SPECIALIST AUCTIONS | JANUARY - JUNE 2020 JANUARY

8

28

The John Barnett Collection of Scales 20th Century Design johnblack@sworder.co.uk

FEBRUARY

11

Out of the Ordinary markwilkinson@sworder.co.uk

MARCH

10/11 25

Fine Interiors British and European Furniture, Works of Art and Books entries close 17 January fineinteriors@sworder.co.uk

Fine Wine and Port entries close 7 February finewine@sworder.co.uk

APRIL

28

Modern British & 20th Century Art entries close 13 March janeoakley@sworder.co.uk

MAY

15

Asian Art (at the Westbury Mayfair Hotel, London)

20

Asian Art - Part 2

27

Mid-Century Modern Design

entries close 27 March yexueli@sworder.co.uk

entries close 27 March yexueli@sworder.co.uk

entries close 3 April johnblack@sworder.co.uk

JUNE

3

23/24

Sporting Art , Wildlife and Dogs entries close 17 April janeoakley@sworder.co.uk

Fine Interiors British and European Furniture, Works of Art and Silver entries close 1 May fineinteriors@sworder.co.uk

Chairman’s Introduction Welcome to Sworders’ 2019 newsletter, where we review another eventful year and look forward to what we hope will be an equally eventful 2020.

Contents

The year began with the first of two house contents sales, the Collection of Barbara Holliday, removed from ‘The Gales’ in the far, far north west of Cumbria. Mrs Holliday’s particular passion was for the work of late 20th century Royal Academicians. The auction met with an enthusiastic response, a 95% sold rate and was led by works by Mary Fedden and Cumbrian artist Sheila Fell.

I am also delighted to have been able to recruit several leading and impressive new members of staff, including Luke Macdonald and Stephen Giles.

Thank you for your much-valued support throughout the year. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during 2020. Guy Schooling Chairman

12 13

New Arrivals

6

20th Century Design & Modern Art at Sworders

8

20th Century Design

Modern British & 20th Century

Asian Art

Out of the Ordinary

Jewellery

Sworders’ House Sales

Fine Interiors

14&15

Hertford Office

Art

10 11

3

7

9

Next year begins with the John Barnett Collection of Scales, an exciting new season of 20th Century auctions and the ever-extraordinary Out of the Ordinary auction in February.

The London Gallery

4&5

The summer brought the contents of Alderley House from Gloucestershire, a quintessentially Cotswold manor house, recently furnished in the English country house style. On offer were the extensive contents, ranging from a grand piano to a clay pigeon launcher. In March we opened our London Gallery in Cecil Court, on the edge of Covent Garden; this proved an invaluable asset during our successful Asian Art Auction, which was viewed entirely from there during the week prior to auction.

2

2019 Highlights

The London Gallery It has been a long-held ambition for Sworders to attain a central London presence, this was realised when, at the beginning of the year, we acquired 15 Cecil Court. Located in the very heart of London’s theatre district, adjacent to vibrant Covent Garden and Leicester Square, Cecil Court is truly one of London’s hidden gems. The picturesque Victorian thoroughfare with its esoteric new and secondhand book shops, antique shops and art galleries, already a favourite amongst collectors, has proved the perfect setting for our smart new Gallery space. The 700 square feet of exhibition space has hosted evening previews for our spring auction of Modern & Contemporary Prints, the autumn auction of Modern British and 20th Century Art and a display of contemporary works by second year students from The Slade School of Fine Art. Our successful November Asian Art Auction and December London Sale were viewed solely within the Gallery.

Opening Times Monday - Friday 10.30am-5pm late opening accommodated upon request 15 Cecil Court | London | WC2N 4EZ T: 020 3971 2500 E: london@sworder.co.uk @sworderslondon

4

Hertford Office

Opening Times Monday - Friday 9am-5pm

Sworders’ Hertford Office is situated in St Andrew Street in the historic heart of the county town. The team, led by Daniel Webster and Alex Froggatt, offer valuation and sales advice across Hertfordshire, North London, Bedfordshire and beyond to private clients and professional colleagues.

T: 01992 583 508 E: hertfordoffice@sworder.co.uk

42 St. Andrew Street | Hertford | SG14 1JA

@swordershertford

Every Thursday we offer an ‘open house’ providing free auction valuations from 10am - 4pm on a wide range of objects, including watches, clocks, glassware, furniture, ceramics, silver and works of art. In addition we hold regular valuation events with our specialists including Asian art, pictures and jewellery. We also conduct successful valuation days in Harpenden on the last Wednesday of each month. Senior valuer Daniel Webster has an extensive and broad-based knowledge, with a particular interest in wristwatches and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Alex Froggatt again has a broad-based knowledge, with a particular interest in 19th and 20th century glassware. In 2020, Sworders celebrate twenty years in Hertford. We are proud of the reputation the office has developed in that time and the changes and growth that have taken place - it is now an integral part of the local economy, with a wonderful reputation. 5

New Arrivals 6

Luke Macdonald

Stephen Giles

Luke joined after thirteen years as Head of Furniture and Operations Director with Cheffins, where he secured and handled major consignments and estates.

A former Director of Jewellery with international auction rooms in London and Geneva, Stephen joins to oversee business development from our London Gallery.

He joins Sworders as a member of the board and we welcome his enormous expertise and enthusiasm. His role at Sworders will include business development - he has a long and distinguished record of attracting high-quality consignments from all over the country and we are confident he will continue to do so with Sworders, thus enabling us to continue our growth across many disciplines.

Whilst his principal expertise lies with fine jewellery and watches, Stephen has an extensive broadly based knowledge including Chinese works of art, English furniture and ceramics. He is available to undertake valuations and offer his extensive expertise to clients throughout London and beyond.

lukemacdonald@sworder.co.uk

stephengiles@sworder.co.uk

Alexander Hallett

Catrin Jones

Leah Coley-Fisher

Alex has many years’ experience as an auctioneer and valuer. He joins our Fine Interiors team working with James Pickup to continue the impressive growth in these, our flagship, sales. Alex’s principal areas of expertise include English and Continental furniture and works of art, he also has an understanding of Asian Art and he is currently learning Mandarin.

Catrin joins our jewellery department. Her qualifications include membership of the Institute of Registered Valuers and graduate gemmologist of the Gemmological Institute of America. For four years she has worked for a retail jewellers in Surrey, as Assistant Manager and buyer of second-hand and antique jewellery. She thus brings a great level of expertise and experience to our growing department.

Leah has always had an extensive interest in the arts, having attained a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art from Bath Spa University and an MA degree in the History of Art from Birkbeck, University of London. She previously worked in a leading London auction room where she assisted in the Objects of Vertu and Jewellery department before joining us to manage our London Gallery.

alexanderhallett@sworder.co.uk

catrinjones@sworder.co.uk

leahcoley-fisher@sworder.co.uk

7

20th Century Design & Modern Art at Sworders The continuing popularity of 20th century and contemporary art and design has led us to further expand our auction programme. We are delighted to announce a range of new and exciting sales covering the Arts & Crafts Movement, Mid-Century Design and the very British phenomenon of the Swinging 60s.

1900

THE ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT

Olympic Games London

1910

In 2020 Tuesday 28 January 20TH CENTURY DESIGN Tuesday 11 February OUT OF THE ORDINARY Tuesday 28 April MODERN BRITISH AND 20TH CENTURY ART Entries close 13 March Wednesday 27 May MID-CENTURY AND MODERN DESIGN Entries close 3 April Tuesday 21 July ARTS AND CRAFTS AND BEYOND Entries close 5 June Tuesday 13 October 20TH CENTURY DESIGN Entries close 28 August Tuesday 27 October MODERN BRITISH AND 20TH CENTURY ART Entries close 11 September Tuesday 24 November THE SWINGING SIXTIES Entries close 25 September

First World War

1920 ART DECO Wall Street Crash

1930 Second World War

1940 D-Day

1950 Festival of Britain Commercial TV Begins

1960

MID CENTURY MODERN DESIGN

THE SWINGING SIXTIES First Man on the Moon

England Win the Football World Cup

1970 Star Wars Premiered

1980 Invention of the World Wide Web

2000

A NEW MILLENNIUM 8

20th Century Design TUESDAY 28 JANUARY 2020

The 28 January auction includes furniture from the London home and Hampshire retreat of American architect MJ Long (1939-2018) who together with her husband Colin St John Wilson (1922-2007) designed the British Library in London. The collection gives a tantalising glimpse into their friendship with artists Eduardo Paolozzi, whose giant bronze ‘Newton’ sits in the British Library courtyard, and RB Kitaj, whose massive tapestry, based on his painting ‘If Not, Not’, hangs in the Library entrance hall. Also included are pieces from the collection of Tom Munro, a London-based fashion photographer who continues to work with many of the leading fashion houses, models and celebrities. John Black - johnblack@sworder.co.uk

9

Sold £204,000 Cedric Morris (1889-1982) 'FOXGLOVE' Signed and dated '32 l.l., also signed, inscribed with title and dated verso, oil on canvas

Modern British & 20th Century Art The market for 20th Century and Modern British Art is thriving and dynamic with artists and artistic styles moving in and out of fashion with bewildering speed. Sworders’ knowledge and expertise provide an essential guide through this exciting and challenging marketplace. East Anglia has had, perhaps, more imaginative and successful artists based in the area during the last 200 years than any other area of the UK, with the possible exception of Cornwall and St Ives. We have enjoyed particular success with Great Bardfield Artists including Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden, and with The Benton End School led by Cedric Morris for whose work we currently hold the world record auction price of £204,000. Jane Oakley – janeoakley@sworder.co.uk FORTHCOMING AUCTIONS Tuesday 28 April entries close 13 March Tuesday 27 October entries close 11 September

10

Sold £50,000 Emily Young (b.1951) ‘THE FORMALITY OF COUPLES’ Stone

Asian Art As the Chinese economy has flourished, so has the appetite and demand for Chinese works of art. This is a dynamic sector of the market which requires considerable skill and expertise to negotiate successfully. Sworders’ Asian Art auctions, firmly established fixtures in the international auction calendar, are staged to coincide with Asian Art Weeks in London, when leading dealers and collectors descend on the capital in May and November. Our Asian Art department is headed by Yexue Li whose knowledge and expertise is key to our success. For our clients’ ease and convenience the auctions are displayed in our central London gallery and conducted in The Westbury Hotel adjacent to New Bond Street. Yexue Li – yexueli@sworder.co.uk FORTHCOMING AUCTIONS Friday 15 May (at the Westbury Mayfair Hotel, London) and Wednesday 20 May entries close 27 March Friday 6 November (at the Westbury Mayfair Hotel, London) and Wednesday 11 November entries close 4 September

Sold £39,500 A Chinese gilt bronze Mahakala

Sold £92,000 A Chinese famille rose charger, 19th century

Sold £485,000 A Chinese imperial inscribed famille rose wall vase, Qianlong (1736-1795)

11

Out of the Ordinary 2020

The 2020 Out of the Ordinary sale will be the largest ever with over 500 lots of the weird and the wonderful, including: Folk Art | Fine Taxidermy | Witchcraft | Macabre | Tribal Art Medical History | Military Art | Space Travel | Grayson Perry Waxworks | Magic | Erotica | Mermaids | Punk | Devil Worship Film Posters | Photography | Pictures | Unusual Signs | Hammer Horror | Contemporary Art | Circus | Palmistry | Freaks | Glamour Arcade Machines | Contemporary Sculpture | Marilyn Monroe Travel History | Motoring Art We are pleased to announce that the sale will include the weird and wonderful world of Harry Diamond. Harry Diamond is an artist, obsessor and visionary who creates for his own enjoyment, he is an eccentric whose extraordinary collection is an extension of his personality. We challenge you to come and be amazed, inspired and delighted by his extraordinary ‘Le Dark Fantastique’ collection. Mark Wilkinson - markwilkinson@sworder.co.uk

Taxidermy rat from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Items from the Harry Diamond ‘Le Dark Fantastique’ Collection.

12

A 1930s theatrical dragon full head mask, possibly French

Sold £4,500 A French late 19th century diamond set brooch pendant, c.1890 Sold £8,000 A gentlemen’s 18ct gold Patek Philippe Calatrava mechanical strap watch

Sold £16,000 An Art Deco single stone diamond ring, with an old European cut diamond

Jewellery

Sworders’ auctions of Jewellery and Watches are a successful and established fixture. The demand for both jewellery and wristwatches is international, with buyers from the USA, the Middle and Far East regularly competing, especially for natural pearls, fine gemstones and designer wristwatches. The market is broad-based with 18th and 19th century pieces as popular as the work of more modern designers such as Sybil Dunlop and Andrew Grima. Our jewellery team has been strengthened with the arrival of Stephen Giles a former head of a leading London auction room’s jewellery department. To accommodate the continuing growth and demand, we plan to further develop our calendar of sales next year. FORTHCOMING AUCTIONS Wednesday 8 April - Jewellery, Silver & Luxury Goods entries close 13 March Tuesday 7 July - Fine Jewellery, Watches & Luxury Handbags entries close 7 May Wednesday 9 September - Jewellery, Silver & Luxury Goods entries close 14 August Tuesday 10 November - Fine Jewellery, Watches & Luxury Handbags entries close 11 September

Catriona Smith catrionasmith@sworder.co.uk

Catrin Jones catrinjones@sworder.co.uk

Stephen Giles stephengiles@sworder.co.uk

13

Sworders’ House Sales Recent Sworders’ Successes

The two principal criteria to a successful auction remain presentation and provenance. Our fully illustrated and stylishly presented catalogues offer the former and a single owner house contents or collection the latter. Sworders have enjoyed considerable success during the last two years offering several substantial and eagerly sought-after house contents for auction. These auctions are overseen by the senior management team, who remain as the point of contact for the client, whilst working closely with our specialist departments to ensure the highest quality of service and experience. Our ability to effectively market these auctions, ensuring they are seen by the right audience, has resulted in them often exceeding their estimates.

THE PRINCIPAL CONTENTS OF NORTH MYMMS PARK

Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 April 2018

THE BARBARA HOLLIDAY COLLECTION

Tuesday 15 January 2019

THE PRINCIPAL CONTENTS OF ALDERLEY HOUSE

Tuesday 23 July 2019

14

For further advice contact Guy Schooling guyschooling@sworder.co.uk Luke Macdonald lukemacdonald@sworder.co.uk

Fine Interiors

TUESDAY 10 & WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2020

Sworders’ flagship auctions remain our Fine Interiors Sales where we offer British and European paintings, furniture and works of art, which aim to provide homes with lustre and a sense of style and theatre. The catalogues, in a ‘magalogue’ style which illustrate how pieces may look in a domestic setting, continue to set the standard for auction catalogue presentation. James Pickup and Alexander Hallett - fineinteriors@sworder.co.uk

UPPER SWELL FARM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Sworders are delighted to offer the excess contents, following the recent sale, of Upper Swell Farm, the interiors of which have been curated by interior designer, Felicity Loudon of ‘The Private House’. The furnishings reflect a painted Swedish style, which include marble top console tables, columns, cupboards, commodes and mirrors, upholstery, bronzes, clocks, lamps and lighting. To be offered as a collection within the March Fine Interiors Sale.

THE JAMES BRETT COLLECTION

Over forty years in the business, James has dealt in English and Continental furniture, sculpture and metalwork. He has made many friends in the trade and created an international following of private clients who trust him for both his integrity and unerring eye for quality and style. A friend of many years describes him thus ‘He is one of a dying breed, eccentric in the nicest possible way. He would never wear a pinstripe suit and makes up his own mind about how to do business’. Ill health has now forced James to part with some of his final treasures. 15

Sold £21,500 Craigie Aitchison RA (1926-2009) CRUCIFIXION

Sold £21,000 A yellow and white gold, single stone, fancy vivid yellow diamond ring

Sold £19,000 Maurice Guiraud-Rivière (1881-1947), 'The Comet' Sold £34,500 A Chinese gilt bronze incense burner, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

2019 Highlights Sold £64,000 Cedric Morris (1889-1982) DROUGHT, OXFORDSHIRE, 1933

Sold £25,000 A French kingwood and gilt bronze-mounted vitrine, by François Linke

16

Sold £16,500 An Ice Age (Pleistocene) cave bear skeleton

Sold £5,000 A silver beaker, by William Egan & Sons of Cork 1930

Sold £40,000 Emile Claus (Belgian, 1849-1924) A PASTORAL SCENE WITH CHILDREN AND CATTLE BY A POND, oil on canvas

Sold £3,700 A pair of Clarice Cliff 'Football' meiping vases

Sold £39,500 A Chinese tea bowl, Yongzheng (1723-1735)

Sold £122,000 An Italian carved marble bust of an emperor

Sold £39,500 Mary Fedden RA (1915-2012) 'GARDEN BUNCH'

Sold £5,000 A late Victorian sapphire and diamond sunburst brooch/pendant, c.1890

Sold £3,000 A Minton majolica tortoise teapot and cover

Sold £2,800 A Chanel matelassé lambskin leather shoulder bag

17

Sporting Art, Wildlife and Dogs WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE 2020

FURTHER ENTRIES INVITED janeoakley@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778

SWORDERS LIVE

0%

Sworders innovative website provides news, views and auction details in an easy to use and lively way. All our auctions are broadcast live, enabling clients to follow bids and watch lots sell live. Additionally, you may now bid live on all our auctions with absolutely no additional charges. All lots are listed and illustrated, making it easy to browse auctions at a time and place that is convenient to you. There is also the facility to set up your own preferences, so you can request that whenever a lot meeting your interests comes to auction, an email alert drops directly into your inbox. Should a lot be of interest to you, there is a simple and straightforward method to leave a commission bid, while results are published on the afternoon of each auction, enabling you to quickly see the prices realised. This is also the place to find details of forthcoming auctions or perhaps to delve into past auction results.

www.sworder.co.uk

Stansted Mountfitchet Auction Rooms Cambridge Road | Stansted Mountfitchet Essex | CM24 8GE T: 01279 817778 E: auctions@sworder.co.uk Hertford 42 St Andrew Street | Hertford | SG14 1JA T: 01992 583508 E: hertfordoffice@sworder.co.uk London 15 Cecil Court | London | WC2N 4EZ T: 0203 971 2500 E: london@sworder.co.uk Kent T: 01732 757675 E: kent@sworder.co.uk www.sworder.co.uk

@swordersfineart

Edward Henry Corbould (1815-1906) THE CANTERBURY PILGRIMS Oil on card Est. £4,000-6,000