Curwen Gallery Blog: CURWEN GALLERY AUCTIONS

LIVE AUCTION
23rd June
ONLINE AUCTION
Ends 22nd June

It's almost upon us! The annual Curwen Gallery Auctions will be taking place this June.

Sheila Jackson, Painted Elephants, screenprints
49 x 37cm, Est. £50-80s

This years auctions will be following the same format as in the four previous years, with one auction taking place live in the gallery (23rd June) and the other happening online (ending on 22nd June).

If you haven't been to our auctions before then you will be in for a treat. The annual auctions are (for good reason) one of the best attended events in our calendar and are an excellent place to buy artwork for a greatly reduced price.

John Hoyland, Curwen Anniversary Print,
lithograph, Est. £200-300 (Retail value £900)

Bidding in the online auction takes place exclusively online but the work is all available to view in the gallery. Bidding in the live auction takes place predominantly in the gallery (although bidding via a video link is possible online) on the evening of 23rd June.

Like the online auction, all the work is available to view in the gallery for the whole of the month of June. Both auction catalogues will be available to view online from early June.

Edward Bawden, Kew Palace, lithograph, 69 x 82cm (framed),
Est. £500-700 (Retail value: £925)

We have just finished preparing the auction lists. We will be keeping the majority of the lists secret until they are officially published on TheSaleroom site in early June, however we can reveal a few of the treasures here...

Brendan Hansbro, Rejuvinated Unicorn,
wood engraving, 11 x 16cm, Est. £30-50

In addition to those pieces pictured we will also be including: John Piper, North Grimstone (Est. £300-500, Retail value £1200) a number of prints and originals from Glynn Boyd Harte (ranging from £100-1000) two screenprints by Donald Hamilton Fraser (both estimated at £300-400, Retail value: £950). There will also be two classic unicorn prints by Brendan Hansbro (both estimated at £30-50) and plenty of Sheila Jackson's popular watercolours with estimates around the £50-100 mark.

Donald Hamilton-Fraser, Launch Wash,
screenprint, 69 x 53cm, Est. 300-400 (Retail value: £950)

The work for sale is a combination of classic pieces which we have acquired from Curwen Studio (often prints from big name artists such as Donald Hamilton- Fraser, Edward Bawden and John Piper) and more contemporary artwork from gallery artists. Estimates range from £5 to £2000 and cover all areas in between.

Albany Wiseman, Horseguards,
lithograph, 57 x 78cm, Est. £50-80 (Retail value:£250)

The auctions are always a great place to find lovely work at a reasonable price, whether you are a dealer buying for investment and re-sale or a new homeowner looking to cover your walls inexpensively. Last year many people also just turned up to see the event itself and then found themselves getting sucked into the bidding with the pull of a bargain drawing them into the action.

Alistair Grant, Sugar Suite Orange, lithograph,
70 x 89cm (framed), Est. £200-300 (Retail value: £425)

There are always some fairly spectacular bargains to be had from the auctions with artwork often being sold for considerably less than its normal retail price and even our estimates.In previous years we have even had legendary Curwen prints going for under £100. Obviously, the prices paid for lots depend entirely on who is in the room during the bidding.

Richard Walker, Move On Up, screenprint,
140 x 101cm (framed), Est. £300-500 (Retail value: £1100)

For the whole of June all of the items in the auction will be available to view in the gallery- with much of the work hanging from floor to ceiling. For that whole period, bidding can take place on the online auction (via TheSaleroom.com) and bids can be left with the gallery staff for the live auction if you can't be present on the night.

Gallery artist Bill Pryde admiring a Henry Moore print in our 2013 auction

On 23rd June interested bidders are invited into the gallery to place their bids at the live auction. Lots will be called from 7pm, with our star auctioneer Dominic Kemp running the operation from behind the gavel.