Surrey auction house Ewbank’s is hosting not one but two comprehensive auctions on 24 October: ‘Contemporary Art & Modern British Paintings’ and ‘Decorative Arts & Design’. Each sale offers an exciting mix of lots, both in price and in style.
One significant player within ‘Contemporary Art and Modern British Paintings’ is Australian-British artist Sidney Robert Nolan (1917-1992), one of Australia’s leading artists of the 20th century.
This piece, measuring 53 cm x 77 cm, is titled Australian Landscape. Nolan worked in a wide variety of mediums and across many genres, but it is his paintings of Australian themes which were his most successful, including those of legends from Australian history, such as the infamous bushranger and outlaw Ned Kelly.
American artist David LaChappelle (b. 1963) is featured in the sale with his c. 2001 Beverly Hills photograph, measuring 43.2 cm x 59.4 cm, titled Facial.
LaChapelle is a commercial and fine art photographer, music video director and film director. It is his photography for his he is best known, which often references art history and sometimes conveys social messages.
It’s quite likely you may recognise this limited-edition bronze sculpture – you perhaps know it from somewhere, but are not quite able to place it. If that’s the case, it’s probably because you have seen it before. It’s by master Spanish artist Salvador Dalí (1904-1989).
The signed piece, titled Surrealist Angel, which stands 56 cm high, is numbered 815 / 1500, and it comes with a certificate and a copy of Rudolph Dom’s book, Salvador Dali The Surrealist Angel. The work is part of a single-owner collection of modern art sculpture from a London-based collector.
Other pieces from this collection include two large, signed oil on canvas paintings of flowers by Annie Bardoulat (b. 1962). One is titled Iris VI and Violets and measures 160 cm x 100 cm, and the other, called Renoncules 2, is 146 cm x 100 cm.
Moving on to the ‘Decorative Arts & Design’ auction, Art Deco is the theme for a great portion of the sale. The style is summarised by figures captured mid-movement, graceful and sweeping lines, and simple and geometric shapes with small, decorative flourishings.
Another figure, though this time taking a more intricate form, is this c. 1925 bronze and ivory figure of a young woman by Demetre Chiparus. She wears a dress with full skirt and heart-patterned bodice featuring blue and gilt highlights, and is stood on concertina marble base.
Contemporary glass artist, sculptor and painter Sam Herman (b. 1936) makes an appearance with his sculptural clear glass forms. The first stunning piece is clear with a trailing peacock blue interior, with large bubbles. The second is attributed to Sam Herman, a bottle vase with shouldered form with V-neck contouring and yellow trailing.
As a reminder, the two auctions at Ewbank’s are taking place on 24 October in their saleroom just outside Guildford on the A3.