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Lot 209

George Smart (British, 1774-1846): A cut felt and painted picture of 'The Earth Stopper'

Vernacular Furniture, Naïve Art, and Textiles
23 September – 7 October 2025, 12:00 BST
Online, London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £2,048 inc. premium

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George Smart (British, 1774-1846): A cut felt and painted picture of 'The Earth Stopper'

Mounted within gilt wood frame, the rear with applied copper plate ink labels reading G. SMART, FRANT NEAR TUNBRIDGE WELLS. ARTIST IN CLOTH AND VELVET FIGURES. TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF SUSSEX' and with original rhyme published by 'CLIFFORD PRINTERS, TUNBRIDGE WELLS', and another applied label entitled 'The Earth Stopper' with descriptive passage, 34.2cm high, 46.2cm wide

Footnotes

George Smart was a tailor and cloth collage artist famous for his portraits and dummyboards. Residing in Frant, East Sussex, his works were mentioned in several contemporary local guidebooks in the early 19th century presumably with the aim to encourage visitors to call in on his shop. His most famous subjects were' Old Bright, the local postman' and 'The Goosewoman'

Now recognised as one of the key figures within the history of English Folk Art twenty one works by Smart were included in Tate Britain's British Folk Art exhibition in 2014.

The Tunbridge Wells Museum has nine examples of his work in their permanent collection and Compton Verney in Warwickshire has a further two works.

Literature
James Ayres, British Folk Art, Barrie and Jenkins, London 1976, Overlook Press, Woodstock, N.Y. 1977. P.88.
Margaret Gill, Professor of Peculiar Art, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Publication.

Additional information

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