The Cheffins Art & Design Sale, which took place on 25th May 2023, grossed £347,000 as strong demand was seen across all sections.
The highlight of the sale was a bronze maquette of an eagle by Dame Elisabeth Frink (1920 – 1993) which formed part of the 19-lot collection offered by the estate of Sir Georg Solti, the Hungarian-British composer, and his wife, Sir Lady Solti. The maquette achieved £23,000 and was followed by other high value lots from the Solti household, including a pair of Tete de Femme table lamps, after Alberto Giacometti, which achieved £20,000 and a mixed-media large scale work by Italian contemporary artist, Luca Pignatelli (1962 - ) which sold for £8,500.
Eagle Maquette, Dame Elisabeth Frink
The sale also saw an auction record for the artist Elisabeth Vellacott (1905 – 2002), from the collection of art adviser, Michael Black. Titled, ‘Women hanging out washing’ it achieved £11,500 when it sold to a local collector.
Women hanging out washing, Elisabeth Vellacott
Cheffins’ ongoing success with Martin Brothers pottery also continued, with a private collection of 13 pieces selling for £31,000 in total, with a stoneware bird jar and cover achieving £9,000. Other highlights included a painting by Ian Davenport (1966 - ), titled ‘Red on Green’ and dated 2008 which sold for £8,500, and a bronze figure by Demetre Chiparus (1886 – 1947), titled ‘The Vested Dancer,’ sold for £7,000.
Stoneware bird and cover, Robert Wallace Martin
Brett Tryner, Director, Cheffins, says: “The demand for modern and contemporary art and design continues to dominate the market, and this auction saw robust prices across all sections. Appetite is clearly there for post-war British women artists, such as Vellacott and Frink, whilst pieces with strong provenance, such as those from the Solti collection also continue to command premiums. We have seen a surge in popularity for 20th century figurative paintings, while pieces from the period’s most iconic names, such as the Martin Brothers, continues to drive new buyers to our sales.”
The prices reported are hammer prices, not inclusive of buyers’ premium at 24.5 per cent and VAT where applicable.
Auction: The Art & Design Sale, 25th May 2023
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA
For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, fine.art@cheffins.co.uk