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Current Sales |
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Fine and Rare Wines
21 Nov 2009, San Francisco and Los Angeles |
Antique Arms and Armor and Modern Sporting Guns
23 Nov 2009, 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco |
California and American Paintings and Sculpture
23 Nov 2009, Los Angeles and San Francisco |
Decorative Arts and Glass
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
Doulton and Beswick Wares
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
British and Continental Collectable Ceramics
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
20th Century Prints
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
Watches & Wristwatches
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
Clocks & Barometers
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
British & Continental Pictures
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
Art & Antiques
24 Nov 2009, KNOWLE |
Fine Silver & Objects of Vertu
25 Nov 2009, New Bond Street |
The Merchiston Collection of Fine Portrait Miniatures, The Property of Mrs Eleanor Hamilton
25 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
Fine Portrait Miniatures
25 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
Fine Continental Furniture, Sculpture & Works of Art
25 Nov 2009, New Bond Street |
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Full sales schedule |
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Early 15th Century Figure Of The Virgin And Child Sells For £20,400 At Bonhams Knightsbridge - New Entries Now Invited For Next Sale
A rare and alluringly beautiful figural group of the Virgin and Child created a great deal of interest in the summer sale of Early European Works of Art at Bonhams Knightsbridge on 1 July. This stunning French sculpture came from a private Belgian collection and dated from the early part of the 15th century. Unusually the Christ child was depicted holding aloft a scroll, the text sadly now illegible. Other comparable examples from the 15th century feature the Christ Child holding a dove, and earlier pieces from the Ile-de-France region often show Him holding a piece of fruit and reaching out for the Virgin's veil, in other examples He carries a book, or even a goldfinch. The piece had lost some of the original polychrome decoration but much of the original colour and gilding remained and the Virgin's delicate features retained their timeless beauty. The dramatic movement expressed through the carved folds of Her drapery provided a subtle contrast to Her serene expression, elongated face and static pose.
Other highlights of the sale included an interesting 12th century North European carved walrus ivory draughtsman which sold for £2000. This rare piece depicted a man riding a hippocampus, and although unusual, the design could be compared stylistically to various other draughtsmen in private and museum collections around the world. Other examples featuring this strange combination of human and animal form include a man riding a human headed fish (in the Louvre) and a grotesque design of a human head holding two birds in his mouth, each with their own human faces (British Museum).
We are now accepting similarly rare and interesting pieces for the next Early European Works of Art sale to be held on Tuesday 2 December. Entries will include early sculpture, religious objects and other works of art dating from the 12th century through to the 19th century. We are particularly seeking early bronze sculptures as well as carved wood figures, ivory figures and plaques, Limoges, Gothic and Neo-Gothic artefacts.
Further press enquiries from Bonhams please contact Julian Roup on +44 (0)207 468 8259 or email: press@bonhams.com
Notes for Editors
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America and in August 2003, Goodmans, a leading Australian fine art and antiques auctioneer with salerooms in Sydney, joined the Bonhams Group of Companies. Today, Bonhams is the third largest and fastest growing auction house in the world with a global network of offices and regional representatives providing sales advice and valuation services in 20 countries. It offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further 10 throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, Monaco, and Australia. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of more than 40 Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com For other press releases, go to www.bonhams.com/press.
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Contacts |
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U.K.
Julian Roup
Press Office & Marketing
Tel: +44 (0)207 468 8259
e-mail Press
U.S.A.
Levi Morgan
Director
Public Relations
San Francisco
+ 1 (415) 503 3348
Australia
Kieran Grogan
National Marketing and Media Manager
Bonhams & Goodman
Tel: +61 3 9823 6270
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