Cornish Painting Sold to Australian Telephone Bidder
A painting of a Cornish Cottage by Fred Yates (1922-2008) is set to make its way to Australia following a winning telephone bid by a collector from down under.
The large, fresh-to-market oil painting was auctioned this week by Paul Keen at Plymouth Auction Rooms during their Contemporary Art Sale. The artwork generated significant interest, eventually selling for more than double its estimate at £5,000.
Also fetching £5,000, but staying in Plymouth, was Painter with Anna in the Studio by Robert Lenkiewicz. The hammer price reached the high end of its estimate.
Lot 50, however, was the clear highlight of the auction. A rare original work by British artist Maxwell Ashby Armfield (1881-1972), titled The Scarlet Squirrel and painted in 1922, captured the attention of three telephone bidders and a number of internet bidders. Armfield, a celebrated illustrator, author, and member of the Birmingham School of Arts, was known for his wide-ranging talent. "This was a gem of a painting," says Paul Keen. "It’s originality and almost pre-Raphaelite style made it very appealing." The painting far exceeded its £1,200 to £1,500 guide, ultimately selling for £13,500 to a phone bidder.
Elsewhere in the auction, a collection of 53 signed Beryl Cook editions attracted a wave of new bidders from across the country, contributing to competitive bidding and a near sell-out.
