A painting by one of Canada’s greatest artists – found in a Surrey cottage – swept to success at a Hansons London auction.
An evocative landscape oil on canvas by David Milne (lot 79) was among an eclectic mix of art treasures uncovered at Eaton Cottage, Thames Ditton, Surrey.
American art critic Clement Greenberg described Milne as one of the three greatest North American artists of his generation. After his death, the National Gallery of Canada organised a retrospective of his work (1955–56) and in 2005 an exhibit of Milne’s watercolours travelled from the British Museum to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
In June 1992 Canada Post issued ‘Red Nasturtiums, David B. Milne, 1937’ in the Masterpieces of Canadian art series.
With pedigree so strong, room, internet and three phone bidders battled to own the rediscovered painting, dated 1950, which demonstrated Milne’s distinctive modernist style. The hammer finally fell at £38,000 to a phone bidder who was a private international collector
Chris Kirkham, associate director of Hanson London, said: “This was one of four paintings found at Eaton Cottage which sparked huge interest. The collection we uncovered was gathered over 80 years by the late Alastair Stewart and his son Torquil.”
Alastair Stewart (1908-1979) was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and the Chief of Art Restoration for the former Ministry of Works. Torquil, 81, is retired from the film industry.
Mr Kirkham said: “Their knowledge and taste shone brightly in what was one of the most outstanding private collections we have ever had the privilege of handling.”
As well as the Milne painting found at Eaton Cottage, Hansons London discovered a 16th/17th century Italian school old master, oil on canvas of a bearded man. It sold for £23,000 to a private international buyer. (lot 72)
Lot 57
There was also strong interest in lot 57, a religious painting attributed to Italian Renaissance artist Francesco Granacci (1469-1543). He worked with Michelangelo and painted frescoes at the church of San Marco, Florence, for Italian stateman and patron of the arts Lorenzo de’Medici.
Mr Kirkham said: “Inevitably, there was major interest from Italy in lot 57 but the painting sold for a hammer price of £10,000 to a UK bidder.”
Another Eaton Cottage find to do well was lot 70, an interesting old master portrait, laid on canvas, probably 17th century. It sold for a hammer price of £7,000 to a UK buyer.
Lot 72/Lot 70
Other top lots in Hansons London February 22 sale included lot 467, a Chinese porcelain blue and white bowl, decorated with eight deities and bearing a Yongzheng mark to its base. Acquired by an English Colonial family in the 1930s, it sparked huge interest with seven phone lines booked. It sold to an international phone bidder for a hammer price of £26,000.
Lot 470, three Chinese Qing dynasty porcelain lotus plates which came to market with the same provenance as the Yongzheng bowl made £3,200 and went to an international buyer.
Lot 467
Watches and jewellery were also in demand. Lot 150, a scarce, circa 1965 Omega Speedmaster gentleman’s stainless steel watch sold for £6,200 to a private UK buyer.
Meanwhile Lot 149, a pair of Art Deco precious white metal diamond dress clips featuring 19 graduated brilliant cut diamonds reached £4,400. Also popular were lot 172, a precious yellow metal diamond solitaire ring which made £3,600 and lot 261, a white precious white metal, aquamarine and diamond dress ring. It was contested to £2,800.
Mr Kirkham said: “This was one of Hansons London’s most successful sales to date. It was a truly exciting auction and wonderful to be part of it from start to finish. It proves Hansons can deliver market-leading prices.”
Hansons London is now sourcing items for its April 25 auction at the Normansfield Theatre, 2A Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS. Entries invited until April 4, To find out more, call 0207 018 9300 or email [email protected].
