Pictures by celebrated artists and items of local historical interest will be among more than 1,800 lots in the next three-day sale at Mitchells in Cockermouth.

Artists featured in the sale include Percy Kelly, Timothy J Gustard, C Welsh, Alfred Wainwright, Edward H Thompson and Len Roope.

The sale also features some rare Whitehaven Pottery carpet bowls and an original Beatrix Potter letter and postcards.

Among other items is a collection of 20th century designer furniture after Breuer, Eames and Relling from an estate in Penrith, as well as an extensive collection of musical instruments from the estate of musicians Jean and David Bridge.

Reference books on music and geology will be featured in Mitchells’ second specialist book section.

The picture section includes two charcoal pictures by local artist Percy Kelly (1918-1993), entitled Church by Bridge West Cumbria and Cumbrian Village, each expected to make £1,500 to £2,000.

There will be three still life oil paintings by contemporary artist Timothy J Gustard (born 1954) who lives and works in the Lake District.

His works have appeared at The Royal Academy, The Royal Scottish Academy and The Royal Institution of Oil Painters among other institutions, and is featured in many private collections.

Still life Strawberries, Cream and Champagne, 35cm x 27.5cm, has an estimate of £2,500 to £3,500, and still life Cheeseboard, Grapes and Figs, 15.5cm x 32.5cm, is expected to make £800 to £1,200.

A painting of local historical interest is an early oil on panel work believed to be by the Whitehaven artist C Welsh, of whom little is known. It dates from 1860 and depicts a panoramic view of shipping off Whitehaven Harbour, is expected to make £3,000 to £5,000.

Many vessels can be identified by pennants and include the “Wasdale” a Whitehaven brig launched in 1837 and destroyed in a collision in 1854.

Other vessels include the ”Nicholson”, the “Sarah”, the “Enterprise”, the “Callao” and the paddle steamer “Queen”. It measures 68.6cm x 121.9cm.

There are ten original pen and ink drawings by Alfred Wainwright (1907-1991) including three - Helm Crag, The Head of Ennerdale, which depicts Great Gable, and Ullock Pike - each with estimates of £700 to £1,000. His work Doddick Gill, Blencathra is valued at £300 to £500.

The sale also includes 23 paintings by Edward Horace Thompson (1879-1949). Kirkstone Pass and Brotherswater, 42cm x 58cm, is valued at £500 to £800, Evening Light Buttermere with Honister Crag, 19cm x 30cm, is valued at £200 to £300 and Threlkeld, 33.5cm x 49cm, is expected to make £500 to £800.

There are also fifteen watercolours by the Cockermouth artist Len Roope (1917-2005) including Crummock Water Morning, 25cm x 38cm, which has a value of £120 to £180 and Low Tide at Allonby, 24cm x 34cm, which is expected to make £150 to £200.

The ceramics section features two very rare Whitehaven Pottery carpet bowls dating from the early 19th Century.

In spite of their origin, Mitchells has only ever sold one before, a long time ago.

They are 8.5cm in diameter and are estimated to fetch £500 to £800 each.One depicts a street entertainer to one side and a newspaper vendor to the other. The other bowl is printed with a train exiting a tunnel to one side and a newspaper vendor to the other.

Also of historical interest is a Beatrix Potter original letter and postcards, with an estimate of £500 to £800. The letter to Mrs Mackereth, a tenant of Beatrix Potter at Sawrey Ground, Crosby, Maryport, is dated 1943 and has its original envelope.

The letter discusses “prisoned hands”, haymaking and thatching.

There are three postcards, one wishing Mrs Mackereth season’s greetings, and the others discussing the weather and Cockermouth Show.

The sale includes about 500 furniture lots with items from all periods.

There is an 128cm wide Edwardian satinwood Carlton House desk painted with various foliate designs which is expected to make £3,500 to £4,500.

A Queen Anne double domed Bureau bookcase, 209cm wide, has an estimate of £1,200 to £1,800.

Among the garden furnishings is a set of three 132cm high, 90cm diameter, composition stoneware urns on stands, which is expected to make £1,000 to £1,500.

A pair of George III Sheraton period knife urns, standing at 72cm high, could make £2,000 to £3,000.

From an estate in Penrith is a collection of 20th Century furniture after such designers as Marcel Breuer, Ray and Charles Eames and Ingmar Relling.

To compliment this furniture is a private collection of Scandinavian glassware of the mid 20th Century.

From another local estate is an extensive collection of musical instruments belonging to the musicians Jean and David Bridge, late of Brigham Mansion. The collection includes a Bechstein grand piano, violins, accordians and sheet music with reference books on music and geology from the collection included in Mitchells’ second specialist book section.

Among the collectors’ items is a 78cm high cast bronze elk with an estimate of £250 to £350.

The sale runs from Wednesday, June 12 to Friday, June 14.

Day one of the sale on Wednesday, June 12 will include books and postcards, Asian art, ceramics and glassware, jewellery and watches, silver and allied wares, textiles and 20th Century art.

Day two of the sale on Thursday, June 13 will include paintings, drawings and prints, textiles, objects of art, collectors’ items and metalware, geological specimens and music.

Day three of the sale on Friday 14 will include table boxes, wall clocks, barometers, mirrors, furniture, longcase clocks and dining tables.

Lots can be viewed at the saleroom from Sunday, June 9. The viewing times are Sunday, June 9, 11am to 3pm, Monday, June 10, 10am to 5pm, June 11, 10am to 7pm and throughout the sale, including until 7pm on June 12.

Entries are now invited for Mitchells’ next vintage and antique toys sale on July 20. The closing date for entries is June 21.