Friday 17 June 2011

Extended Opening Hours at McTear's

We are pleased to anounce an extension to our opening hours, with Sunday Viewings and late nights four days a week.

Weekend Viewings
For a preview of next weeks 'fine auctions' of Pictures, Antiques, Whisky, Jewellery, Ceramics, Silver & Works of Art, we will open this Sunday 12th June for viewing from 1pm until 430pm, adding to the existing Saturday morning viewing 930am till 1pm.

Late Night Opening
From Monday 20th June, McTear's will extend its opening hours from 5pm to 7pm. The full opening times will be as follows:

Monday to Thursday 830am till 7pm*
Friday 830am till 5pm
Saturday 930am until 12noon (later on auction days)
Sunday 1pm till 430pm (once every 5 weeks prior to 'fine' auctions)

*These times are valid from 20th June. Please call in advance to check on opening times, in case of regional holidays, especially if travelling a distance.

http://www.mctears.co.uk/

'Weather Picture' artist Ethel Walker features this Tuesday at McTear's

Ethel Walker studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1959-1964 under tutor David Donaldson, famous for painting the Queen’s portrait. Walker began her career as a teacher, first in Glasgow and then as the Head of the Art Department at St Hilary’s Girls School. At the age of twenty-seven, she realised that she was an artist first and devoted herself to painting




The phrase ‘weather picture’ has often been used in conjunction with Walker’s work, as indeed her paintings often represent the stormy sea off the West Coast of Scotland, near her home in Argyll. The artist’s oeuvre is not limited to landscape subjects; Walker paints still lifes, usually floral studies. Walker is one of the most successful female
painters working in Scotland today, regularly exhibiting in London and Scotland. Her work is held in many private and public collections, including the Bank of Scotland, City of
Edinburgh Art Collection and the Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.


TURNBULL COLLECTION TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER

One of the country’s top newspaper illustrators will be the focus of attention at McTear's tomorrow when 29 rare watercolours and cartoons go up for sale. Leading Scottish artist, Jim Turnbull, worked for The Herald for more than 30 years and over that time his carefully observed satirical cartoons became a much loved feature in the paper.

Not only was Turnbull a skilled illustrator but his detailed watercolours, which included striking townscapes, landscapes and coastal scenes were also critically acclaimed.

When the artist passed away in 2004 he left a collection of his works to his daughter, Pamela, however, with little space to show the pictures, she has decided that the time is right for others to enjoy the works and has now put them into McTear’s Fine and Contemporary Picture Sale.

“Unfortunately I had to place most of the pictures into storage so they have been hidden from view for quite some time,” says Pamela. “I just don’t have the space to show them and they deserve to be hanging on a wall rather than sitting in a cupboard.”

The collection, which includes 16 watercolours and 13 cartoons, will go up for sale on Tuesday 14th June with an estimate of approximately £4,000 for the combined works.

http://www.mctears.co.uk/news/view.aspx?id=1ae27b09-5849-44dd-8961-01fd0bab075d

Sports Memorabilia

Alec Bennett's Scottish Football League versus Southern Football League medal, awarded to the player on the 14th October 1912, made in nine carat gold. Alec Bennett was born in 1881, signed for Glasgow Celtic Football Club in 1903 where over the five seasons he played there won four Scottish League Championships as initially a centre forward and later outside right. He won three full international caps with Scotland during his Celtic career, before signing for Glasgow Rangers in May 1908, ten days after scoring the winning goal against them, becoming the first footballer to play for both Celtic and Rangers. This transfer caused an enquiry to be called for though Celtic's complaint that the player had been approached by Rangers was found without substantiation owing to a clause in the players contract. He continued to play for Rangers until 1914, winning three more league championship medals and eight further full international caps. Quotes of the period in respect of the player included "A veritable artful dodger with rare speed and command of the ball" and "He had a rare and speedy stride and when he ran it took a good man to catch him". He died in 1940.

 http://www.mctears.co.uk/

Friday 10 June 2011

Bacchante by Alexander Mann expected to sell for £12,000

Alexander Mann was born in Glasgow on January 22, 1853. He took drawing lessons from the age of ten with Robert Greenlees (1820–94) and then attended evening classes at the Glasgow School of Art, where Greenlees was headmaster. In 1877 he went to Paris and enrolled at the Académie Julian, and then studied under Mihály Munkácsy and from 1881 to 1885 under Carolus-Duran.

 From 1883-93 Mann exhibited in London at the Royal Academy, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Fine Art Society, New
Gallery, Ridley Art Club, New English Art Club and Society of British Artists, a society that appointed James McNeill Whistler its President in 1886. In the same year he was invited to become the first Scottish member of
the New English Art Club and was joined by several of his friends, notably John Lavery, Thomas Millie Dow of the Glasgow Boys and Norman Garstin.

Influenced by the Hague school and by Jules Bastien-Lepage, his picture A Bead Stringer, Venice gained an honorable mention at the Salon in 1885 but after a public controversy over this painting when it was exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute, Mann settled in England.

Notable auction sales of Mann’s work include £26,290 (Christie’s London 28th October 2004 lot 218), £10,000 (L&T, Edinburgh 29th May 2008 lot 142) and 11,000 EUR (Whyte’s, Dublin 22nd February 2005 lot 95).

http://www.mctears.co.uk/

SMASHING VASES SET TO SHINE.....

Two rare 19th Century vases, produced by one of Britain's most renowned designers, will go under the hammer in Glasgow this month.



The Florian vases, lot 1054, which were part of William Moorcroft's first range of tableware, are expected to fetch up to £5000 at the British & Continental Ceramics sale being held at McTear's Auctioneers on Thursday, June 16th.

Standing 22cm high, the blue and white vases were painted entirely by hand and the Florian pattern is outlined using a technique made famous by Moorcroft called tube lining.

Commenting on the sale, Brian Clements from McTear's said: "William Moorcroft's work is highly regarded around the world with museums, including the Victoria & Albert in London, housing pieces in their permanent collections. His attention to detail and passion for his craft are clear to see in all his pottery which he personally oversaw being made. We expect there will be a great deal of interest in the two vases which will be sold together as a pair."

The British & Continental Ceramics & Glass, Silver & Objects of Art sale will take place at McTear's, Meiklewood Gate, Glasgow on Thursday, June 16th

http://www.mctears.co.uk/news/view.aspx?id=78696664-17e2-4160-a55a-fc8baaa0eaf8

An Interesting History

In our Jewellery, Watches and Coins auction on the15th June 2011, We are pleased to present for sale an outstanding diamond two stone ring. With stones totalling approximately 2.0 carats set in platinum, this ring is a highly desirable piece of fine jewellery. Adding to this value is the ring’s interesting history or provenance as auction houses refer to it.



The ring was given by the Hon. Lord Birnam to his wife-to-be as her engagement ring. Lord Birnam was the solicitor advocate of Scotland who sat in the House of Lords. Lord Birnam was educated at Hamilton Academy, The High School of Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. His legal career started when he was called to the Scots Bar in 1910. Lord Birnam became a well respected and revered figure both in Scots and English law in the twentieth century.

The ring was worn with a platinum wedding band, also offered for sale in our auction of the 15th June 2011.


http://www.mctears.co.uk/

Early 20th century Rechabites Temperance silk embroidered sash


 This rare early 20th century Rechabites Temperance silk embroidered sash depicts Rechabite symbols including two allegorical figures and a beehive and was brought in for valuation by a member of the public. The Independent Order of Rechabites was a friendly society founded in England in 1835. The society was part of a wider movement in the nineteenth century that focussed on abstinence from alcohol. Records of the Glasgow Rechabites are partly held by the University of Glasgow Library Special Collections for research purposes.

The sash is lot 1731 and is valued at £30-50, auction: 16th June 2011 at 6pm 

http://www.mctears.co.uk/

Thursday 9 June 2011

June's Competition


Secretarial Study by acclaimed Scottish artist Graham McKean is up for grabs in this month's competition.

The painting comes framed compliments of Mat Thompson of Glasgow-based Egg & Dart Framing, telephone 0778 900 1718 www.egg-and-dart.co.uk 

The draw will be made by the artist at the end of June.

Good luck!


Enter here http://www.mctears.co.uk/competitions/

House Clearance's


Often, following valuation of items for probate, inheritance tax or current market, a sale of the house contents will be required.

McTear's can arrange the complete clearance of houses or offices, if required, disposing of any unsaleable items and selling everything else in appropriate auction sales. Unlike many other fine art auction houses, McTear's will not 'cherry pick' or 'farm out' items of lesser value to other auction rooms. The more valuable items will be sold in internationally marketed Antiques & Art auctions, whereas more general items of furniture & works of art will be included in weekly Victoriana sales - all under one roof in our Glasgow Rooms.


http://www.mctears.co.uk/house-clearances.aspx

To enable bidding live, or just experiencing the Live auction through your PC or Mac, just follow the easy steps to the right.

If you need any assistance with preparing for the live auction please call 0207 420 6696 for live support.

Don't forget if you can't be online at the time of the auction you can leave an absentee bid by clicking the 'Leave Bid' button on the catalogue page once you have registered and signed up to bid.

Good luck!

The McTear's Live! Auctions Team