Design - To include items from the Estate of Max Clendinning and Ralph Adron 9 July 2024

Tuesday 9 July 2024 THE

THE ESTATE OF MAX CLENDINNING & RALPH ADRON

Tuesday 9 July | 10am

VIEWING

We will be offering viewing of the full sale at our Stansted Mountfitchet saleroom on the following dates and times:

Friday 5 July Sunday 7 July Monday 8 July 10am-4pm 10am-1pm 10am-4pm

BIDDING

I n Room

Attend the live auction in person at our Stansted Mountfitchet saleroom Online

Bid live at www.sworder.co.uk (0% surcharge)

SWORDERS’ DELIVERY SERVICE

Sworders offer a delivery service for item(s) purchased. Please see our website for further details

CONTACT

Otto Billström - Head of Design design@sworder.co.uk 01279 817778

SCAN

TO BROWSE THE FULL COLLECTION

An Introduction

Sworders Design department is delighted to present the extraordinary collection of Messrs Max Clendinning and Ralph Adron. Throughout their remarkable life together, they were both pivotal contributors to their respective fields of architecture, design and theatre.

Clendinning’s legacy includes the iconic ‘Maxima’ series of furniture, a staple of British 1960s design, interiors he created for Christian Dior, and the iconic Oxford Road Station in Manchester. Adron’s extensive career saw him produce set and costume designs for celebrated productions across theatre, ballet and children’s theatre. Their respective creative prowess has enshrined them in design history, with their works residing in numerous institutions around the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, RIBA, Ulster Museum and National Museums of Scotland.

The collection encompasses their individual passions for Arts and Crafts and Postmodernism, two seemingly diametrical opposites which successfully coexisted within their Islington

residence, to which they moved in 1972. There are few other places where one would have spotted a Charles Locke Eastlake bookcase, with Murano glass from Ettore Sottsass’ Vistosi series on the other side of the room.

The collection is a treasure trove of artistic diversity. It features Modernist ceramics by the legendary Picasso and Jean Cocteau, Postmodernist ceramics by Richard Slee, and paintings by their contemporaries such as Alan Davie and Duncan Grant. You’ll also discover Finnish modernism, theatre studies and costume designs, and timepieces by Lewis Foreman Day. However, the true gems are the fruits of Max and Ralph’s creativity. These include furniture and sculpture designed by Max, paintings and works of art by Ralph, and several extraordinary collaborative pieces which showcase their unique styles in perfect harmony.

We invite you to witness the legacy of two of the most creative minds of our age. This collection - curated over half a century - is a testament to their unwavering dedication and shared passions.

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973), ‘Paysage (landscape), Variante aux Trois Étoiles’ (AR 205), 1953, a faience stoneware charger, glazed and painted with a landscape in moonlight, the rim with stars, and dated ‘8.12.53’, inscribed ‘Edition Picasso’, with the Edition Picasso and Madoura stamps, 43cm diameter

£4,000 – 6,000

An ebonised mantel clock, c.1870, by Lewis Foreman Day (1945-1910), the cornice modelled as a tiled roof, with a painted porcelain dial decorated in floral motifs, with brass hands and Arabic numerals, flanked to either side by further painted porcelain panels, the case with panelled sides, manufactured by Howell & James, striking on the quarters, the movement marked ‘GV 39718 491 77’, 31cm wide, 22cm deep, 49.5cm high

£300 - 500

Max Clendinning (1924-2020), Cabinet, 1976, the burnished and painted wooden frame surmounted by a rectangular marble top, with a stepped gallery backed by a mirror, 123cm wide, 44.5cm deep, 122cm high

£800 – 1,200

Richard Slee (b.1946), c.1984, an abstract vase, of crescent form, raised on a tapering and faceted base, decorated in a purple glaze fading to blue, with purple cabochons to the side, incised signature to the base, 31cm wide, 12cm deep, 39cm high

£1,000 - 1,500

Ettore Sottsass (Italian, 1917-2007), ’Alucia’, 1972, produced between 1974-1976 by Vistosi Murano, the red incalmo glass bowl with a black rim, raised on a black glass stem and foot, etched ‘E. Sottsass 24/250, Vistosi 77’ underneath the base, 22cm diameter, 20cm high

£1,000 - 1,500

A Gothic Revival walnut library bookcase, c.1870, designed by Charles Locke Eastlake (1836-1906), in two sections the upper section with a buttressed cornice, the cornice enclosing a hatch with a pyramidic protrusion carved with a trefoil detail, the upper section with three shelves, each with a gilt leather fringe, the lower tier with a pair of cupboard doors over two graduated shelves, raised on compass supports, 152cm wide, 38cm deep, 232cm high

£3,000 – 5,000

Ettore Sottsass (Italian, 1917-2007), an ‘Alcor’ vase, designed in 1983 for Memphis Milano, manufactured by Toso Vetri d’Arte, Murano, the opaque glass bowl on a clear glass neck with black applications, on a green glass rim over two clear glass cups, each with applications in blue and orange, signed to the base ‘Memphis Milano by Toso Vetri d’Arte’, 44cm high

£1,000 – 1,500

Duncan Grant (1885-1978)

‘Sketch at Brighton’, 1930 signed and dated l.l., also signed l.r. and inscribed with title on a fragmented label verso, oil on board 45 x 52cm, mounted within a grey oak frame designed by Max Clendinning

Purchased by Max on Fulham Road, 17 January 1974.

£5,000-7,000

An Unbreakable Bond Forged in Creativity

The Lives and Collections of Max and Ralph

In the smoky ambience of a London nightclub in 1960, a serendipitous encounter sparked a relationship that would be as enduring as it was creative. Ralph, then a student at the Slade School of Fine Art, met Max, already an acclaimed architect and designer. Ralph often reflected on that moment, saying they met at exactly the right second and never looked back. This chance meeting would evolve into a lifelong partnership that saw them creating and curating an eclectic and vibrant collection of art, furniture, and design objects.

A Journey Through Spaces and Places

Max and Ralph’s journey together began in a rented flat on Eaton Terrace, soon moving to a house in Canonbury, and eventually settling in Islington. Max also maintained a glamorous attic flat in Belfast. The 1980s brought another dimension to their lives as they began establishing homes in the serene landscape of Umbria, Italy.

Their shared passion for collecting saw them scouring junk shops, markets and antique dealers across the UK and Europe. Ralph’s penchant for Victorian objects and Max’s keen eye for unique furniture and paintings led to a diverse and treasured collection. Notable acquisitions included William De Morgan

tiles Ralph purchased in the 1950s for a mere sixpence each, and a Duncan Grant painting Max found on the Fulham Road in 1974. Max’s thoughtful nature shone through when he chose not to buy both available Grant paintings, leaving one for another admirer.

Italy became a significant influence on their aesthetic, with Max’s first visit, in 1953 on a British Council scholarship, profoundly impacting his design philosophy. This love for Italian design was reflected in their Italian homes, where they sourced local pieces to complement their curated spaces.

A Home Like No Other

Their Islington home was a testament to their unique approach to design, described by one newspaper as ‘miximalist’— a deliberate mix of decorative, playful and colourful elements, designed to uplift and cheer their guests. The house was a personal and expressive canvas, where ‘Memphis’ pieces mingled with William Morris designs and Picasso artworks. Few surfaces were left undecorated, giving the home a magical quality.

Max’s openness to new ideas and Ralph’s deep knowledge of Victorian design created a dynamic and ever-evolving living space. Clocks were a recurring motif throughout the

house, with Ralph’s room featuring multiple timepieces alongside a mix of Aesthetic Movement furniture, paintings and ceramics.

Their Italian home, in contrast, was simpler and more pared down, reflecting a different facet of their design ethos. Yet, in both homes, the joy of creating and rearranging was a constant, with Max and Ralph always laughing and collaborating on new designs.

Cherished Pieces and Personal Stories

Among their favourite pieces were whimsical items like a surrealist coffee pot by Gaetano Pesce, which Max kept in his upstairs studio. This sense of humour permeated their collection, making their home a place of fun and delight. The Picasso plates held special significance, with the black Picasso example prominently displayed in their dining room.

Max’s furniture designs, ever-changing and innovative, were a staple of their living spaces. Ralph’s designs, like his large yellow mirror and grey clock, added a theatrical and surreal touch. His custom-made cabinet for his classical music CDs, inspired by John Marston’s play ‘The Malcontent,’ showcased his skill and creativity in set and prop design.

Their collaborations were marked by a shared

sense of joy and creativity, always resulting in laughter and innovative ideas. The influence of mentors like Nicholas Georgiadis, Ralph’s tutor at the Slade, added depth to their work and life together.

A Legacy of Design

Over the decades, their homes and collections were celebrated in numerous magazines and journals, from ‘The Studio Yearbook’ in 1967, to ‘Financial Time’ in 2022. Each publication highlighted different aspects of their eclectic and vibrant world.

Despite the eventual dismantling of their Islington home, Max and Ralph’s legacy lives on in the stories, designs and collections they left behind. Their home was not just a physical space, but a reflection of their devoted relationship and shared passion for design. As Ralph poignantly noted, it wouldn’t be the same without the love and laughter of them and their friends in it.

In remembering Max and Ralph, we celebrate a partnership that transcended the ordinary, turning every moment and every piece into a part of their extraordinary narrative. Their legacy reminds us that true creativity knows no bounds and that the most beautiful homes are those filled with affection and joy.

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Sworders have a nationwide reputation for conducting successful auctions of substantial and important collections. We believe items sell better as part of a named collection, giving bidders the opportunity to value the provenance and story behind them, bringing the pieces to life, and enabling prospective purchasers to bid with enthusiasm and confidence.

To discuss your collection, please contact privatecollections@sworder.co.uk 01279 817778

OFFICES

Stansted Mountfitchet Auction Rooms

Cambridge Road | Stansted Mountfitchet Essex | CM24 8GE auctions@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778

Hertford

42 St Andrew Street | Hertford | SG14 1JA hertford@sworder.co.uk | 01992 583508

London

15 Cecil Court | London | WC2N 4EZ london@sworder.co.uk | 0203 971 2500