The Cheffins Art and Design sale, which takes place on 24th and 25th October, has a number of collections from figures who have been influential in the 20th century art world.
16/10/2024 Collectors' Items, Decorative Items, Paintings, Drawings & Prints, Sculpture & Works of Art
These include the collection of Quentin Stevenson, which features an array of artefacts from studio ceramics to pencil drawn portraits. Publicly known as John Quentin, Quentin Stevenson made his name as an actor, starring in a number of film and television productions such as Wittgenstein (1993), Gandhi (1982) and Poirot (1989). Despite his acting career, he has become best-known for his aesthetic sensibilities and championing of British female artists, playing a pivotal role in the enduring legacy of artists including Elisabeth Vellacott, Catherine Giles and Ursula Edgcumbe, through his patronage and generous assistance in curating exhibitions. In his own words, Stevenson has commented: ‘I am grateful to all these artists for the pleasure they have brought into my life. I must count myself a very lucky man.’
'Maroon and Sage', a fabric design by Elisabeth Vellacott from the Quentin Stevenson collection
Several sculptures and works of art from the collection of Samuel Alper OBE (1924 – 2002) are also on included in the sale. Born in Essex to Austrian parents, Sam Alper made his name in caravan design, before establishing the road-side chain ‘Little Chef’ and then, ultimately, founding the Curwen Print Study Centre for teaching printmaking at Chilford Hall.
Undoubtedly, Alper, alongside Harold Curwen, was instrumental in changing the face of the British print industry. Working with some of the most esteemed artists of British 20th century art, including Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Graham Sutherland, the Curwen Press exhibited at institutions such as The Tate and The Royal Academy. Printworks from Curwen Press studio feature in the sale, including several paintings by HM King Charles III (1948-) and ‘Red dog’ (lot 697 - pictured below) by Dame Elisabeth Frink CH, RA (1930-1993).
Alper also established the Curwen Print Study Centre, an educational charity permitting people from as young as seven years of age and of all abilities to learn about different forms of printmaking. In addition, Alper’s philanthropic efforts also extended to providing caravans to victims of natural disasters and establishing a family trust to buy instruments for young musicians.
The collection of Paul Myners, Baron Myners, CBE (1948 – 2022), a strong supporter of Britain’s rich cultural history, also features in the sale. It includes a range of ceramics, sculptures and paintings, largely centring around the famous St Ives group of artists, tracing the trajectory of a small Cornish fishing village into an epicentre of modern art in post-war Britain. It is to this trajectory of narrative that Myners' biography adds: From local Cornishman to influential patron. The quality of this collection reflects his generous support of the arts, having served as a trustee of the Royal Academy, Glyndebourne, the National Maritime Museum, and as a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. His work in supporting Britain's rich cultural history was recognised with his appointment as Chair of Tate St Ives in 2002 and nationally as Chairman of Tate Trustees in April 2004.
A wheel vase by Vicky Drew at Troika, from the Paul Myners collection
Abstract art in the sale includes a collection of paintings (lots 519-569) from the Studio of Philip Jones (1933 – 2008), a British abstract artist whose colourful and dynamic landscapes were inspired by the backdrop of Norfolk’s Breckland, where he lived, and through his many artistic explorations, which took him around the globe. Jones’ works have been widely celebrated for their singular ability to capture the essence of each location he painted. Forming a quasi-travel diary, the works included in this sale offer a rare and cohesive account of his many exotic excursions.
Over his distinguished career, Jones exhibited widely throughout the UK, participating in solo shows and regularly exhibiting with the Royal Academy. Jones’ works are today held in esteemed collections, including Plymouth Art Gallery and the National Museum of Wales.
Veiled shrowd, Gambia, by Philip Jones