Bonhams

Made in Scotland sale tops £2M record in seventh year

This year’s Scottish Sale proved another record-breaker, with notable prices in every section.

The main highlights of the picture sale were Leslie Hunter’s exceptional still life of pink roses and fruit, which had been purchased directly for the artist and passed down two generations to the vendor. It realised a world auction record of £225,000 hammer. More unusual, certainly, and even more spectacular in terms of price was Alexander Carse’s ‘Foot-ball Play’ of 1830, which was keenly contested to a Bonhams house record of £240,000.

Clients have been become particularly selective when bidding on 19thc pictures, but overall this area performed very well. Skeoch Cumming’s romantic image of the Duchess of Gordon raising the Gordon Highlanders was particularly well-presented, in an ornate frame with military motifs, but was ultimately a study; however it sailed to £32,000. Three fine McTaggart coastal scenes made £27,000, very encouraging for a major artist who sells erratically at auction. An unsigned Stuart Park still life of roses, the best I have ever seen yet unframed and requiring some attention, proved that ‘quality will out’ as several parties bid it up to £20,000. The Glasgow School continue to be in demand, as does James Kay on his better days – his Princes St view made almost £10,000.

There were strong prices in general for the Hunter and Peploe but especially interesting was a chic Paris scene by John Maclauchlan Milne. He worked alongside Peploe and Cadell in the 1920’s and this picture, painted some ten years after Fergusson’s celebrated boulevard images (made evident by the presence of cars), made an auction record of £43,000.

Anne Redpath’s concise and powerful ‘Marigolds’, bought in the mid 1940’s, proved once again how commercial she can be with a winning bid of £62,000, despite modest dimensions. Another small still life of cyclamen, painted ten years later, made £20,000. Likewise Joan Eardley, represented by a very fine and early view of Rottenrow, Glasgow, which exceeded £20,000 despite being only 14 x 10 inches and lacking a signature. A stylish figure study by rarely-seen Robert Colquhoun made a similar figure.

Of the modern period, McIntosh Patrick’s tiny, gem-like ‘Stobo Kirk’ benefited from an interesting provenance to make £16,000, while David McClure’s stock continues to rise. With Mary Armour, Morrocco and Vettriano performing well it was a satisfying, and encouraging, result.

The Winter Fine Sale this year will be held on December 8th, closing late October; for a free, confidential sales valuation, without obligation, please call May Matthews to arrange a visit.

Posted: 09|2|06 at 10:49 am. Filed under: UK News.