2024 BUMPER YEAR AT GWA

2024 proved to be a record year for the Picture department at GWA, commencing in dramatic fashion with our Spring Fine Sale and a house record of £294,000 for FCB Cadell’s stunning oil 'Dahlias''. 

Sold: £294,000*

While ‘key market’ Scottish artists from Alasdair Gray, Joan Eardley, John Bellany and John Byrne to EA Hornel, SJ Peploe, Elizabeth Blackadder and Benno Schotz remain central to our hammer sales, these are regularly augmented by more unusual works which can sell to great effect in the context of our Fine Sales. This year, we have featured artists ranging from Eric Kennington, CRW Nevinson, William Wyllie and Herring Sr through to LS Lowry, Robert Adams, Abdur Chughtai, Richard Moynan and Norman Ackroyd. 

       Sold: Joan Eardley, £9,660*                                 Sold: Alasdair Gray, £8,372*                  Sold: William Lionel Wyllie, £19,964*             Sold: William Burns Murdoch, £16,744*

   Sold: LS Lowry, £4,894*                                                     Sold: Abdur Chugthai, £5,538*          

It was a great thrill to offer the earliest artwork we have ever sold, a rare Albrecht Durer woodcut 'The Knight and the Man-at-Arms' dating to the very early 1500s. Removing it from its frame was rather nerve-racking, but it allowed us to confirm which watermark was visible in the paper and thus help date the print. 

       Sold: Albrecht Durer, £9,660*

At the other end of the spectrum, we have presented two recent - yet iconic - screenprints by Banksy. 

Sold: Banksy, £43,492* 

  It's always satisfying to chart 'rising stars' in an ever-changing and evolving Scottish auction market, and this year saw us offer Joan Gillespie, Stephanie Rew, Henry Fraser, Colin Wilson, Sylvia Wishart and the stunning festive cover image of our Winter Fine Sale by Louis McNally. 

Sold: Louis McNally, £3,864*                               Sold: Eric Henri Kennington, £3,220*

Sculpture, too, goes from strength to strength, with an auction record of £12,236* for Benno Schotz and works by Martin Rayner and Robert Adams, among others, selling to great effect.

            Sold: Benno Schotz, £12,236*                Sold: Robert Adams, £3,864*

Our Jewellery department charted a widening interest in high quality, high carat diamonds. Prices were steady for substantial stones of 2 carats and above, and particularly sharp for charming accoutrements like a heart pendant and examples from luxury firms such as Cartier.  Statement pieces by Spanish brand Carrera Y Carrera also saw spirited bidding.

Sold: £9,660*                                                               Sold: £15,456*                                             Sold: £9,660*

The want for luxury continued in our Watches department. Many Rolex Perpetual Day-date and Tudor Princedate models – often encrusted with jewels – sold well to an international clientele, highlighting the global appetite for these timepieces.

             Sold:  £15,456*

One of the largest growth areas of the year was our Coins & Banknotes department. We had the pleasure of bringing to market multiple private coin collections filled with rare sovereign sets like the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Anniversary set and the 500^th Anniversary of the First Gold Sovereign were some of the top performers in the department, while Gold Dollars achieved strong prices. With gold remaining at a high price, it is a particularly opportune time to considering selling. Banknotes from the Falklands were also a standout.

              Sold: £4,372*                                       Sold: £7,341*                                   Sold: £1,030*                    

Books and Manuscripts from the 16^th-17^th century continue to be some of the most popular lots within the department. Whether it be religious texts like the Hebraica Biblia or a General History of the World by Sir Walter Raleigh, condition remains an important factor in price, with complete examples in 1^st editions and imprints being the most collectable.

              Sold: £1,094*                                                                          Sold: £1,416*                                          Sold: £1,416*                                            Sold: £2,317*

A private collection of Chinese brass caught the attention of collectors in our March Fine Sale. Temple censers, Gu vessels and figures of officials all soared to high prices. The interest in silk shows no signs of waning as embroidered panels, shawls and robes contributed massively to department totals. An impressive Satsuma vase from the popular Kinkozan dynasty as well as high quality tea kettles, boxes and bowls from the same collection signalled new life in the Japanese market. A noteworthy lot in our Winter Finesale was the rare Middle Eastern mammoth tusk chess piece. With scarce examples to compare to and with interest from institutions and collectors, the piece soared to well over £8,000.

     Sold: £8,372*                                                         Sold: £4,894*

The eclectic department of Collectables proved that quirky, niche curios are what the market desires. From Victorian puzzles by Jacques & Son to unusual sgian dubhs and models of James Bond’s Golden Gun, surprises were abundant. A macabre yet charming taxidermy terrier named Fruach was one of the department’s sleepers, selling for well over its estimate. Rangers legend Harold Davis's collection of medals - straight from the Rangers Museum - sold for an impressive £18,032*.

                         Sold: £18,032*                                     Sold: £2,189*                                           Sold: £1,932*                                           

Multiple sets of bagpipes from makers such as Robert Gillanders and coveted examples by the MacDougall family brought a trench of international bidders to Glasgow. Many sets made their way to North America where there is an ever-growing collector’s market. As well as bagpipes, violins by Matthew Hardy and examples from the fabled city of Cremona were keenly contested.

Sold: £3,864*                            Sold: £4,894*                                              Sold: £3,606*

The clock market was buoyant this year with strong results seen for famed makers such as the Vulliamy family and T.S Cuthbert. Throughout 2024 Jaeger Le Coultre’s Atmos and Skeleton clocks – particularly the Chinoiserie iterant of the Atmos – achieved high prices, while earlier French enamel pieces were not far behind. Closer to home, Arts and Crafts clocks were popular, as well as a rare example by Marion Henderson Wilson.

 Sold: £5,152                                  Sold: £6,440*                                Sold: £3,864*

Our Ceramics department were delighted to bring to market an extensive private collection of rare Beswick.  Led by the instantly recognizable Girl and Boy on Brown Pony, the collection also contained many pieces designed by Colin Melbourne, who worked for the factory from 1956-1971. Many of these were keenly contested by avid collectors, with the collection selling for over £15,000. Another private collection, a small yet dazzling example of limited edition Swarovski figures, cumulatively achieved over £2,318*.

                  Sold: £15,000*                               Sold:  £4,121*                              Sold: £2,318*                     

Collectable silver from storied firms punctuated many of our sales. Tastes have leaned towards luxury pieces such as a pair of twin-light candelabra by the esteemed Patrick Mavros or a complete canteen of grape and vine pattern cutlery by Mappin & Webb, as well as the ever-popular novelty items with early dates like the hand grenade table lighter. Hallmarked for London 1916, it realised the 2^nd highest price of its type. 

Sold: £8,629*                                                        Sold: £8,372*                                            Sold: £2,833*

Iconic mid-century furniture is gaining popularity year-on-year. Eames chairs as well as pieces by Ercol were snapped up quickly, with myriad teak pieces like sideboard and dining sets by Mcintosh of Kirkcaldy following suit. Furthermore, the Alcove Highback settee and the Sinbad sofa designed by Vico Magistretti signalled an appetite for these stylised pieces. Works from the Arts and Crafts movement such as a stained glass oak cabinet and a carved settle by Shapland & Petter were some of the highlights of the year in our Furniture department.

               Sold: £2,576                          Sold: £772*                                                       Sold: £515* 

Make the most of any festive season 'downtime' to chat with the family and send us photos of your artworks. We offer free, confidential sales advice. What have you got to lose?

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