Fine Art Auction Preview
Brian Goodison-Blanks has a look at some of the 20th Century furniture in the upcoming
April 2015 Fine Art Auction on 21st/22nd April 2015 while reflecting on the deep
knowledge and expertise of his fellow fine art specialists, which often leads single
owner and lifetime collections to be sold through Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood,
such as the collection of 18th and 19th Century children's ceramics that is
being offered in the same sale.
The Eames Lounge Chair (FS26/998) is considered to be one of the greatest design
pieces of the 20th century.
One of the questions auctioneers are constantly asked is 'where does it all come
from?' Well the simple answer is that it's all around you. It is as much a question
of knowing what is fashionable as it is to know what you are looking at. While the
high end sections for the traditional market of
period furniture,
pictures,
silver
and
cerarmics
will always be the same, a good auctioneer will always be able to spot that something
different that others might overlook. The next
Fine Art auction
at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood's Exeter saleroom on 21st/22nd April 2015, is
a good example of the talents of the wide range of specialists at picking out those
extra individual pieces.
The presence of a small carved figure of a mouse on one of the legs of this dining
table (FS26/988) instantly tells us that it is by Robert Thompson (1876-1955), better
known as Mouseman.
Among the furniture are a number of pieces of interest that at first glance may
appear to be plain and uninteresting, but reveal far more upon closer inspection
than you may think. Though at first a rather plain looking and perhaps chunky
dining table
(FS26/991), the presence of a small carved figure of a mouse on one of the legs
instantly tells us that it is by Robert Thompson (1876-1955) better known as Mouseman.
Inspired by the revival of the
Arts and Crafts Movement
in the 1920s, his work is recognisable for the hand crafted finish and peg jointed
construction. The origin of the mouse is said to have been from a conversation
with a colleague while working in a church in which they commented that they were
'as poor as church mice', which led to Thompson carving a figure of a mouse on his
work from then on. Smaller boxes and lamps by Mouseman often turn up at auction
and are eagerly sought after by collectors. This larger piece will no doubt easily
reach the upper end of its pre-sale estimate of £3,000-5,000.
Often overlooked by those who are ingrained with the more traditional notion of
antiques, 20th century design is an ever increasing market with buyers in the digital
age. The forward thinking of designers from the 1960s onwards is now in demand for
those who are looking for 'retro', 'vintage' or 'classic' design.
There are many designers of note from Joe Colombo and Arne Jacobsen
to Frank Lloyd Wright that make this area a vast source for an auctioneer
and which is often overlooked by many.
One prime example and considered to be one of the greatest design pieces of the
20th century is the
Eames lounge Chair
(FS26/988) that is included in the auction. Designed by Ray Eames and Charles
Eames in the 1950s for Herman Miller it was a pioneering
design and use of modern plywood and plastic construction techniques that has outlasted
many other designs since, and will continue to do so. Certainly this example from
the 1970s will attract buyers with a pre-sale estimate of £1,000-1,500.
The expertise of our specialists leads to many single owner or lifetime collections
being sold through Bearnes Hampton & Littlewoods, including this collection
of 18th and 19th century children's ceramics.
It is not only the knowledge of
Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood's specialists
in the upcoming market that provide them with an edge over their competitors, but
also their ability to identify niches in the traditional market that are overlooked
by other salerooms. This ability and experience has led to the consignment of many
single owner and lifetime collections to auction over the years. One such collection
in the forthcoming auction is a collection of 18th and 19th century children's ceramics.
One of the most varied and confusing areas of ceramics due to the proliferation
of products from all of the major factories, as well as many unidentified factories
of the 19th century, it is a specialist knowledge of the area that sets Bearnes
Hampton & Littlewood apart. As many of the pieces were unmarked and factories copied
(and sometimes even stole) designs the collection is certainly a good insight
into a niche area of collecting that will attract new buyers and collectors to the
area.
- Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
- Robert Thompson (1876-1955)
- Ray Eames
- Charles Eames
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