Sworders Annual Review 2021 by swordersfineart

2021

Guy Schooling Chairman

Paul Martin Managing Director

Luck Macdonald Director

John Black Director

FOREWORD Following the challenges of 2020, Sworders approached 2021 with great hope, if not a little trepidation, just what was awaiting us in the new year? The answer was a year with easier trading conditions, but plenty of its own challenges, and demand for the items we offered remained strong, even as ‘working from home’ largely ceased. Prices for good and exceptional pieces have remained exceptionally strong, more ordinary pieces have often proved more difficult. In fact, wonderfully, this proved to be the most successful year in our 240-year history, with our turnover increasing considerably, something we absolutely did not foresee at the beginning of the year. The year really began to take off with the auction of the marvellously decorative contents of Badgemore Grange near Henley-on-Thames, so lovingly compiled by Sally Hunter and Ian Posgate. Amongst many highlights were a collection of atmospheric, early 19th century Indian watercolours of native birds which totalled £189,000, one of which appears on the cover of this publication. A set of twelve small lampshades, hand- painted by Quentin Bell, sold for £24,700, and this set the tone for the sale and the year where gloriously decorative and unusual pieces really thrived. Our Asian Art auctions continue to be amongst the market leaders, with both of this year’s sales doubling pre-sale expectations - they will be joined in the spring by an additional sale dedicated to Japanese Works of Art. Modern and Contemporary Art continues to be highly popular as does 20th Century Design. These sales emphasise how demand can be global and parochial; Asian Art is almost exclusively repatriated to China and the Far East, whilst Modern Art, especially East Anglian pieces, remain much closer to home. Having aimed to keep our carefully-assembled team together during 2020, we have added to it significantly this year with additions to our valuation, photography, marketing, portering and accounts teams. We approach 2022, much as we approached this year, with hope and trepidation; what I do know is that we have some great auctions and surprising collections to offer. With a fair wind we should, perhaps, be able to match what has been a wonderful year for us. I thank our hard-working and dedicated team for helping us achieve so much, and wish you all a safe and prosperous new year.

ASIAN ART

A Buoyant Market for Traditional Chinese Porcelain

Against what looked to be an unpromising background, 2021 proved a very positive year for our Asian Art department. On the strength of digital imagery, extensive online marketing and live internet bidding, we have been able to connect buyers and sellers in a way that just would not have been possible a decade ago.

Pictured Right A Chinese blue and white brush pot from the Kangxi (1662-1722) period, sold for £162,500 in our Asian Art auction in

Over the past 12 months, bidding across most categories has been robust, with some collecting disciplines enjoying a significant price acceleration – an extraordinary achievement given the travel restrictions that have impacted many of our most active buyers. Yexue Li, the head of Sworders’ Asian Art department noted particularly strong demand for porcelain during both the May sale and in November’s auction held in association with the Asian Art in London initiative. Transitional and Kangxi (16621722) blue and white wares have become an area of great strength. “In the past, these pieces, often decorated with scenes from Chinese literature, were the epitome of Western taste and were avidly collected in Europe in the post-war era. Now, however, it is our Asian clients who are taking them to new levels.” Across the two sales we sold a quantity of 17th century blue and white brush pots for substantial sums. Foremost among these was a Kangxi example inscribed with the text from the ancient Chinese poem Shengzhu de Xianchen Song (Ode to the Finding of Virtuous Officials by the Divine Ruler). The piece came for sale in good condition from a private collection in Suffolk with a guide of £2,000-3,000 but took £162,500. Strong prices were registered across a number of different mediums – particularly jade and other hardstone carvings, cinnabar lacquer, textiles and bronzes - whilst the department’s top price of 2021 was £182,000 for a superbly carved 18th century hardwood table screen with a panel lacquer and ivory panel worked to both sides with figures and buildings in a mountainous landscape. As ever, a good private provenance was helpful: it had belonged to the vendor’s grandfather. A new area of focus for the department has been modern and contemporary paintings and promising results in this rapidly growing area include a gouache painting by Chinese artist Chen Banding (1877-1970) sold for £5,200. It has also been encouraging to see renewed interest in Japanese works of art. While the market has seemingly fallen flat in recent years, Sworders championing of Japanese consignments has been rewarded with some solid figures for Meiji period (1868-1912) metalwork. A bronze okimono of a seated monkey looking at a honeycomb by Nihon Masayoshi (£3,770), and a mixed metal koro signed Miyao zo (£2,990) were both signs of a return to form in this area. The department plans to ride this surge of interest with the introduction of standalone Japanese Art auctions, to run in conjunction with flagship Asian Art sales, from May 2022. asianart@sworder.co.uk

November

DESIGN

From Rock Stars to Cars – Our Design Department Is Riding an Iconic Wave

Sworders first Design sale of the year was conducted during lockdown, which we initially feared may hamper results for the remarkable items offered. Without any form of viewing in person, the consignment of a rare selection of Jules Leleu furniture hung in the balance. But we needn’t have worried. A flurry of internet activity and strong bidding throughout the sale saw our highest total to date at £547,000 with the Leleu ‘Feux d’artifice’ (Fireworks) commode and cabinet selling to the US trade for £102,700. May’s sale was headlined with Arts and Crafts furniture by Gordon Russell and Heals from the Estate of Fiona MacCarthy (1940-2020), the British biographer married to Sheffield designer David Mellor (1930-2009), with the collection totalling £18,700. Into July and the Hunsberger collection of photography and some iconic shots taken by Ed Finnell, a rock photographer, garnered interest with a single gelatin silver print of Mick Jagger flying at £845. Popularity for consignments of Rock and Roll interest carried into October with an autograph book signed by the Beatles selling for £2,600 and a 1978 Gibson Les Paul achieving an electric £2,860. The sale was headlined by the Lawrie Gatehouse collection of Art Deco furniture and lighting, travel posters, ceramics and compacts – it sold for £60,000. Over the course of the year we have consigned a number of iconic cars and items of motoring interest, valued by our consultant specialist Julian Shoolheifer who has many years’ experience under his bonnet. Highlights include a 1933 Austin Seven taking £12,270; a ‘MS88’ registration plate £21,240;

a 1958 Jaguar XK150 a staggering £70,800; and a 1970 Morris Mini Mk2 Cooper S an impressive £33,040. Interest in contemporary and studio ceramics has never been stronger and as a department we have sold some tremendous pieces from Trevor Coldrey’s collection over our sales last year. Highlights included works by Dan Kelly, Jim Malone, Mike Dodd and William Marshall to name a few – all sold to collectors across the country. The breadth of craftsmanship, individuality and diversity within this field is staggering, with works by John Ward and John Maltby standing out in the last year. We are delighted to offer works in our January 2022 sale from the studio of the late Robert Washington. We were thrilled to welcome Otto Billstrom to the department in January. After working as a general valuer for Stockholms Auktionsverk for two years, specialising in Design and Musical Memorabilia, Otto joined us and set to work applying his knowledge and passion to help grow and shape our flagship Design sales, which, in 2021, achieved a total hammer exceeding £1.5 million. Throughout the year we have seen a surge of interest online, aided by enhanced catalogue photography and comprehensive condition reporting available as standard for every lot within a sale. With the freedom to browse and bid in auctions from anywhere in the world, bidders have stepped back from unnecessary travel to view and bid in person. Is this the new normal for us? Only 2022 will tell. design@sworder.co.uk

Ferdinand Preiss (German, 1882-1943), 'Flame Leaper', c.1935, sold for £27,300 in October’s Design auction

PICTURES

Portrait Miniatures and Ornithological Studies Enrich a Record Breaking Year

Pictured Left Bridget Riley’s ‘Fragment 3’, screenprint on perspex, sold for £31,850 in April’s Modern British and 20th Century Art

In 2021, Sworders’ picture department achieved its highest total ever, with sales in excess of £2.8 million. The quarterly Fine Interiors sales frequently returned strong results, including a few surprises like lot 596 in our March sale, a fascinating little portrait catalogued as Circle of John Linnell, a particular favourite in the department, selling for £27,300.

auction

Later in the spring we were honoured to sell The Sally Hunter & Ian Posgate Collection – the contents of Badgemore Grange on the outskirts of Henley on Thames. The sale yielded exceptional prices across the board and saw demand for the works of East Anglian artists soar. The consignment included an outstanding collection of early 19th century Indian Calcutta School bird paintings (see our cover image for an example). The 23 lots alone contributed a remarkable £189,000 to the sale total. In the autumn we offered a magnificent single owner collection of portrait miniatures that garnered fierce competition, proving once again that when items of such quality come up for sale, buyers will really dig deep to secure them. As always, our Sporting Art sale attracted international bidding for the eclectic mix of traditional works and the more unconventional. Archibald Thorburn’s (1860-1935) ‘Mountain Hare’ reached a very strong price, selling for £7,540, an amount more commonly achieved only by his more iconic pictures of game birds. Our Modern & Contemporary Art sales have been growing from strength to strength and 2021 saw us conduct a total of six specialist auctions - two major live online sales and four timed sales.

10 It was a triumph for women artists in our April live online sale, with notable sales including works by Bridget Riley selling for £39,000, and Mary Fedden for £13,000. A surprise highlight was Celia Paul’s (b.1959) ‘My Mother and Frank’ (1990). Worked in thick impasto, this family piece features her son Frank who she had during her tenyear relationship with artist Lucien Freud. It sold at £19,500 against an estimate of £4,000-6,000. From the same sale, ten lots came from writer and academic Germaine Greer including eight prints by Paula Rego (b.1935) from her sometimes disconcerting Nursery Rhymes series published in 1989. Through a combination of excellent provenance and an increased interest in Rego’s work this year due to the Tate Retrospective, all well exceeded estimates. Into the autumn and following a rebrand from the previously titled ‘Modern British Art’ sales, we were in a strong position to push the works of international artists and develop our contemporary and urban art sections. These goals were underlined when the sale concluded with over an 85% sold rate having achieved some outstanding prices for non-British artists, including a vibrant watercolour by US creator of the ‘mobile’ Alexander Calder selling to the London trade for £23,400. paintings@sworder.co.uk

Pictured Clockwise From Top Ivan Fedorovitch Choultse (Russian, 1874-1939), Harvest, oil on canvas, £20,800 Circle of Jean-Marc Nattier (French, 1685-1766), Portrait of LouiseMarie of France (1737-1787), oil on canvas, £8,450 James Scouler (1741-1812), Portrait of a lady, miniature on ivory, £3,120 Lucy Harwood (1893-1972), Traction Engines Resting, oil on canvas, £9,750 Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976), Untitled, watercolour and gouache, £23,400

JEWELLERY Diamonds and Pearls Steal the Limelight

In spite of considerable obstacles, both our regular monthly Jewellery auctions and our flagship biannual auctions of Fine Jewellery and Watches, held in July and November, flourished throughout 2021. With the first part of the year spent in lockdown working from home and unable to meet with clients, the team all contributed their best efforts to secure some exceptional lots across the board. Our July Fine sale observed the highest pre-sale interest to date, with close to 1000 commission bids left ahead of time. The sale was viewed in full at our charming London Gallery in Cecil Court, garnering prime exposure for lots with both trade and private interest. A pair of fancy pink and white diamond cluster earrings were the summer’s standout lot, selling to a bidder in Australia for £20,800. It is interesting to note that the fancy pink diamonds were probably originally mined in the Argyle mines of East Kimberley, Western Australia which, until recently, produced twenty million tonnes of diamonds, with less than 0.1% achieving the classification of fancy pink. As the mine ceased production in November 2020 with plans to be decommissioned, we can only expect prices for these rare diamonds to increase. To complement the Fine sales, we held ten monthly auctions of quality jewellery, watches, handbags, accessories and gifts across the year with an

average sale rate in excess of 80%, seeing over three thousand lots successfully finding their way to new homes across the globe. Particular highlights include a pair of early 19th century seed pearl drop earrings in a rare pattern which, after competitive bidding, sold for £1,300, and in the same sale an unusual carved turquoise and diamond pendant by Tiffany & Co., in the form of one of their eponymous ‘Tiffany blue’ gift bags, which sold for £1,560. Works by sought after contemporary silversmiths sold well, with a private collection of pieces by Partick Mavros selling for a total of £6,240. The last of our auctions of Fine Jewellery & Watches of 2021 concluded with a sale total in excess of half a million. Over 200 bidders joined the sale to compete for the 540 lots, with a particularly fine pair of natural saltwater pearl earrings soaring above their estimate to make £24,700. Our Jewellery department now looks ahead to 2022 with ambitions to grow and develop private collections and sales throughout the New Year. Here at Sworders we specialise in providing a personal and tailored service that can be adapted to uniquely fit each client’s needs. It is by far one of our best selling points and the reason we already have several exciting consignments in the pipeline. Watch this space… jewellery@sworder.co.uk

A particularly fine pair of natural saltwater pearl and diamond drop earrings sold for £24,700 in July’s Fine Jewellery and Watches sale

FINE INTERIORS Impeccable Provenance and Surprise Discoveries

Pictured Left Four settees from a suite of seat-furniture made for Raynham Hall, Norfolk, in the 1790s, were sold in our Fine Interiors

2021 was an exciting year for our Fine Interiors department. The team grew from duo to trio when Charlotte Lee-Finglas was welcomed early in the year. Charlotte joined us from Barnebys, an online auction aggregator and valuation service, and now guides Sworders clients through the auction process from consignment to post sale, making the experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

auction in September, achieving £22,750

The department has overseen further development of its highly regarded auction catalogues, and with the introduction of a purpose-built photographic studio space, continues to enhance the staging of lots in contextualised settings. Emerging from the fog of Covid in the spring, the team hit the ground running with a bumper sale in March; a highlight amongst the department was the beautifully decorated Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica porcelain dinner service, painted with botanic specimens. Originally produced under the order of the King of Denmark as a gift for Catherine the Great and popular ever since, services in this pattern always attract strong bidding. The service was presented in three lots comprised of dinnerwares, a coffee service and an unusual silvergilt cutlery service, all of which totalled a blooming hammer of £97,500. We can only hope they were put to good use at a riotous dinner party once social distancing rules were lifted! The contents of Farm House, Farm Street, Mayfair formed the back bone of our June sale, the extraordinary half-timbered mock Tudor farmhouse nestled in the heart of Mayfair amongst grand Georgian frontages boasted a tantalising history. Allegedly where ‘Wallis Simpson kept the Prince of Wales company’ for the first time and a favoured party pad of JFK when he spent time at the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, the Sworders team was far from its most illustrious guests. Amongst the contents sold was a Royal French Louis XV kingwood, tulipwood, sycamore and parquetry inlaid meuble d'entrée, originally made for Château de Fontainebleau, and possibly by Simon or Jean-François Oeben, leading the charge with a price of £29,900.

A particular joy of the job is the discovery of lots in the most unlikely of places. Some items arrive for sale with an impeccable provenance worn for all to see, such as the two pairs of settees sold in our September sale, made and consigned directly from Raynham Hall, Norfolk, whilst others, such as a pair of elegant late 18th century hall chairs, offered in the same sale, have been found in far more unassuming properties. Discovered in a post war house in St Albans, the sinuous carved arms and elegant oval backs were quite at odds with the modernist building that surrounded them. Their painted armorials gave a hint as to their first owner. Our Fine Interiors team was delighted to continue the research begun by the most recent custodian to link them back to East Hall, East Riding, and ascribe an attribution to Mayhew and Ince. Both consignments were well received come sale day, with the Raynham settees achieving £22,750, and the Mayhew and Ince chairs £35,100. We find it fascinating to see our sales through the eyes of others and have initiated a number of cross industry collaborations over the course of the last 12 months. The individual angles of approach, and the lots that our collaborators select, never fail to surprise and intrigue us. Proving that whatever your personal taste, our sales really do offer something for everyone. Watch this space for lots more exciting collaborations into the New Year and beyond… fineinteriors@sworder.co.uk

Pictured Right The Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica porcelain dinner service, beautifully decorated with botanic specimens, achieved £97,500 in March’s Fine Interiors auction

2021

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS MARCH Fine Interiors | 30 & 31 March This fascinating little portrait, catalogued as Circle of John Linnell, was a firm favourite across our departments. £27,300

JANUARY Design | 26 January An astounding result for the Jules Leleu ‘Feux d’artifice’ (Fireworks) pattern rosewood and marquetry cabinet and commode sold in January’s Design auction. Inlaid in ebony and mother-of-pearl marquetry and applied with gilt bronze, the two lots achieved a staggering combined total of £102,700.

APRIL Modern British & 20th Century Art | 20 April ‘Two Pears’, a late work by Mary Fedden (1915-2012), was donated by the artist at the age of 95 to raise funds for the Curwen Print Study Centre. £13,000

MAY The Sally Hunter & Ian Posgate Collection | 18 May The dream job. A beautiful house, fantastic contents, and a wonderful client. The Sally Hunter & Ian Posgate Collection was amassed over two decades and included all manner of well-crafted and carefully selected pieces, beautifully displayed against hand-printed Peggy Angus wallpaper in their Henley home. The sale totalled £738,000 with a sold rate of 97%

JULY Fine Jewellery & Watches | 27 July A pair of fancy pink and white diamond cluster earrings were the summer’s standout lot. £20,800

JUNE Sporting Art, Wildlife & Dogs | 2 June June’s Sporting sale was topped by two large unframed canvases of the hunt ‘in full cry’ by John Nost Sartorius (1759-1828). While not a true pair (painted 17 years apart in 1798 and 1815) both decided a similar subject. £16,900

SEPTEMBER Fine Interiors | 14 & 15 September Our Fine Interiors department relished in researching the history of this elegant pair of late 18th century hall chairs attributed to Mayhew and Ince. £35,100

SEPTEMBER Books & Maps | 17-26 September From a fascinating consignment of reference books once held by the Leicester Museum Library, Thomas Hawkin’s Memoirs of Ichthyosauri and Plesiosauri, Extinct Monsters of the Ancient Earth caused the biggest stir in our timed auction of Books & Maps. £5,260

OCTOBER Design | 19 & 20 October Aided by our consultant specialist Julian Shoolheifer, our Design Department consigned a number of iconic cars over the course of 2021, including a 1933 Austin Seven, a 1970 Morris Mini Mk2 Cooper S, and a 1958 Jaguar XK150 (pictured). £70,800

NOVEMBER Asian Art | 5 November Reflecting a buoyant market for Chinese porcelain, this Qing dynasty (1644-1911) doucai vase, painted with dragons among waves and clouds, triumphed in our November auction of Asian Art. £104,000

DECEMBER Iconastas | 1 December The first in a series of auctions of fine Russian art and antiques from Iconastas, the renowned London Gallery, saw icons from the personal collection of the late Chris Martin-Zakheim, the gallery’s co-founder, selling for £19,500 and £16,900 respectively.

DECEMBER Fine Interiors | 14 & 15 December It was a roaring success for the pair of contemporary Indian tiger chairs in our December Fine Interiors auction. £8,450

GOING GREEN Sworders Sets Sights on Sustainability

The pandemic has created a unique opportunity for our industry to pivot quickly towards more sustainable initiatives, and although a pressing issue for some time, sustainability is now at the top of the agenda for many businesses. We must all take responsibility for our role in the world’s transition to a ‘net zero’ future. Here at Sworders, our environmental impact has long been a priority. The very building that is home to our head office and auction rooms was specifically designed with sustainability in mind, built from green oak, straw bales, lime render and a cedar shingle roof, and won an award from the RICS in 2008. As auctioneers, we naturally support the global objective to reduce waste and the impact of landfill by passing unwanted items to new owners who will treasure them. We are in many ways the ultimate recyclers! However, we also know that many of our business practices contribute heavily to our carbon footprint, and areas that have proven particularly challenging include the printing and dispatching of marketing materials, and shipping and logistics. Sworders takes its responsibility for improved sustainability very seriously and appointed Emma Pickup (née McCann) in the summer of 2021 to steer an on-going commitment to reduce

the business’ ecological impact. Since Emma’s appointment, we have partnered with Carbon Footprint Ltd, an award-winning independent emissions auditor, to analyse our Scope 1 and 2 emissions for a baseline year of 2021, to track and reduce 'at source' wherever possible and to compensate for unavoidable emissions via carbon offsetting. Details of this analysis and targets will be released in the New Year. Working with our publishing partner Park Communications Ltd and ClimatePartner, we are delighted to be launching ‘carbon neutral’ print catalogues and marketing materials from 2022 onwards, starting with this very publication. Our catalogues are already printed on sustainably sourced FSC certified paper using vegetable based inks, and you will now find a QR code printed on the inside back cover of printed materials which, when scanned, will provide information on our support of international carbon offset projects. These are not token gestures for Sworders. We will continue to invest in our fight against climate change over the coming years, striving to operate as sustainably as possible, with aims to be carbon neutral by 2035. emmapickup@sworder.co.uk

Emma Pickup appointed Head of Sustainability in the summer of 2021

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS Honouring The Lives and Loves of Fascinating Individuals

Pictured Left From the Peter Crofts Collection - two cameo glass vases signed by Thomas Webb & Sons - the Stourbridge factory responsible for some of the finest examples

Sworders have established a marked reputation for handling the sale of major estates and collections. Auctions of this kind are increasingly rare and viewed as major ‘events’, drawing bidders who seldom, or maybe never, frequent the auction rooms. It is undoubtedly the fascinating stories and people behind the properties whose collections we sell that have the biggest draw, and our marketing team relish in promoting these sales to maximum effect.

of the ‘cameo revival’ - sold for a collective £6,950 in December

In the spring of 2021, we had the joy of selling The Sally Hunter & Ian Posgate Collection – the contents of Badgemore Grange on the outskirts of Henley on Thames. Amongst the impressive collection of 430 lots amassed by the artistic couple over 30 years, the works of East Anglian artists soared, and an outstanding collection of early 19th century Indian Calcutta School bird paintings contributed £189,000 to an overall finish of £738,000. Sworders once again proved an ability to handle and present treasured and important collections in an accomplished and innovative way in the winter of 2021, this time in the form of a dedicated sale entitled ICONASTAS: Fine Russian Art & Antiques from the Renowned London Gallery. The Piccadilly Arcade gallery was established by Chris Martin-Zakheim and John Gaze in 1974, specialising in Russian icons, works of art and antiquities, until it closed its doors in 2018, having cemented a reputation as one of the industry’s leading specialists. Many of the 107 lots were photographed alongside Russian, Central and Eastern European textiles, which provided a vibrant backdrop, complementing pieces of such distinguished heritage perfectly. A consequent sale -Iconastas II - is scheduled for the summer of 2022. We rounded off the year with the remarkable collection of the late Peter Crofts (1924-2001), a Cambridgeshire antique dealer with an extraordinary life story. After schooling at Wisbech Grammar School, Peter, the scion of a local farming family, had volunteered to serve in the Fleet Air Arm and subsequently went to the US to train as a pilot. Tragically, on March 25, 1945, a month and a day before his 21st birthday, the engine of his Corsair F4U burst into flames during take-off. Both his legs were amputated at US Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida where he spent the next three and a half years undergoing more than 40 operations. On his eventual return to the UK, it was under the guidance of the Stamford dealer Major Bernard Edinburgh that he became an antique dealer, and by 1958, was elected a member of the British Antique Dealers Association. We already have a number of exciting private collection sales in the pipeline for 2022, including The Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Collection and The Russell Barnes Early Jazz and Gramophone Collection. Our experienced and knowledgeable Private Clients team can advise on the most effective way to sell such consignments. We aim to bring the ambience of the house or collection into the auction room. Once bidders are familiar with the collection and its history, they feel able to bid with confidence, and this is reflected in the results. privatecollections@sworder.co.uk

2022

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR Design We kick start the New Year with the first of our Design auctions, to be conducted live at our Stansted Mountfitchet Auction Rooms on 25-26 January, led by a rare William De Morgan stained glass panel depicting the archangel St Michael slaying a dragon, thought to be that shown at the London International Exhibition in 1871. £80,000-120,000

Out of the Ordinary For bidders seeking items outside of the norm, our highly anticipated annual Out of the Ordinary auction is planned for Tuesday 15 February. Showcasing 20th century decorative arts, bronzes, glass, ceramics, objects, posters, prints, drawings, modern design, motoring art, pop and film culture, photographs and much much more – these sales provide the perfect opportunity to snap up something weird and wonderful! Pictured A rare 17th Century Travel Reliquary, estimated for sale at £1,200 – 1,500

The Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Collection Fairbanks Jr. was the son of Douglas Fairbanks, arguably one of the most famous Hollywood actors of the early 20th century starring opposite Greta Garbo, Ginger Rogers, Joan Crawford, John Wayne and Fred Astaire to name but a few. Fairbanks Jr. met and mixed with Presidents and Royalty, culminating in a Grand reception at Syon House in 1981, the guest list of which included H M Queen Elizabeth II and other well know members of society. On Wednesday 2 March, we will be offering a collection of signed photographs, cinema posters, personal jewellery, objets of vertu, furniture, paintings and clothing amassed over the various periods of Fairbanks Jr’s fascinating life, together with an album of thank you letters from the Syon House reception.

The Russell Barnes Early Jazz and Gramophone Collection The late Russell Malcolm Barnes was an eclectic and cerebral man. A proficient self-taught Jazz Piano player, he hosted his very own Jazz Programme on Commercial Radio T.C.R. Bournemouth and formed the Blandford Jazz Circle which invited numerous American Jazz luminaries to perform in concert. Sworders are honoured to have been instructed to sell the accumulation of a life’s passion and will be offering his superb collection of Jazz LP’s, reference books and ephemera on Tuesday 1 March.

Mark Wilkinson in Cecil Court, home of Sworders London Gallery

LONDON Movers And Shakers in The Heart of The Capital

The pandemic has proven tumultuous for each of our sites, but with our London Gallery still relatively fresh on its feet, it was particularly devastating to have to put many planned events and exhibitions on hold. As soon as lockdown restrictions began to ease in the spring, our London team set straight to work to reinstate a calendar of exciting activity, eager to welcome faces back through the doors at Cecil Court. We relaunched with our first public viewing, by appointment, for the Fine Jewellery and Watches sale in July, with the sale beautifully displayed in full over six days. The level of support from clients was remarkable, and we were blown away by the highest level of pre-sale interest observed by the department to date, largely due to the exposure gained in our charming Central London gallery. Into the autumn, we had the privilege of hosting an exhibition of highlights from The Pearson Silver Collection – the very first time the world-renowned collection devoted to post-war and contemporary British silver design has been seen in public in the UK. With November came the highly anticipated Asian Art in London - the major international event that celebrates London as the centre for expertise and excellence in Asian Art. Sworders, a long-standing AAL member, was delighted to have a midQing dynasty Chinese jade moon flask shortlisted for the award for Outstanding East Asian Work of Art. This and the full catalogue of 430 lots from our November sale were previewed in Cecil Court, ahead of the live sale on Friday 5. London rounded off the year with viewings for the November Fine Jewellery & Watches sale and the first of a series of new auctions for Sworders - ICONASTAS | Fine Russian Art & Antiques From The Renowned London Gallery, which saw icons from the personal collection of the late Chris Martin-Zakheim, owner of Iconastas, selling for £19,500 and £16,900 respectively. Last but by no means least, we are delighted to announce that Mark Wilkinson, who joined us in 2016, has been newly appointed Head of Sworders London. Mark now applies his creative flair and broad knowledge of specialisms to spearhead events and valuations in the heart of the West End, launching with a programme of regular valuation days for Asian Art, Pictures and Jewellery throughout 2022 and beyond. london@sworder.co.uk

HERTFORD

An Evolving Team Thrives in A Historic County Town

Pictured Below Consigned from a private collection in Hertfordshire - an 18th century Chinese

2021 proved an immensely successful year for our Hertford office. The obvious obstructions to conducting valuations and visiting clients made sourcing works a challenging prospect, but despite this, and against the odds, the Hertford team was not only able to able to achieve targets, but considerably exceed them.

hardwood table screen contributed £175,000 to the total of our Asian Art auction in May

Whilst the departure of the long-serving Vicky Mansfield and Alex Froggatt’s transition over to our Stansted site were sad ones, the new team has settled in very well. James Flower joined from Bonhams and has been business-getting alongside Daniel Webster, helping secure two major consignments, one that features some of the leading names of contemporary South Asian art and another of contemporary art from a London-based collector. William Trudgill joined the team in the autumn as a cataloguer, and has integrated seamlessly, applying his grounded and broad knowledge of antiques and collectables whilst proving to be a real hit in terms of personality with both clients and staff alike. Towards the end of the year Rachael Hough joined the administrative team. Having previously worked at The Wallace Collection, she has enjoyed re-familiarising herself with the world of antiques and the auction process and has been a more than capable replacement for Vicky with her diligent and professional approach. Daniel continues to source a wide array of goods from the home counties and London including some notable single-owner and important collections. The Captain William Bligh collection proved incredibly popular when received by the market. The Tim Clowes collection, also, provided a hugely successful single-owner consignment, predominantly consisting of a vast quantity of miniature portraits which gained widespread approval from the trade and collectors alike. Alongside portrait miniatures, the collection included fireman’s badges, Bilston wine labels and a significant collection of jade, all selling and most well above their estimates. Coupled to the Tim Clowes collection, another single-owner consignment of jade was also secured. These two consignments, along with the most exciting consignment of the year - an 18th century Chinese hardwood table screen, which came from a private collection in Hertfordshire and made £175,000 against an estimate of £800-1,200 aided yet another hugely successful Asian Art sale for Sworders. The large collection of jewellery from a probate valuation in 2020, came to fruition in 2021 and again exceeded expectations with a pair of fancy pink diamond and diamond cluster earrings realising £20,800. Other highlights included a life-size bronze Bugatti model by François Chevalier achieving £27,500 in October’s Design auction. With some positive leads and collections in the pipeline, and a new team settling and growing together, 2022 is a promising year. The collection of contemporary South Asian art will feature in the forthcoming Modern & Contemporary Art sale, along with another important art collection showcasing standout top lots across Pictures, Design and other specialisms. Our Hertford office successfully collaborates with the wider team and all specialist departments across the business, so if you are based in the Hertford area and would like assistance with the sale of a single item or a full collection, please do not hesitate to get in touch. hertford@sworder.co.uk

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Printed by Park Communications on FSC® certified paper. Park works to the EMAS standard and its Environmental Management System is certified to ISO 14001. This publication has been manufactured using 100% offshore wind electricity sourced from UK wind. 100% of the inks used are vegetable oil based, 95% of press chemicals are recycled for further use and, on average 99% of any waste associated with this production will be recycled and the remaining 1% used to generate energy. This document is printed on Colorplan uncoated paper made of material from wellmanaged, FSC®-certified forests and other controlled sources. This is a certified climate neutral print product for which carbon emissions have been calculated and offset by supporting recognised carbon offset projects. The carbon offset projects are audited and certified according to international standards and demonstrably reduce emissions. The climate neutral label includes a unique ID number specific to this product which can be tracked at www.climatepartner.com, giving details of the carbon offsetting process including information on the emissions volume and the carbon offset project being supported.