Bowman Sculpture offers this bronze Comedy & Tragedy: ‘Sic Vita’, 14in (34cm) tall, by Alfred Gilbert for £55,000.
From glass to jewellery to 20th century prints and much more, a huge raft of art and antiques goes on offer at exhibitions during the closing days of the year.
For dealers, it’s a final opportunity to round out the calendar year with some sales. For shoppers, it’s a chance to bag a special something, whether a gift for the festive season or an addition to the collection.
Full English
Bowman Sculpture is among the London galleries staging major shows. It offers a collection of English New School sculpture including a group of bronzes originally from a French collection, which were purchased from Jeremy Cooper, author of 19th Century Romantic Bronzes. The show runs at the St James’s gallery until December 22 and includes works by Sir Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934), Albert Toft (1862-1949) and William Hamo Thornycroft (1850-1925).
Three to see
On display nearby is the first triple-strength catalogue from Guy Peppiatt, Harry Moore-Gwyn and Nicholas Shaw who share a gallery in Mason’s Yard. The show carries forward a long tradition of Peppiatt and former gallery resident Stephen Ongpin’s joint exhibitions. It will offer nearly 120 pictures.
A Horse and Cart in a Winter Landscape by Henry Barlow Carter is on offer from Guy Peppiatt for £1600.
Running from November 28 to December 21, it is set to be a very British show: Moore-Gwyn, a Modern British art specialist, offers work by Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, John Nash and many more, while Shaw showcases his typical selection of topographical works mostly by British artists including William Page (1794- 1872) and Thomas Hartley Cromek (1809-73). Peppiatt features British drawings and watercolours by artists such as John White Abbott (1763- 1851) and David Cox (1783-1859).
Annual event
Ongpin, who moved from the gallery last year, is now located in Mayfair. From December 1-16 he holds his first Winter Exhibition, set to be an annual event, featuring more than 50 Old Master, 19th century and Modern drawings and watercolours at prices ranging from £500-15,000.
The firm is one of the participants in this year’s digitally driven winter edition of London Art Week. Other participating galleries include Dominic Fine Art, Sam Fogg and The Weiss Gallery.
Freud focus
There is plenty to be found elsewhere in Mayfair this season. Osborne Samuel is staging a major show on Lucian Freud, running until December 16. It features his illustrated letters to fellow artist John Craxton and includes various other drawings by the two artists.
Eric Tucker’s Street Vendors is available at Connaught Brown and Alon Zakaim’s joint show where prices range from £2500-16,000.
There is also a team-up between firms Connaught Brown and Alon Zakaim. Eric Tucker: At Home runs from December 5-23 and represents the third time the galleries have joined forces to represent the artist. Both premises will be transformed into Tucker’s studio and pub, showing his pictures in the settings that inspired him.
Tribal art
In nearby Pall Mall, Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch are offering the remaining pieces of tribal art from the collection of K John Hewett (1919-94) in their Winter Exhibition (December 5-9). Hewett, active from the late 1940s-mid 80s, was a leading dealer, particularly in the field of antiquities and tribal art. He was a consultant to Sotheby’s and an adviser to leading collectors, notably Robert and Lisa Sainsbury.
Works in the show, which also includes antiquities from other sources, are available from £450-80,000. Panter & Hall has ongoing exhibitions on painters Charles Simpson and Glen Preece but stages a dedicated Christmas Show featuring various artists from December 6-21.
Peter Harrington also namechecks Christmas in one of its winter catologues, which offers a range of giftable books by names such as Ian Fleming and AA Milne as well as works by James Joyce and John Stuart Mill. Meanwhile, Covent Garden’s Grosvenor Prints has also released its Winter Miscellany catalogue.
Venture to South Kensington next, where the arts hub Cromwell Place offers another raft of exhibitions.
Among these is a joint show from Modern and Contemporary art firm Zuleika Gallery and rare and antique jeweller Facet & Fable.
Zuleika offers Angels V (2008) by Nicola Green, a work done in paint and cellophane on canvas, for £1200 + £95 frame + VAT.
The Winter Show: Fine Art and Rare Jewels brings together historical jewels, many previously unseen by the public, and pictures by Zuleika’s female artists, with a focus on Nicola Green. It runs from November 30 to December 4.
From Facet and Fable is this mid-19th-century turquoise cameo and diamond cluster necklace and earrings. The suite depicts scenes from Greek mythology and is offered with a dark blue fitted case. Most works in the show range from £3000-50,000, with this and a few other highlights on offer for more.
Also at the South Ken arts hub from December 7-11, Finch & Co launches its new catalogue Rare, featuring its familiar mix of antiques, antiquities and tribal art.
One of a pair of French brass mounted tortoiseshell veneered collectors cabinets in the Louis XVI style, which date to c.1865-70. They are on offer from Finch & Co for £26,500 and come “from a period when the art of collecting in Europe was flourishing”.
Running from November 30 to December 4 in Cromwell Place is an exhibition from dealer John Swarbrooke, who set up his own business last year. The show features 40 animal drawings by Sven Berlin (1911-99), a pioneering artist of the St Ives Colony.
This drawing Swallow in Flight by Sven Berlin is part of John Swarbrooke’s exhibition, where prices range from £250-1800.
Beyond the capital
Plenty more St Ives art can be found in the Cornish town itself.
This takes us outside the confines of London to the wider world of UK events. First to Belgrave St Ives which, in its Winter Exhibition, offers a selection of affordable limitededition prints, works on paper, small paintings and ceramics by the artists of St Ives as well as other Modern and Contemporary British artists. The show continues until January 9.
Sydney Lee’s The Sloop Inn (1904) is on offer from Belgrave St Ives for £1000.
Over to Suffolk House Antiques in Yoxford, which holds its annual Christmas exhibition from December 3-24. It features around 50 pieces of early furniture and works of art chosen for their colour and patination. The show features a large refectory table, a bust of the Virgin Mary and five pairs of early brass candlesticks.
A Charles II oak dresser, sold by Suffolk House Antiques in 2008 for £15,000, and now on offer for less than a third of the price. Dealer Andrew Singleton says: “It has lovely rich dark colour and patination but dressers, even bases, are not flavour of the month.”
Delomosne of Chippenham always sends out a special online Christmas list in late November, which has rapid uptake. It features a range of early and antique glassware, and the pieces are also exhibited in the firm’s North Wraxall saleroom until they are sold.
Of the remaining items from the Delomosne & Son Christmas list is this green spirit decanter with a gilt label for SHRUB and its original stopper. Made in England, c.1800, it is offered for £375. Shrub was brandy infused with citrus and sugar, either drunk on its own or used as a base for punch…
Other online shoppers may be interested in Beaux Books’ handpicked Christmas Book Guide, which emphasises that opting for rare books means buying unique, sustainable and independent gifts.
It’s a wonderful life
In Edinburgh, The Fine Art Society runs The Wonderful World of James McBey, showcasing the works of the Scottish-born international artist (1883-1959) until December 23.
In Aldeburgh, Thompson’s Gallery opens a show on December 4 focusing on 20th century artist Hugh Boycott Brown (1909-90), along with its annual contemporary-focused Christmas show.
Finally, Jenna Burlingham stages her Winter Exhibition at Rope House in Kingsclere until December 13. It features Modern British and Contemporary paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramics in its open gallery downstairs. Upstairs, more stock can be viewed in furnished interiors. Its Christmas Ideas exhibition takes place simultaneously a few doors away in its studio space, where works are available for prices starting at £100 – “perfect for Christmas shopping”.
Jenna Burlingham offers this deep Aldermaston pottery bowl with abstract designs from 1961 for £685.
