Footnotes

Provenance
The Artist, by whom gifted to his son
Simon Chadwick, thence by family descent to the present owners
Private Collection, U.K.

Exhibited
Kruishoutem (Belgium), Fondation Veranneman, Lynn Chadwick and Karolus Lodenkämper, October-December 1980 (another cast)

Literature
Dennis Farr & Éva Chadwick, Lynn Chadwick, Sculptor, With a Complete Illustrated Catalogue 1947-1996, Lypiatt Studio, Stroud, 1997, p.328, cat.no.791 (ill.b&w, another cast)
Dennis Farr & Éva Chadwick, Lynn Chadwick, Sculptor, With a Complete Illustrated Catalogue 1947-2005, Lund Humphries, Aldershot, 2006, p.336, cat.no.791 (ill.b&w, another cast)
Dennis Farr & Éva Chadwick, Lynn Chadwick Sculptor, With a Complete Illustrated Catalogue 1947-2003, Lund Humphries, Farnham, 2014, p.342, cat.no.791 (ill.b&w, another cast)

Relationships sit at the heart of Lynn Chadwick's illustrious career. The theme he explored more than any other is that of the dynamics which lay between one human and another – and where is such a dynamic felt more keenly than family? It is fitting then that the following four bronzes, each of which explores the theme of companionship, are accompanied by exceptional family provenance, coming to sale by direct descent from his eldest child Simon.

During the war, Lynn, then an architect by trade, qualified as a pilot in Canada. In 1942 Lynn met the Canadian poet Ann Secord in Toronto. They married, and their son Simon arrived shortly after. Following the war the family moved to a cottage near Stroud in Gloucestershire. It had no electricity or running water but offered outbuildings which were given over to studios in which Lynn began 'making things' – as he termed it. At first mobiles, then stabiles and static sculptures. Lynn enjoyed a meteoric rise as a sculptor, with just two years separating his first solo exhibition and his selection to represent the U.K. at the Venice Biennale.

Whilst initially means were modest, these were happy, fruitful and free years. As Simon grew, Lynn would find joy in putting his own architectural and aviation training to good use by teaching the young boy to construct model aircraft from sculptors' materials.

By the late 1970s, the period to which the following group of bronzes date, Lynn's circumstances had changed. His career had continued to ascend at pace. He found commercial representation via the Marlborough Gallery, saw his works included within significant museum collections such as the Tate and MOMA, and was awarded CBE. He had reaped the rewards of his success, moving to the stately manor house Lypiatt Park, and was able to reinvest his energies into his work, by establishing his own foundry there. It is this Lynn – a titan in a world of contemporary sculpture, and patriarch to a broad family, who gifted the following four works to his son (by now also a father himself).

The provenance of this group, direct from the artist's family and never previously presented to the market, presents an excellent opportunity for collectors now. Bonhams are proud to have been selected by the family of Lynn Chadwick on several occasions to handle the sale of such personal works, including a group in 2021, led by Maquette Jubilee II (sold in these rooms for £838,750).

We are grateful to Sarah Chadwick for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.