Contemporary and 20th Century Art Auction Preview
Published 14th August 2020
The 20th Century & Contemporary Sale on 9th September 2020 includes pictures, art glass, studio pottery, sculpture, bronzes, designer jewellery and designer furniture with estimates ranging from £50 to £10,000.
Among the major paintings is a 1987 Mary Fedden still life titled The Red Table (CC04/114) estimated at £8,000-£12,000 and with a similar estimate, a 1968 Terry Frost abstract in bright angular-form colours titled May–June (CC04/110).
The auction also includes a number of works by Fred Yates, two of which are large oils packed with detail and narrative. One, titled The Boudoir Interior (CC04/120) is a patchwork of colour and shape with a large bed in the centre and a lady welcoming a visitor. The other, The Sailor's Homecoming (CC04/121), lights-up another bedroom interior full of detail and depicts a naked man and his scantily dressed partner preparing for their reunion. Both of these major Yates paintings are estimated at £4,000-£6,000.
The John Randall Bratby 1950s self-portrait (CC04/124) is another strong image. The artist depicts himself playing a trumpet in his Chiswick kitchen interior, estimate is £5,000-£7,000.
The jewellery section of the sale includes a Georg Jensen inspired brooch (CC04/127) in the form of a Mobius Curve, being a strip of silver with a single edge that is gracefully twisted to form a loop. The estimate for the mathematical-design puzzle is a more straight-forward £100-150.
In a section of sculpture and design is an eye-catching collection of works by Justin Knowles (1935-2004) that includes geometric collages, marble and steel sculptures, and six fine quality cast bronze art-form concept pieces with estimates from £150.
The art glass and studio pottery section has a collection of Val Barry porcelain and stoneware in various forms, many inspired by her visit to China in the 1970s. The Val Barry pieces are offered in small groups with estimates from £80 and among the art glass is a stylish Scandinavian Kosta Boda vase by Kjell Engman (CC04/217) in soft amber, pink and grey colours which is estimated at £50-£70.