Friday, 31 August 2012

Pink Roses by Peploe


This beautiful oil on canvas by Samual John Peploe, Pink Roses, is coming up for sale on 25th October in McTear’s auction of ‘Scottish Still Lifes’.
Estimate: £200,000 - £300,000
Born in 1871, Peploe was a Scottish Post-Impressionist painter, famous for his still life pieces. He was also well known for being part of the group of four painters who were known as the 'Scottish Colourists'.  Studying in both Scotland and Paris, Peploe experimented with the bold use of colour inspired by the bright sunset and influenced by specific French Painters.

It was in 1910, when Peploe moved to Paris, that he started to pay more attention to still life and landscape painting with an amalgamation of fluid brushwork, thick impasto and dark backgrounds with strong lighting. Peploe continued painting when he returned to Scotland, going on regular painting trips with friends to various parts of Scotland.

Peploe sadly died in Edinburgh in 1935 but his paintings, with strong use of colour, tight composition and meticulous execution, are ones not to be missed.

One of Peploe's other paintings, Still Life with Coffee Pot, sold on 26 May 2011 at Christie's in London for £937,250, currently holds the record for one of the most expensive Scottish painting sold at auction.

Make sure that you check out our website for more information on this up coming auction and other ones at McTear's.

Friday, 24 August 2012

Rare Bank Notes Raise £1000

Rare bank notes that were printed specially to mark the Queens Diamond Jubilee went on sale in last weeks Furniture, Clocks & Works of Art auction, raising a fantastic £1000 for The STV appeal. 


The Royal Bank of Scotland produced ten of the limited edition ten pound notes, all with consecutive serial numbers prefixed ‘STV’ with five notes portraying images of the Queen through the decades. These five notes were mounted together in a double sided frame to be sold at McTear’s Furniture & Works of Art auction that took place on Thursday 16th August.

Before the auction, Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV commented on the auction saying it was marvellous news for the STV Appeal with these rare £10 notes anticipated to raise considerably more than their face value. This they did, with an incredible £1000 raised to help children living in poverty in Scotland.

Commenting on the sale, Brian Clements, Managing Director of McTear’s said: “It is extremely rare for a bank to produce special edition notes which makes this collection extremely valuable. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to not only own some very collectable bank notes, but to also raise much needed funds for the STV Appeal”. McTear’s are delighted to be supporting John and the campaign and are very pleased to be able to raise lots of money to help those children in Scotland who are affected by poverty.

Friday, 17 August 2012

Celtic Legend's Rare Medal Put up For Auction



It was a successful week for McTear's with our '3 Days of Auctions' including the Furniture, Clocks and Works of Art & Collectables auction that saw a rare medal given to Celtic legend James ‘Sunny Jim’ Young go under the hammer. 

         Celtic F.C. Interest a gold medal awarded to James 'Sunny Jim' Young in season 1910-11

The medal which is dated 1910-11 was awarded to the legend, Jimmy Young, for playing in a Scottish League team against his English counterparts.The former Celtic captain played 443 times for the Glasgow side and despite only winning one cap for Scotland against Ireland in 1906, he played for the Scottish League side on six occasions including the game against England in 1911 in which he received the medal that is now being sold. Originally from Kilmarnock, Jimmy Young joined Celtic in 1903 on a free transfer from Bristol Rovers. Before he retired in 1917 due to injury, Young enjoyed fourteen trophy laden years with the club. Devastatingly, he sadly died in 1922 at the age of just 40 following a tragic motorcycle accident.
The medal was expected to fetch between £800 and £120
Commenting on the sale, McTear’s Managing Director Brian Clements said: “This is a chance to get your hands on a piece of footballing history. It’s rare that memorabilia belonging to true greats appear for auction and when you look at Jimmy Young’s achievements he has to fall under that category. This medal will appeal not only to Celtic supporters but collectors of all sports memorabilia.”

More information on this and other auctions at McTear's can be found on our website.

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Friday, 10 August 2012

Secret Kray Orders to Go Under The Hammer

20 page document of rare criminal letters
Rare letters from two of the world’s most notorious criminals will form the macabre centrepiece of a Glasgow auction later this month.

The letters from the late East End London gangster, Reg Kray, and American cult leader and convicted murderer, Charles Manson, are expected to sell for hundreds of pounds when they go under the hammer at McTear’s Auctioneers on 16th August. 
Both items have been put up for sale by the internationally renowned ‘murderabilia’ collector and true crime author, Steven F. Scouller, with the letter from Reg Kray giving a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the infamous Kray twins.
The 20 page document is a diary of ideas and orders for ‘Kray Firm’ gang members to carry out and is written in code to deter detection by authorities.  In the letter Kray states: “Go to work for the fee.  I’m so proud of all you’ve achieved,” and is signed off at the bottom with “Take care, God bless, affection, yours Reg.”
Kray also makes numerous references to ‘Karl’ who was an associate on the outside.  Karl was muscle for hire who would do the twins’ bidding and the letter cryptically says: “31st July at your place Karl will tell him to cook up. Talk later of him.”
In the Charles Manson letter, the infamous cult leader rambles almost incoherently about his relationship with ‘Manson Family’ members. 



In the bizarre document, Manson states: “It can be used as the people in the so-called Family used me; by giving me their problems…all I did was give them the answers … You see them singing my music and dancing my motions.  That’s how I’ve survived all my life by staying on top of my end.”

Commenting on the sale, Steven F. Scouller, said: “Murderabilia is the name given to items that were once owned or created by notorious criminals.  I believe that letters by such people as Charles Manson and Reg Kray should be preserved so future generations can study them in a bid to help understand the terrible decisions these criminals made.”

Brian Clements, Managing Director at McTear’s, added: “These are very unusual items that give an insight into the minds of two of the world’s most notorious criminals.  It is rare to find detailed letters like these coming to auction and I expect there will be considerable interest in the sale.” 
The auction will take place on Thursday 16th August at 6pm at McTear’s Auctioneers, Meiklewood Gate, Glasgow.

Friday, 3 August 2012

The Brain Game


Compete to be the Brainiest Company in Glasgow with Marie Curie at a fantastic event sponsored by McTear's.

For many years McTear’s have supported Marie Curie and this year is no different as we sponsor their Brain Game event on Thursday 25th October 2012.

Do you think you have what it takes to grab the title from ‘Thales’ the 2011 Champions? In the wonderful surroundings of Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, you’ll be in good company at this prestigious event. Not only will you be supporting a great cause, but you and your guests will enjoy a Black-Tie dinner, an 8-round celebrity-led quiz, a champagne reception hosted by Glasgow’s Lord Provost and a big prize raffle & auction.

A fantastic night is expected to be had by all and we would be delighted to see you all there to help raise vital funds to ensure local Marie Curie Nurses can continue to provide totally free end of life care to terminally ill people in our area and give much needed support to their families.

IF you are interested in attending this event you can book your table directly by phoning Paul Cockram on 0131 561 3946 or email paul.cockram@mariecurie.org.uk

In the meantime, to keep up to date with what McTear's are up to, keep an eye on our Website, Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.