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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Large Painting High Tide off Trebarwith Strand” Dramatic Cornish Shipwreck Masterpiece by Charles Sim Mottram RBA, 1894
REF: LA556064
£10,000
€11,988
$13,385
LoveAntiques Dealersince Mar 2017557 sales by dealerFree Delivery
LoveAntiques Dealersince Mar 2017557 sales by dealerFree Delivery
Description
High Tide off Trebarwith Strand”
Dramatic Cornish Shipwreck Masterpiece by Charles Sim Mottram RBA, 1894
Subject & Medium
A powerful late-Victorian marine watercolour by Charles Sim Mottram, titled “High Tide off Trebarwith Strand” and dated 1894. The subject is the wild north Cornish coast at Trebarwith Strand, near Tintagel – a steep, cliff-backed beach facing directly onto the Atlantic.
A full-rigged sailing vessel has run aground just beyond the line of surf and is breaking up on unseen rocks. The stern lifts and falls in the swell; shattered masts and spars lean at dangerous angles. On the beach below the cliffs, a crowd of fishermen, lifeboat men and local villagers rush to the water’s edge as the drama unfolds.
Executed in watercolour with bodycolour (white heightening) on paper, this is an original 19th-century work, not a print or reproduction.
Composition & Technique
Mottram structures the scene as a wide, panoramic strip, allowing the viewer to read the entire story from foreground to horizon.
In the foreground, wet sand catches and reflects the light; tracks, footprints and small pools mark where the tide has recently retreated. A strong diagonal of figures leads the eye from the lower left towards the centre: fishermen in traditional sou’wester caps and work clothes brace themselves against the pull of thick, tarred lines and wreckage that disappear into the surf. Some lean forward with their full weight; others steady the line or gesture urgently towards the wreck. Closer to the cliffs, further fishermen and children stand in small groups, hands raised to shade their eyes as they watch events offshore.
In the middle distance, heavy Atlantic rollers are built up in layered bands of blue-grey and green. Mottram breaks the crests with dense bodycolour to capture foam and flying spray, giving the water real weight and movement. The stricken ship sits just beyond the main line of breakers, its dark hull and jagged spars cutting sharply against the paler surrounding water. Fragments of rigging and broken mast reinforce the sense of chaos and imminent loss.
In the distance, a headland and lower cliffs close the composition, anchoring it in a specific Cornish setting, while a low, layered sky presses down over the scene. Gulls wheel above the wreck, described with a few acute strokes that add life and scale.
Technically, the work shows confident use of broad transparent washes for sky and distance, firmer modelling for cliffs and figures, and crisp, opaque highlights for foam, spray and key details. The balance between accurate drawing and expressive brushwork is exactly what collectors expect from a serious Victorian marine watercolour.
The Artist
Charles Sim Mottram RBA (British, 1852–1919) was a respected late-Victorian marine and coastal painter. Based in London, he travelled extensively to the west and south-west coasts of Britain, with Cornwall providing some of his most dramatic material.
He specialised in shipwrecks, lifeboat launches and storm-beaten seas, as well as quieter harbour scenes and coastal views. His work was regularly exhibited in London, including at the Institute of Painters in Water Colours (later the Royal Institute), and is valued for its combination of narrative drama and closely observed sea and weather effects.
Mottram is sometimes confused with the earlier engraver Charles Mottram, but this painting is unequivocally by Charles Sim Mottram, the marine painter: the signature, subject matter, dating and watercolour handling are all characteristic of his work. His Cornish coastal scenes are particularly sought after, with a St Ives subject achieving $20,129 (USD) at Tennants in 2013.
Historical Significance
This watercolour is a finely judged, securely dated example of Mottram’s mature marine work. It captures not only the raw power of the Atlantic against the north Cornish coast, but also the collective response of a coastal community: men risking themselves at the water’s edge, women and children watching anxiously from slightly higher ground.
Trebarwith Strand is a much-loved and dramatic stretch of coastline, and works that combine:
A specific, recognisable Cornish location
Large exhibition scale
Strong narrative content (shipwrecks, lifeboat activity, coastal communities)
are especially attractive and highly valued by collectors of Cornish art and British marine painting.
The original late-19th-century exhibition-type label on the reverse, giving the full title, location, artist’s name, London banking address and original price, ties the work directly to the Victorian exhibition and retail system. It confirms that this was conceived and presented as a substantial, professional piece rather than as a minor sketch or studio fragment.
Provenance & Exhibition
Originally exhibited in a London watercolour exhibition in the late 19th century, as indicated by the original exhibition-type label on the reverse, entirely consistent with the practices of the Institute of Painters in Water Colours (later the Royal Institute).
The label is inscribed with the title “High Tide”, the location “off Trebarwith Strand”, the artist’s name and his London banking address, “c/o London & County Bank, High Holborn W.C.”, together with the original price in manuscript.
Thence retained in private ownership in the United Kingdom; later in a private collection in Gwynedd, Wales, where both the painting and label were preserved.
Subsequently offered and sold through a notable North West–based auction house, label verso.
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD and exhibited in “Atlantic Drama: Shipwrecks & Lifeboat Heroes on the Cornish Coast”, Winter 2025, Famous Lord Hill Museum, among a selection of significant British marine and Cornish coastal works from private collections. Now offered from this curated collection.
Signature
The painting is signed at the lower right “Chas S Mottram 94”, confirming both the artist and the 1894 date. The signature is clear, fluent and consistent with other known examples by Charles Sim Mottram. On the reverse label the artist again writes his name as “Chas S Mottram”, providing an additional, independent confirmation of authorship in his own hand.
Frame & Glazing
The watercolour is presented in an attractive gilt moulded Larson-Juhl frame, recently professionally fitted. This high-quality contemporary moulding is sympathetic to both the period and the subject, giving the work a classic, gallery-ready appearance while ensuring that structure and materials meet modern standards. An inner slip further sets off the image and adds visual depth.
To the front, the work is protected by AR70 glass – a premium low-reflection glazing that significantly reduces glare and provides enhanced UV filtration compared with standard glass. This improves viewing in modern interiors (especially under artificial light or near windows) and helps protect the delicate watercolour pigments from light damage over time.
As the frame has been recently installed, it presents very cleanly, with only the most minimal handling marks. It is ready to hang.
Framed Size
Overall framed dimensions:
67.5 cm high × 109.5 cm wide × 3 cm deep
The wide panoramic format and substantial size give the painting real presence on the wall. It is considerably larger than many Victorian watercolours and works particularly well above a sofa, sideboard, fireplace or in a stairwell, where its sweep, detail and narrative can be fully appreciated.
Why This Painting Stands Out
Dramatic late-Victorian shipwreck scene on the rugged Cornish coast at Trebarwith Strand, rich in narrative and human interest.
Large, exhibition-scale watercolour with an impressive panoramic format that makes a genuine statement on the wall.
Well-documented work by Charles Sim Mottram, complete with original Victorian exhibition-type label giving title, location, name and London banking address, plus a recent curated museum exhibition history.
Combines strong regional and historical appeal (Cornwall, Trebarwith Strand, Victorian maritime life) with excellent decorative impact for both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Professionally presented in a recently fitted gilt Larson-Juhl frame with AR70 low-reflection, UV-filtering glass – visually impressive, well protected, and ready to hang and enjoy immediately.
measurements
Height:
67.5 cm
Width:
109.5 cm
Depth:
3 cm
declaration
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD has clarified that the Large Painting High Tide off Trebarwith Strand” Dramatic Cornish Shipwreck Masterpiece by Charles Sim Mottram RBA, 1894 (LA556064) is genuinely of the period declared with the date/period of manufacture being 1894
condition
Condition
The watercolour presents very well for its age. Colours remain strong and atmospheric, with no obvious fading to either sea or sky when viewed through the glass. The sheet appears flat and properly supported within the frame, with no pronounced cockling visible from the front. Under normal viewing conditions, there are no evident tears, holes or visible repairs to the painted surface.
The original exhibition-type label on the reverse is heavily browned and shows foxing, staining and some paper losses – exactly what one would expect from an authentic late-19th-century label that has travelled with the work for more than a century. Crucially, the inscription remains legible and the label is stable and securely attached.
The painting has not been examined out of the frame and is therefore sold as seen. As with all genuine Victorian works on paper, small age-related characteristics should be expected and are part of its charm and provenance.
additional info
Period:
Category:
Material:
Origin:
Date of Manufacture:
1894
location
This Large Painting High Tide off Trebarwith Strand” Dramatic Cornish Shipwreck Masterpiece by Charles Sim Mottram RBA, 1894 is located in Greater London, United Kingdom
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