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Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, 1891-1954) Sketch for Checkmate image 1
Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, 1891-1954) Sketch for Checkmate image 2
Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, 1891-1954) Sketch for Checkmate image 3
Lot 235

Edward McKnight Kauffer
(American, 1891-1954)
Sketch for Checkmate

15 April 2025, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £3,584 inc. premium

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Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, 1891-1954)

Sketch for Checkmate
signed, titled, dated and inscribed 'To Brumwell with my/best wishes=/Sketch for "Checkmate"/E.McKnight Kauffer/1937' (lower right)
pencil and gouache
22.5 x 40cm (8 13/16 x 15 3/4in).

Footnotes

Provenance
With Bartley Drey Gallery, London, where acquired by the present owner, 17 January 1996

McKnight Kauffer was the set and costume designer for Checkmate, a one act ballet first performed at the Theatre des Champs Elysees in Paris on 15 June 1937. The visual design centred around a chessboard where Love (in red) plays Death (in black).

The dedication to 'Brumwell' likely refers to John Robert Marcus Brumwell (1901-1983) who was a British advertising pioneer, designer and collector. He worked closely on advertising campaigns with contemporary artists, including McKnight Kauffer.

Additional information

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