Interiors Sale at Lyon and Turnbull (29/03/14)

Today was our quarterly 'Interiors' sale at Broughton Place. There were ao many great lots including this stag head -

Which sold for £750. And also an interesting head board...

Perfect for any contemporary interior scheme. Many items that I was interested in went way above their too estimate but I was lucky enough to buy these fabulous arts and crafts Liberty style side tables. They are inlaid with mother of pearl.

The arts and crafts movement really inspires me and the designs always catch my eye... Excited to add this to my ever growing collection!

I also managed to add to my Lena Alexander collection with a pink and white pastel flower study...

The sale was a huge success and it was another great day at Broughton Place. I can't wait for the next sale ... Decorative Arts on 16th of April. Check out the catalogue on our website

www.lyonandturnbull.com

J D Fergusson Seminar, 20th March 2014. National Galleries of Scotland

Last Thursday I went through to Edinburgh for a seminar on one of the most successful and well known Scottish Artists. He was one of four artists from Scotland known together as the 'Scottish Colourists'. J D Fergusson was born in Leith in 1874, travelled all over the UK and France to eventually setting in Glasgow in 1939.

Fergusson painted landscapes and various other subjects but latterly he turned to his stylised female form for which he is best known. (Previously shown in an earlier blog entry). The seminar was more about his life and work as an artist, his relationship with Anne Estelle Rice and then Margaret Morris. His connections with other noted members of the art world of the time - most notably the 'Toshies' Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh.

The day was held in he Hawthornden Lecture Theatre and was hosted by curator Alice Strang. She has been the mastermind behind the 'Colourist Series' that has so far looked at S J Peploe, F C B Caddell and now J D Fergusson. Speakers were invited to talk around the subject of Fergussons art, his life, career, social circles and how he was influenced by the people around him.

Jonathan Blackwood an indépendant art historian and curator gave a lecture on 'Fergusson as a Sculptor-Painter'. He went onto explain that not only was Fergusson painting such fascinating pictures but he was creating art in the third dimension. His sculptures were not only well crafted but very stylised in design and form. He showed his three dimensional works within his two dimensional flat works which was unheard of.Blackwood went to to say that Fergusson was always trying to convey movement through the female form using foliage and colour his funicular modernism techniques were ahead of their time.

Alice Strang then gave a lecture on his group of Portsmouth landscapes. These are a set of landscapes done during the war years where Fergusson managed to get himself positioned as a war time artist (unofficial) so as not to conscript and have to fight. These were completely new ground for Fergusson and let him draw and paint huge machinery in a completely different setting to the streets in Paris or his indoor studio!

It has been said that Portsmouth docks saved Fergusson from active service and if any of the readers knew him they wouldn't be surprised. He was incredibly vain, perfectly turned out and always loved getting attention and posing for photographs. In some ways he was very selfish not to go to war but he put it down to his political views 'sitting on the fence'

Charlotte De Mille from the Courtauld Institute of Art gave a lecture on 'Fergusson's Bergson' which was lengthly and strayed slightly into academia and philosophy. Followed by Richard Emerson formerly of the National Trust for Scotland gave a great account of Fergusson and Meg's relationship with the Mackintosh's and the rest of the art world in Chelsea at the time.

The seminar was a fantastic and interesting day and I would urge anyone who hasn't been to Modern Two to see the Colourist Series:J D Fergusson exhibition to go!

Robert (Mouseman) Thompson

I have another purchase to add to my Mouseman collection! It arrived today and I am so happy with it. The traditional book trough is dated to the 1930s. 

Now all I need to so is fill it with some decorative leather bindings! 

I am very excited for the next Decorative Arts sale at Lyon and Turnbull in April-they have a refectory table by the Mouseman and I just need to find £3,000-5,000 to buy it!

No matter how big or small the piece of craftsmanship the little mouse stands proud in the design. The arts and crafts style pieces are carved perfectly (usually in oak) and have individual character in each piece. 

My collection is growing and I am excited to see what else I can pick up!

Sale 403 Wednesday 19th March 2014

Lyon and Turnbull's saleroom in Broughton Place, Edinburgh. Housed within a magnificent neo classical building the sale commands two levels - the main space and an upper gallery. Originally built as a church the Directors of the newly formed L&T bought the building in 1999 and started renovating to make a wonderful back drop for our fine art auctions!

Today was our contemporary sale and there were some absolutely cracking lots. Below is a Mary Webb. The colour draws the viewer in straight away with a striking mustard yellow and vibrant red. The tryptic style design of the canvas is split down the middle by a black and white section. This creates the illusion of depth and space, as though the middle panel is completely separate to the flanking colour panels. Due to the shapes she has used to depict her colour the viewer is drawn in and around and around the painting, captured into a new dimension. 

It is a very attractive piece but might be to dominating in anywhere but a large space. It would sit well with a contemporary design and minimalist colour pallet. It sold for £3,000 and I am actually mad I let it slip away right under my nose!

Lot 77

§ MARY WEBB (BRITISH B.1939) SPRING COLOUR STUDY 14 1994 183cm x 183cm (72in x 72in)

Sold for £3,000 (premium inclusive)

A classic still life by Norman Edgar are usually among my favourite pieces within any of our auctions. This fine example is a large piece of work centrally focused on the bright and beautiful jug of flowers centrally positioned in the painting. It could take pride of place in any home and would sit well within a contemporary or traditional interior. This one, however, did not sell so it could still be yours! At the bargain price of £1,500 and I am quite tempted!

Lot 169

§ NORMAN EDGAR R.G.I. (SCOTTISH B.1948) AUTUMN STILL LIFE 103cm x 98cm (40.5in x 38.5in)

Estimate: £1500  - 2500

Unsold

Overall the Contemporary sale was a great success and I was very happy to be through in the Edinburgh location to be on hand. Our next one will be in August and consignments for that will be taken until the end of June.

Sale No 403 - Contemporary & Post-War Art

Callum Innes, Untitled 2009

 

 

Lyon and Turnbull's 'Contemporary & Post-War Art' sale tomorrow looks to be a very exciting day at the Edinburgh sale room. Kick off is at 11am and there is a wide range of pieces on offer. As ever there are pieces by a few of my favourites; Norman Edgar, John Cunningham, George Devlin, Alexander Goudie to name but a few. Silk screen prints of Marilyn Munro and an untitled piece by Callum Innes really bring the sale to life.

 

There are a few Bellany's to choose from - however I think that the example below stands out at £2,000 - 3,000.

 

John Bellany, Ship In Harbour

 

My favourite and star of the sale are these pair by Sarah Morris. Estimated at £700-900 anyone can have a bash at bidding and the saleroom will no doubt get very exciting! These silkscreen prints are exactly what younger generations want to decorate their interiors. The presence they command in a room by taking up just enough wall space lets us express ourselves without having to take things too far, feel too 'arty', 'edgy' or 'alternative'.

 

Sarah Morris, Freemount Street Experience 2000

 

 

Check the sale out below and see what you like. Buying at auction is a lot cheaper than paying retail in a gallery so you never know what you may be able to afford!

 

http://www.lyonandturnbull.com/asp/searchresults.asp?pg=1&ps=25&st=D&sale_no=403

Battersea Affordable Art Fair

The Art Fair - Way back when, in 1996, Will Ramsay opened Will’s Art Warehouse in southwest London to bridge the increasing interest in contemporary art and the London gallery scene. By concentrating on relatively unknown artists not carrying a premium for reputation, the gallery was able to offer works from £50 – £2,500 from a stable of over 150 artists. The response Will received to his Art Warehouse inspired him to take his approach to the next level, and 3 years later the Affordable Art Fair was born. Embracing other friendly galleries selling affordable art, the first fair launched in Battersea Park in October 1999. 10,000 visitors took advantage of the ease of buying, breadth of choice, affordable prices and user-friendly approach.

 

 

I was in London over the weekend for various art events, on Saturday morning I visited the Battersea Affordable Art Fair for the first time! It was very reminiscent of when I used to help out at the Scottish fairs when I was younger, sadly the Glasgow Art Fair is no longer. Rows and rows of white cubicles crammed with sculpture, paintings and works of art. Hundreds of gallery assistants and sales people jumping out from behind their computer screen if you showed any sign of interest.

 

 

 

 

I saw artists like Mhairi McGregor that I am used to seeing, Billy Childish and many more. It is really worth a visit and would highly recommend it. The variety of works on show would cater to anyone's needs and tastes. Prices ranged from £50 to £5,000 so it was hardly Bond Street prices!

 

 

http://affordableartfair.com/battersea/

 

J D Fergusson (1874-1961)

As part of their Scottish Colourist series The National Galleries of Modern Art, Edinburgh, have a J D Fergusson exhibition running until June 15th. As the artist spent a great deal of his later life in Glasgow (Clouston Street) I felt it appropriate to appreciate his work. I put together a little exhibition in Lyon and Turnbull's Glasgow office and Gallery on Bath Street. I borrowed fifteen works from private lenders and created a wonderful show for the month of February. I had examples of landscapes, female portraiture, conte drawings, sculpture and watercolour.

Here is a press cutting from the exhibition. It is myself pictured with 'Eastre, Hymm to the sun' (1924). This is probably one of J D Fergussons most iconic works. It's made of polished brass and was modelled in 1924. The actual casting didn't take place for a few years due to expense but since the original it has been recast in 1972 and 1991 and was used as a catalyst for fundraising for the Fergusson Gallery in Perth. 

One of the stars of the show was the small 6"x9" 'Pont Des Arts, 1910' Paris scene. These little J D Fergusson works are often much more desired than his later stylised female forms. These were painted early on in his career when he was living quite a bohemian lifestyle in the Paris cafe scene. He would sketch at the lunch table and then take a board outside and produce wonderful oil paintings 'en plein air'

Laterally J D Fergusson was best known for his stylised depiction of ladies, generally their head and shoulders, illustrated below in 'Blonde in the South'. His inspiration was  taken from his long periods of time spent in the South of France, predominantly Antibes. The face of the girl is quite simple and very flat on the canvas, her eyes have little definition but overall the image is very effective. As you move further down the female form she blends into the foliage around her and one is not too sure whether she is wearing a dress? 

I very much enjoyed curating this little exhibition and I hope the 250 that viewed it did too! I'm already working towards my next exhibition which will be 'Mackintosh and The Glasgow School'. If you haven't already been through to the Edinburgh J D Fergusson show it is well worth a trip!

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/the-scottish-colourists-series-jd-fergusson

MCM at Chatsworth

On Friday 14th March, Michael Craig Martin opened at Chatsworth, in association with Gagosian Gallery.

 

 

The exhibition runs 16 March - 29 June 2014

 

 

 

 

http://www.chatsworth.org/whats-on/events/michael-craig-martin-at-chatsworth

My painting and drawing class...

My friend Samantha and I have been taking some art classes. She has a degree in Art and Design, I haven't painted since high school! The first couple of weeks were hard getting back into it and trying to remember techniques and touches that I used to do no problem with acrylic paints! On the fifth Thursday I changed to oils... It was much more satisfying! Two hour sessions for two weeks let me produce this (unfinished) piece of work which I am actually quite proud of!

Unfortunately I am in London today so I couldn't make the class, but next week I will get this bad boy finished and onto the next work! If only for a short amount of time each week it helped me to relax and express another edge to my creative nature. I am thoroughly enjoying the class now and the tutor Robert Wilson is an astonishingly talented and accomplished contemporary artist himself. The picture below is my second attempt at a seascape...I think my style evolved as the classes went on.

The class is at House For An Art Lover in Bellahouston Park. It is a modern build built to the original drawings by Glaswegian renowned architect and interior designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Check their page out below. They run classes for a 12 week block from beginner to more advanced.

http://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk

Beaumont and Fletcher

http://www.beaumontandfletcher.com

'Beaumont and Fletcher provides the Interior Design Industry with a rare source of beautifully designed textiles, furniture and accessories, creating a truly individual style in a highly competitive industry'

I first came across Beaumont and Fletcher when my friends mother told me of the new sofa she had ordered. She was expressing such delight at the service she had received and that she was so excited for the sofa to arrive. She handed me the catalogue and I had a look. Straight away I saw elegance and style. For someone who works in the Antiques and Interior Design world - I am quite used to seeing nice pieces of furniture but I was amazed at the quality and detail that went into these pieces for such reasonable prices. (A pair of these sofas will set you back approx. £10,000)

Beaumont Fletcher are the modern Howard and Sons which adorn our country piles all over the UK. They are the Jaguar equivalent to the soft furnishing world. Each piece is hand built and there are unlimited optional extras, e.g., trims, wood stains, button, fringing etc the list goes on and on. They have such a diverse range of fabrics and colours that even though they are semi made to order and not bespoke you can create unique pieces again and again.

A Beaumont and Fletcher sofa will last a lifetime...

Robert (Mouseman) Thompson

I recently purchased these bookends which I am so delighted with. They were something I always admired in my Grandparents home and now I have my own set. 

Robert Thompson (1876-1955) was a British furniture maker living and working in Kilburn, North Yorkshire. He was part of the 1920's craftsmanship revival, inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. Almost every piece features a carved mouse which is claimed to have stemed from a joke about 'being as poor as a church mouse'... I love this type of craftsmanship and I can't wait to build upon my collection...

Illustration shows my bookends in use! (15x9x9cm)