8:29pm Friday 6th June 2008
By David Paine
A MINIATURE portrait of the third Marquess of Worcester - painted by a dwarf more than 350 years ago - has been sold for £6,400.
The painting of Henry Somerset attracted the attention of collectors from all over the world and more than doubled its estimated top value of £3,000 during a tense and exciting auction in London yesterday.
Hampstead Auctions auctioneer Colin Smith, a former King's School Worcester pupil and Cathedral chorister, said: "We knew it was going to go well so it was very pleasing to see it sell for £6,400.
"We had a commission bid, four people on the telephones, and a private collector in the room who bought it.
"It's always exciting when you've got a piece going like that.
"We had a lot of interest in the item. We had e-mails from all over the world and we had some people on the telephones in France and Malta."
The painting, which is 8cm x 6.5cm in a gilt metal frame fitted with a velvet-lined Morocco case, is believed to have been painted in 1655 by Richard Gibson - who apparently stood at 3ft 10ins.
Henry Somerset was born in 1629 and became third Marquess of Worcester in April 1667. He was also made seventh Earl of Worcester on the same date.
A supporter of King Charles II he was made a Knight of the Garter. He also became a privy councillor before he died in 1700.
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