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1,100 GBP
0 Bid(s)
1
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GBP
700 - 1,000 GBP
Live auction
Lot closed
Lot location
Lewes, East Sussex
§ Austin Osman Spare (1888-1956)pencil and coloured pencils on thin wove paper'Threshold: Quasi-automatic drawings. 1944-1945' title page in the original album with attached note '35 drawings by A.O.S. Bought for £15. Nov 15th 1945 through Hannen Swaffer'8 x 13in.LOTS 1087 - 1115 FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN EASTBOURNEAn introduction by Dr William Wallace, an acknowledged authority on the life and work of the artist and author of The Catalpa Monographs: A Critical Survey of the Art and Writings of Austin Osman Spare - Jerusalem Press, 2015AUSTIN OSMAN SPARE (1886-1956)SKETCHBOOK OF 35 DRAWINGSThe suite of fine drawings by Spare offered here for sale represent sketchbook works but of accomplished presentation drawing standard, and represent one of his usages for this medium, permitting his inspiration to unspool sequentially onto the pages from his restlessly combinatory imagination.He is unusual amongst artists, in that he was prepared to sell his sketchbooks; these are usually retained by artists as containing germinal ideas for more resolved works. Whilst Spare also did this he was not possessive about them, and at times they were extensions of his own published occult-philosophical works. Good, early examples include the exquisite mystical bookworks in ink and watercolour The Focus of Life & The Papyrus of Amen-AOS (1905-6) and The Arcana of AOS & the Consciousness of Kia-Ra (1906), developing ideas from his first published book Earth:Inferno (1905), both sold to his friend and mentor, the avid collector, Pickford Waller (1873-1927), possibly in the hope of publication. This was only realized in 2011 as Two Grimoires which succinctly conveys their magical nature. The title The Focus of Life would be invoked again by Spare for his published oneiric odyssey and masterwork of 1921Spare was again selling sketchbooks by 1924, and again to Waller with Satyros at Stroud, a mythologised vision of the Gloucestershire landscape in pencil, coloured pencil and watercolour, produced on holiday far from the fleshpots of the Boro'; 'Satyros' being one of the artist's alter-egos. His accompanying letter to Waller is upbeat, Spare having been bucked by the sale of four drawings to Lord Leverhulme. Two other sketchbooks of that year have since been part-published, the sublime Ugly Ecstasy, with its grotesque, Baudelairean vision of beauty, bought by Gerald Reitlinger (1900-1976), and The Valley of Fear: Metamorphosis, with its Sherlockian title (Spare loved detective stories), another Waller acquisition. Another, (1925;published 1972), A Book of Automatic Drawings, is actually quasi-automatic, with more finely finished grotesquerieOverall, the sketchbooks vary, from the type of fluent ludic outpourings of the automatics, to finely finished sequences verging on discreet narrative as in an unfolding journey, to more didactic sketchbooks intended as instructive for students of his Austin Osman Spare School of Draughtsmanship. Others contain preparatory drawings for larger pastel paintings and other work, and even, as with one owned by his great friend and amanuensis Frank Letchford (1916-1998), a combined sketch/scrapbook with pieces collaged over full-paged drawings of c.1954Several notable sketchbooks, including types (drawings) here offered at auction were produced whilst the artist was "fire-spotting" for flying bombs over his beloved Southwark. One such, (recently published) consists of 24 highly finished drawings, entitled: Adventures in Limbo, obliquely recalling the Dantean influence of the 1905 Earth:Inferno. Spare, like Blake, viewed London as both (literally and metaphorically) as both concrete and spiritualised as well as charged with mystery. In Dante's Limbo, the poet in wonder sees the noble pagans later revered by Spare: Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Democritus, Diogenes, Heraclitus, Anaxagoras, Thales, Zeno (of Cittium), and Dioscorides. The artist was to reveal tellingly in his 'Mansion House' pub show catalogue (1952) that his sketchbooks for sale (items 101-111) are titled Cacoethes Scribendi. These range from12 to 48 drawings priced from £2 10s to £8.00. He describes them thus:Cacoethes scribendi: Twelve sketchbooks of original ideas. A work of art often owes its virtue to omission as well as revision or consummation; yet equally (if not more so), the uninhibited nature of the contents of artist's scribbling books are instructive, potent and stimulating, because they show the creative faculty in unhindered operation, and the underlying ideas motivating the artist are in some measure revealed. Those purchasing these sketchbooks obtain therewith both the copyright and my permission to exploit any of the ideas as their ownThe 153 exhibition at 'The White bear' tavern offered "sketchbooks by request" (items 141-2) One of these, from Letchford's collection (No5) of twelve drawings features Witches Sabbath scenes, and one drawing is of three plinthed satiric heads labelled 'Carus Lucretius', 'Apuleius', and 'Zeno of Elea', there is a distinct whiff of Faustian brimstone. Several drawings in this book were developed; one, into an ink drawing on wood: 'Evocation by Acrobatics' appeared in Spare's last show- at the Archer Gallery in 1955 (no 139). Conversely, one drawing is a version of 'These are the Women' (minus the anthropomorphic tree) which had been shown at 'The Mansion House' pub in 1952, although the title occurred at Spare's "Home Show" of 1936 (no 8). Another book owned by Letchford is a mix, starting with a list of titles for his last exhibition and several preparatory sketches, such as 'Ghosts are Sidereal' (no 45) alluding to Spare's method of anamorphic distortion, and part of the 'Ghosts I Have Seen' series.Sketchbooks in the Bower-Dalton collection reflect their diversity. Spare has used an autograph book for his mainly satyrized heads and titled it A Book of Satyrs (after his second published book of 1907). The 29 drawings probably capture the mythologised heads of ARP, AFS and ambulance personnel, again whilst on fire-watching duty, capturing the denizens of the wartime blackout Inferno. Another in the same collection is titled Static Alignments (1944-5) comprising twenty demonstration drawings for students. Another of 1944: Ideas and Transcriptions From Life: Drawn for Students was presented after the war, to Frank Letchford, displaying a variety of experimental stylesThe title Cacoethes Scribendi of 1952 for his sketchbooks provides a clue to Spare's motives. The term originates (typically) with a satirist, Juvenal (late 1st-2nd c AD), who refers in Book III (7th Satire) to: "insanibile scribendi cacoethes" an incurable passion for writing (drawing in Spare's case), as almost a pathological compulsion. Again, the classical world collides with London, with Juvenal's influence on Sam Johnson (1709-1784), in his London of 1738. The phrase also occurs in a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894), the first line reading: "If all the trees in all the woods were men". In fact, Spare does sometimes present trees in anthropomorphic form. The present sketchbook drawings reveal a glimpse into the mind and soul of an extraordinary artistDr William Wallace: August 2017Gorringe's are grateful to Dr Wallace for providing this learned overview
Autumn Fine Sale
Live
Venue address
15 North Street
Lewes, East Sussex
BN7 2PD
United Kingdom
Autumn Fine Sale

Gorringes Autumn Sale of Fine Art, Antiques and Collectables

Auction dates
26 Sep 2017 10:00 BST
Lots: 677
27 Sep 2017 10:00 BST
Lots: 523
Viewing dates
22 Sep 2017 09:00 - 17:00 BST
23 Sep 2017 09:00 - 13:00 BST
24 Sep 2017 10:00 - 13:00 BST
25 Sep 2017 09:00 - 17:00 BST
Auction currency
GBP
Accepted cards

PHONE BIDS

Phone Bids are possible on lots with a £300 bottom estimate or more. (e.g £300-500)

SHIPPING

We can offer a delivery service for Lots purchased by packing and  shipping ourselves. If we cannot pack certain items we will recommend third party logistics companies that can help. Estimates for Shipping Costs for smaller items can be calculated pre-sale upon request and are based on value, size and your chosen UK destination. For items purchased the actual cost can be added to your account and paid online after the sale. If you purchase multiple Lots from the same auction, we will combine packaging/deliveries to reduce the Shipping Costs if this is possible. For lots for which Shipping Costs cannot be calculated, such as furniture, or larger items, upon request you can obtain a recommended Shipping Company either in advance of the sale or after you have purchased. Gorringes do not offer international shipping.

Estimates of Shipping Costs are based on the low estimate, whilst the actual cost is based on Hammer Price.

Items not possible for in-house postage and packing include Tea/dinner services, large quantities of ceramics, any lots containing liquids, ALL bladed items.

PLEASE NOTE, as of 22nd April 2024, all "bladed items" will be prohibited for sending in the post. This is as per Royal Mail's prohibited items list. Royal Mail say that you must not send any item that has a blade, in particular, ‘Bladed Articles’ as defined by the Criminal Justice Act 1988 or ‘Bladed Products’ as defined by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. Such items include, Cutlery knives, Scissors with sharp edges, Sporting equipment with a blade, Replica and antique knives (including those used for re-enactment purposes), Handmade and bespoke knives, Open razors (where the blade is exposed), Any axe, Any sword, Survival knives etc.

 

INFORMATION FOR BUYERS

Introduction. The following informative notes are intended to assist Buyers, particularly those inexperienced or new to our salerooms. All sales are conducted on our printed Conditions of Sale which are readily available for inspection and normally accompany catalogues. Our staff will be happy to help you if there is anything you do not fully understand.

1.It is our policy to charge the Buyer all costs involved to cover our expenses relating to the payment of royalties under the Artist Resale Right Regulations 2006.  You agree that we may add such amount to the purchase price.

2. Agency. As auctioneers we usually contract as agents for the seller whose identity, for reasons of confidentiality, is not normally disclosed. Accordingly if you buy your primary contract is with the seller.

3. Estimates. Estimates are designed to help buyers gauge what sort of sum might be involved for the purchase of a particular lot. The lower estimate may represent the reserve price and certainly will not be below it. Estimates do not include the Buyer's Premium or VAT (where chargeable). Estimates are prepared some time before the sale and may be altered by announcement before the sale. They are in no sense definitive.

4. Buyer's Premium. The Conditions of Sale oblige buyers to pay a buyer's premium at 21% plus VAT on the hammer price of each lot purchased plus 3% plus VAT live bidding fee.

5. VAT. (†) indicates that VAT is payable by the purchaser at the standard rate (presently 20%) on the hammer price as well as being an element in the buyer's premium. This imposition of VAT is likely to be because the seller is registered for VAT within the European Union and is not operating the Dealers Margin Scheme or because VAT is due at 20% on importation into the UK. The double symbol (**) indicates that the lot has been imported from outside the European Union and the present position is that these lots are liable to a reduced rate of VAT (5%) on the gross lot price (i.e. both the hammer price and the buyer's premium). Lots which appear without either of the above symbols indicate that no VAT is payable on the hammer price. This is because such lots are sold using the Auctioneers' Margin Scheme and it should be noted that the VAT included within the Premium is not recoverable as input tax.   "Would buyers please notify Gorringes if they are VAT registered upon registration, and provide their valid VAT Registration Number. This information will be added to the customer database. This will enable those buyers to recover the input tax shown on their invoices relating to lots which are daggered or non-EU imported goods".

6. Descriptions And Condition. We are, primarily, agents for the seller. We are dependent on information provided by the seller and whilst we may inspect lots and act reasonably in taking a general view about them we are normally unable to carry out a detailed or any examination of lots in order to ascertain their condition in the way in which it would be wise for a buyer to do. Intending buyers have ample opportunity for inspection of goods and, therefore, accept responsibility for inspecting and investigating lots in which they may be interested. Please note carefully the exclusion of liability for the condition of lots contained in the Conditions of Sale. Neither the seller nor we, as the auctioneers, accept any responsibility for their condition. In particular, mechanical objects of any age are not guaranteed to be in working order. However, in so far as we have examined the goods and make a representation about their condition, we shall be liable for any defect which that examination ought to have revealed to the auctioneer but which would not have been revealed to the buyer had the buyer examined the goods. Additionally, in specified circumstances lots misdescribed because they are 'deliberate forgeries' may be returned and repayment made. There is a 3 week time limit. (The expression 'deliberate forgery' is defined in our Conditions of Sale).

7. Electrical goods. These are sold as 'antiques' only and if bought for use must be checked over for compliance with safety regulations by a qualified electrician first.

8. Export of goods. Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain (a) whether an export licence is required and (b) whether there is any specific prohibition on importing goods of that character because, e.g. they may contain prohibited materials such as ivory. Ask us if you need help.

9. Bidding. Bidders may be required to register before the sale commences and lots will be invoiced to the name and address on the registration form. Some form of identification may be required if you are unknown to us. Please enquire in advance about our arrangements for telephone bidding.

10. Commission bidding. If you are unable to attend the sale commission bids may be left with the auctioneers indicating the maximum amount to be bid excluding buyers' premium. They will be executed as cheaply as possible having regard to the reserve (if any) and competing bids. If two buyers submit identical commission bids the auctioneers may prefer the first bid received. Commission bids must be with the auctioneers 24 hours before the date of sale. Please enquire in advance about our arrangements for the leaving of commission bids by telephone or email to clientservices@gorringes.co.uk . A Commission Bids form is printed in the back of this catalogue.

11. Telephone bidding. Telephone bids can be booked, by prior arrangement with the office for Lots estimated in excess of £500, subject to the availability of a limited number of telephone lines.

12. Methods of Payment. As a general rule any cheques (GBP only) tendered will need to be cleared before removal of the goods is permitted. We accept most debit and credit cards but not charge cards (e.g. American Express). An administration charge of 2% will be added for credit cards. WE DO NOT ACCEPT PAYPAL.  Due to money laundering regulations clients wishing to pay £9000 or more in cash will be asked to provide proof of identity and address. Please discuss with our Office in advance of the sale if other methods of payment are envisaged.

13. Collection and storage. Please note what the Conditions of Sale state about collection and storage. It is important that goods are paid for and collected promptly. Any delay may involve the buyer in paying storage charges. Where practical and upon receipt of payment clearing will be permitted during and immediately following the sale and for the following week during office hours. Please note that it is the responsibility of the buyers to ensure that any lot purchased is complete as at the time of collection from the saleroom. The Auctioneers can take no responsibility for any item or items found to be damaged or missing after the lot has been removed from the saleroom.

14. Artist's Re-Sale Right

From mid February 2006 living artists are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their artwork is bought or sold by an art market professional.  This new law has been introduced in the UK following a European directive. Works sold for a sum of 1000 euros (approximately £680) or more will be subject to the following additional charge as per the scale rate shown below.  This will be charged to the buyer of any eligible lots and will be based on the hammer price.  Lots that may potentially incur this charge will be announced from the rostrum.

Portion of the sale price                                                                Royalty Rate

From 0 to 50,000 euro                                                    4%

From 50,000.01 to 200,000 euro                 3%

From 200,000.01 to 350,000 euro                               1%

From 350,000.01 to 500,000 euro                               0.5%

Exceeding 500,000 euro                                                                0.25%

 

14. Packing and shipping. Postage and packing can be arranged by the Auctioneers. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT SHIP FURNITURE. 

CONDITION REPORTS

IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED FOR ALL BIDDERS TO REQUEST A CONDITION REPORT PRIOR TO BIDDING, WE MAKE NO GUARANTEES ABOUT CONDITION ON ANY ITEM WITHOUT REFERENCE TO A PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED CONDITION REPORT.

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