Signed Lowry prints are hot property in the auction world and three – discovered at a free valuation event in Cheshire – are destined to make thousands of pounds when they go under the hammer.
British artist Laurence Stephen Lowry is a household name thanks to his distinctive ‘matchstick men’ figures and unmistakable canvases that capture working class life in the north.
His original oil paintings sell for millions of pounds and today even his limited-edition signed prints can fetch impressive sums. The Holy Grail of Lowry prints is ‘Going to the Match’, with one example selling for £22,000 in 2015. Plus, many of his other prints make between £1,000-£5,000 at auction.
Consequently, Hansons’ fine art expert Adrian Rathbone was thrilled to uncover three signed Lowry prints at a valuation event at The Coach and Four in Wilmslow. They include The Beach 1947, estimate £2,000-£3,000; Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, estimate £1,500-£2,500, and The Contraption, estimate £1,500-£2,000. All are due to be sold on December 12 in Hansons’ Fine Art Auction at Bishton Hall, Staffs.
Mr Rathbone said: “I was delighted to find these pictures in Wilmslow. Lowry prints are one of the big auction success stories of recent years. Prices are rising and holding up well. Such is the demand for them, we have keen buyers on our books willing to pay above market price.”
Lowry, who lived from 1887-1976, captured many scenes in Pendlebury, Lancashire, where he lived and worked for more than 40 years, and also Salford and its surrounding areas.
He became famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England in the mid-20th century. He developed a distinctive style and is best known for his urban landscapes peopled with human figures. He painted mysterious unpopulated landscapes, brooding portraits and the unpublished ‘marionette’ works, which were only found after his death.
Hansons will be holding monthly free antique valuation event in Cheshire from March to November in 2020. Their team will be at The Coach and Four, 69/71 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, SK9 1PA, on March 19, 11am-2pm. For a full list of 2020 dates, visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or call 01283 733988.
