown leather gloves that gleam softly against her attire.
Her expressive gaze, framed by softly brushed brunette hair, radiates quiet elegance and inner strength — a quintessential image of Victorian refinement and poise.
The Portrait (c.1875)
Painted around 1875, when Beatrice was fourteen, the work likely commemorated her entry into young society — a coming-of-age image symbolizing refinement, discipline, and virtue. Victorian equestrian portraits of girls were fashionable from the 1860s onward, celebrating feminine grace within the ideals of the landed gentry.
Archival and stylistic evidence strongly support Beatrice Mary Clifford as the sitter, described in records as “a young equestrian lady of the Phelps family, later Clifford family, of Chestal, Dursley.”
Composition & Technique
Executed with exceptional sensitivity and precision, the portrait exemplifies the romantic realism of late Victorian portraiture. The deep blacks and cool greys of her attire contrast beautifully with the turquoise of her cravat and the warm tones of her gloves and complexion.
The soft, neutral background enhances her luminosity without distraction.
Maclean’s brushwork blends smooth facial modelling with expressive texture in clothing and background, balanced by refined chiaroscuro — a hallmark of academic portraiture.
Fine, even craquelure across the surface attests to its age and authenticity.
Signed
The painting bears the clear signature “A. Maclean” in the lower corner, executed in fine script consistent with the artist’s authenticated works.
The placement, brushwork, and pigment tone align with other verified signatures by Alexander Maclean (1840–1877), as recorded in Royal Academy exhibits of the 1870s.
This signature supports the strong stylistic attribution and firmly links the work to Maclean’s mature period, around circa 1875.
The signature remains crisp and legible beneath the original varnish layer, confirming its authenticity and period origin.
The Artist: Alexander Maclean (1840–1877)
A gifted Scottish painter educated in Helensburgh and Edinburgh, Maclean refined his craft in Rome, Florence, and Antwerp. His works harmonized classical training with emotive realism, and he exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1872 and 1877.
Noted for Covent Garden Market and At the Railings, St. Paul’s, Maclean’s paintings reveal a mastery of light, introspection, and tonal harmony — all evident here.
A comparable work, Covent Garden Market, achieved USD $102,700 at Christie’s, reflecting enduring admiration for his art.
Later Life of Beatrice Clifford
Archival sources suggest Beatrice remained unmarried, residing at or near Chestal throughout her life, assisting in family affairs and supporting her widowed mother.
When Chestal was sold in 1967, several portraits — including this one — were dispersed, leading to the “Missing Phelps Portraits” appeal by the Gloucestershire Archives.
Though few letters survive, this painting endures as a poignant record of a young woman navigating Victorian womanhood — poised, intelligent, and independent in spirit.
Frame
Presented in its original ornate giltwood frame, richly carved with floral motifs and layered gilding.
The warm golden tones complement the sitter’s complexion and palette.
The frame shows gentle, age-related wear — minor scuffs, small repairs, and areas of overpainting — yet retains full Victorian splendour and authenticity.
Dimensions (Framed):
Height: 140 cm | Width: 106 cm | Depth: 5 cm
Provenance
Likely commissioned by the Clifford family of Chestal
By descent within the family
Private Collection, UK
Referenced: Gloucestershire Archives, D3831, Phelps–Clifford Family Papers
“Missing Phelps Portraits,” Gloucestershire Heritage Hub (accessed 2025)
W.A. Smith (Late J. Green)
D.T. Beesley Ltd
Phelps No. 115
Private Collection, Greater London
Exhibited: Famous Lord Hill Museum
Collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Each provenance note reinforces the painting’s authenticity and distinguished heritage.
Why You’ll Love It
A masterful 19th-century portrait uniting beauty, craftsmanship, and history
The sitter — a poised young equestrienne — embodies Victorian elegance and confidence
Superb tonal harmony and expressive realism
Signed “A. Maclean” — a rare and collectible work by the noted Scottish painter
Original giltwood frame with rich period character
Ideal for fine interiors, collectors, and connoisseurs of Victorian art
A portrait that speaks across centuries — dignified, radiant, and profoundly human.
Add this remarkable historical equestrian portrait to your collection today.
Explore our [eBay Shop: Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD] for more curated fine art and antiques.
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measurements
Height:
140 cm
Width:
106 cm
Depth:
5 cm
declaration
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD has clarified that the Equestrian Oil Portrait Young Lady, Believed to be Miss Beatrice Mary Clifford (b.1861), Aged 14 Attributed to Alexander Maclean (LA549445) is genuinely of the period declared with the date/period of manufacture being 1875
condition
Condition
Surface: Fine craquelure, mild touch-ups visible under inspection, some minor paint loss to some areas around the face.
Frame: Minor scuffs and repairs; structurally sound
Overall: Stable, well-preserved, and full of period charm
additional info
Category:
Material:
Artisan:
Date of Manufacture:
1875
location
This Equestrian Oil Portrait Young Lady, Believed to be Miss Beatrice Mary Clifford (b.1861), Aged 14 Attributed to Alexander Maclean is located in Greater London, United Kingdom
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