Unique artwork by an internationally-renowned sculptor is set for auction after being bought on a whim by a Derbyshire businessman – who won it after accidentally bidding against himself!
And he hopes to have an Only Fools and Horses’ Del-Boy-moment of fainting with shock when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers – because he believes it deserves to sell for £100,000.
Gareth Palmer enjoys buying and selling all manner of things on eBay, including limited-edition sculptures, and last October a random internet search led him to a striking artwork entitled Twisting by the pool.
The 4.4m-high stainless-steel structure was by Scottish sculptor Malcolm Robertson. Made in 1996, it was commissioned to adorn the grounds of a company based in Rosyth, Scotland. However, the factory closed and it was sold off, according to Gareth.
The 62-year-old Derby man, MD of Caladen of Long Eaton, suppliers of microduct and pneumatic connectors, said: “It was bought by a Scottish blacksmith in 2001 and he kept it in his yard for many years. He eventually decided to sell and it ended up on eBay. I spotted it and must admit I’d drank a bottle-and-a-bit of wine when I started bidding.
“The price kept going up and I thought I’d been outbid. Then I realised I was bidding against myself! I have two eBay accounts, one on my iPad and one on my iPhone. I eventually outbid myself and won it!
“I realised it was an important sculpture. My research led me to Malcolm Robertson’s website. He’s a multiple-award-winning sculptor with a broad body of work dotted around the UK and abroad. His work is held in private collections and several sculptures are in Florida in the Unites States.
“I understand this is the first time one of his sculptures has become available to buy at a traditional auction. He’s so highly regarded he is always commissioned. I also discovered Twisting by the pool originally cost £70,000 when it was made 26 years ago.
“I paid under £20,000 and it cost me around £5,500 to get it transported from Scotland to Derbyshire. There was one failed collection attempt because I was told it was four metres high. It turned out to be 4.4m and the lorry couldn’t get it under a low bridge. That cost me £600. It also ended up with a police escort which cost another £800!
“Eventually I got the artwork to Derbyshire and it’s been stored at a builder’s yard in Shardlow ever since. It’s been hidden away for 20 years but it deserves to be seen and on public display, so I’ve decided to sell it.
“It’s going to auction with an estimate of £20,000-£30,000 but I think it’s worth £100,000. You couldn’t even make it today for £20,000. Plus, it is a unique work of art by a respected sculptor. I’m hoping for a Del-Boy-moment at the auction where you’ll see me fall over backwards with shock as the hammer falls. That’s what I want.”
Karl Martin, valuer at Hansons, said: “It’s an incredibly impressive work of art and, as Gareth says, deserves to be on public display. It’s currently standing tall outside Hansons’ Derbyshire saleroom in Etwall so, if you’re passing, do take a look.
“Robertson uses surreal imagery to create art which is visually striking and unusual. He’s been heavily involved in creating public artworks during his career so it would be fitting if an art connoisseur gave it a new home where people could see and appreciate it.”
Robertson graduated in sculpture at Glasgow School of Art in 1974 and was awarded a teaching diploma by Jordanhill College of Education in 1975. After three years spent working as an art teacher in Argyll, he went on to win international recognition for his work as Town Artist at Glenrothes, Scotland, from 1978-1990. He liaised with the planning department to create site-specific sculpture, artworks and murals.
He established a professional practice in 1991 and has an extensive portfolio of sculptures and artworks in the UK, Germany, India and the USA. To find out more, visit https://www.malcolmrobertson.com/
Twisting by the pool by Malcolm Robertson will be offered by Hansons Auctioneers on September 27 in the 20th Century Design Auction. To find out more, or to enter an item into the sale, email Barry Jones: [email protected].
