I'm Back 👋

Hi everyone! It’s been a while, but I’m excited to be back in action. Bringing you some beautiful collectibles at lovely, low price points. And, of course, some fun finds from around the web. Please, share, reply and dive right in! 🧡

ON THE MARKET

WILLIAM MCCANCE

Reclining Giant, 1945

£300 - 500

There is an interesting selection of works on paper from the Estate of William McCance up for sale. This one’s a personal favourite—a later piece from when the artist was fascinated by prehistoric sculptures. A great looking piece of modernist drawing that comes directly from the artists estate. At £300 this giant looks mighty tempting.

BROWSE HERE

AGNES MILLER PARKER

Siamese Cat, 1940

£300 - 500

From husband to wife—this artist was married to McCance (mentioned above) and is part of the same estate sale. A highly celebrated printmaker, she was known for featuring cats in much of her work. This wood engraving is surely one of her finest feline creations—a charming and delightful design.

BROWSE HERE

JOAQUIN DIEZ (1840 - 1879)

The Lost Sheep

£2,000 - 3,000

Here’s an example of an Old Master painting with a surprisingly contemporary appeal. Unlined and in wonderfully dirty, untouched condition, it would be a satisfying restoration project. That said, I’d be tempted to leave it as is—the murk adds a certain charm, and it could easily pass for something 200 years older than it actually is.

BROWSE HERE

SCOTT IRVINE

A Large Burr Elm Bowl, 48cm

£120 - 180

And finally, a big gnarly bowl! Made from burr timber (or burl, if you’re American), this piece showcases the rounded growth caused by the grain wrapping around a foreign object, resulting in dense, intricate knots of dormant buds. Highly prized in furniture making for its unique texture, this one even features some nice charring for added character. A perfect way to bring a pop of natural color and texture to your space. At this price, you probably couldn’t even buy the raw material!

BROWSE HERE

SLEEPER

This portrait was purchased back in 1988 from a bric-a-brac shop in Cape Town. "As soon as I saw him, I thought, I have to have it," said the owner, who paid the equivalent of £30 for it. Recently, it was brought to the Antiques Roadshow, where specialist Frances Christie identified it as a work by Frans David Oeder and valued it at £12,000 - £18,000. Good eye!

INFOGRAPHIC

From Zero to Hero. New hot names on the scene.

This comes courtesy of the Artnet mid-year review, highlighting a list of names that have seen a spike in search interest on their platform. As expected, most fall into the 'ultra-contemporary' category. I have to admit, I only recognized two on the list (Google, here I come!). If you want to dive into more facts and figures, the full report is excellent, and you can check it out here.