Dealer Martin Tinney is retiring.
The end of "a great deal of fun"
Martin Tinney, the Welsh art dealer, is retiring after more than 30 years in the business.
His Cardiff firm, Martin Tinney Gallery, which has run for 31 years, is closing at the end of the month. Until then there is an exhibition of works by major names in 20th century Welsh art, plus some of the gallery’s Contemporary artists.
Tinney says: “Over the passing years it has been gratifying to witness the development of the Welsh art market to the much broader, more vibrant scene of today.”
To mark three decades of the gallery last year, he staged well-received solo exhibitions on Gwen John and her brother Augustus John.
Tinney, who has been in the business for a total of 33 years, recalls opening the premises “in a blaze – well, flicker really – of youthful optimism and not a little naivety”.
Although it is commonly accepted that dealers never really retire, Tinney insists that he is making a clean break – at least for now. There are no plans for any remaining stock after the gallery shuts its doors on March 31. He adds: “In the nature of these things, it has been a great deal of hard work and a lot of fun.”
Sneak peek at London Art Week
Early highlights have been announced for London Art Week (LAW), which takes place from June 30-July 7. Selling exhibitions are planned across St James’s, Mayfair, Pimlico, Kensington and Chelsea, and include works by Winifred Nicholson, Sarah Stone, Frans Pourbus the Younger and Stephen Tomlin.
Its promotional map, designed by illustrator Adam Dant, will also return. londonartweek.co.uk
Under the hammer: the Michael Goedhuis collection
This 17th century bronze seated figure of a Guanyin has an estimate of £15,000-20,000 at Bonhams.
An auction of works from the collection of London dealer Michael Goedhuis dubbed the Brush and Bronze sale will take place at Bonhams New Bond Street on May 18.
It offers a selection of Chinese ink paintings by more than 20 key artists of the last four decades and bronze sculptures and vessels produced from the Song dynasty (960-1279) to the Qing (1644-1911).
Goedhuis left investment banking in 1975 to pursue an interest in Asian art.
London Gallery looks to boost European links
London Gallery Weekend returns this summer from June 2-4. Launched in 2021, it now boasts more than 120 galleries including Bowman Sculpture, The Gallery of Everything, Piano Nobile Gallery and Pace Gallery. The majority of the programming focuses on Contemporary artists, with an enhanced schedule of performance art planned for this year.
Also new for this year is the expansion of its travel bursary project. Developed out of a partnership with Art Fund last year, the travel grants supported costs for UK region curators to attend the programme. This year, a new bursary programme has been launched for curators from across the EU. In total five UK and five EU attendees will receive funding.
Chippendale chairs on offer
Pair of mid-19th century Chippendale style mahogany ribband back armchairs offered by LVS Decorative Arts shown in conjunction with The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director illustrations.
LVS Decorative Arts has on offer a set of 14 Chippendale revival chairs: 12 c.1860 mahogany ‘ribband’ back chairs plus a similar pair of armchairs.
Both are designed exactly from illustrations in The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director first edition of 1754. LVS produced special images to help illustrate the influence.
The firm’s Liza Scolding said: “As dealers we’re always on the look-out for fine quality examples and these chairs certainly tick that box. Chippendale claimed himself that this design of chair were ‘the best I have ever seen (or perhaps have ever been made)’.”
Research undertaken by the dealership suggests that no other examples of this exact model of chair exist on the open market. They are offered for £80,000.
