CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

We feel very privileged to again be asked to handle an important collection of Chinese jade carvings, some of which are featured on the cover of this newsletter. At the time of writing, a dedicated catalogue is being produced in Hong Kong and comprises 34 lots of exceptional Chinese jades and hardstone carvings purchased by two generations of the Lawrence family, Neville and his son Murray. Some readers will remember Murray through his career in the City and as Chairman of Lloyd’s of London in the 1980s; see pages 14 & 15.

Things are constantly moving at Woolley and Wallis, and we have two new Associate Directors in Ed Beer of our Paintings department and Sam Hug, who joined Jewellery in 2022. Both have proven themselves first-rate and we are confident of great things to come!

Horatio’s Garden has long been a charity close to our hearts and we are delighted to strengthen our association with them by hosting another online art auction in October. A number of well-known artists have already donated their work (see pages 42 & 43 for more details) and I urge you to keep an eye on our website when the sale goes live on 13th October.

John Axford

Provenance:

Christie’s, Edinburgh, Fine Paintings and Drawings, 13 May 1993, lot 950; Private Collection, Gloucestershire

Exhibited:

Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Academy Festival

Exhibition, Peploe-Cadell-Hunter, 1949

Part of a Private Collection of Scottish Colourist Paintings

Estimate £80,000–120,000

Auction on Wednesday 13th December