{"id":50281,"date":"2024-06-24T16:57:20","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T15:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/?p=50281"},"modified":"2024-09-23T16:20:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T15:20:00","slug":"a-colourful-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/a-colourful-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"A Colourful Drama"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It\u2019s becoming a bit of a clich\u00e9 in the ever-churning art world that media headlines routinely scream about exorbitant bids for previously unfamiliar objects or paintings. \u2018Why?\u2019, \u2018Who?\u2019, they gasp. And what folly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A recent example was spurred by <strong>Lyon &amp; Turnbull\u2019<\/strong>s <em>Scottish Paintings &amp; Sculpture&nbsp;<\/em>auction. Lot 791 featured a variety of works by Scottish Colourist&nbsp;John Duncan Fergusson. The Leith-born artist brought the room to a collective draw-of-breath when bidding climbed to a tidy half-million quid.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the business end such publicity not only increases awareness of the sale, it also piques the interest of a curious public. And so many modern auction houses are keen to encourage that curiosity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alice Strang, Lyon &amp; Turnbull\u2019s Senior Specialist in 20th-Century Modern &amp; Contemporary Art, is understandably enthusiastic about getting more people in the room for the live experience. \u2018We have many online and telephone buyers these days but you can\u2019t beat the buzz of being here in person,\u2019 she explains. \u2018I call it the \u2018Wimbledon\u2019 moment: two bidders go head-to-head as the audience looks on. Initially everything is quiet and respectful then an unexpected move is made and the drama builds. It\u2019s an exciting and thrilling competition.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Lot-155-ROSE-IN-THE-HAIR1--1024x1222.jpg\" alt=\"John Duncan Fergusson, Rose in Hair\" class=\"wp-image-50361 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1222\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Lot-155-ROSE-IN-THE-HAIR1--1024x1222.jpg\" alt=\"John Duncan Fergusson, Rose in Hair\" class=\"wp-image-50361 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Lot-155-ROSE-IN-THE-HAIR1--1024x1222.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Lot-155-ROSE-IN-THE-HAIR1--480x573.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Lot-155-ROSE-IN-THE-HAIR1--126x150.jpg 126w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Lot-155-ROSE-IN-THE-HAIR1--768x916.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Lot-155-ROSE-IN-THE-HAIR1-.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>John Duncan Fergusson, &#8216;Rose in Hair<\/em>&#8216;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s another bonus of being present at auction: you get to see some sensational works up-close.\u00a0 How often would you come across S J Peploe\u2019s <em>Still Life with Fruit and Flowers<\/em> &#8211; a dramatic and exciting flourish of purples and oranges that practically invented the Scottish modernist style &#8211; in all its sparkling glory? The picture feels oddly familiar, yet here, nose-to-nose in the auction room, the oils reveal a thick, buttery warmth, full of depth and texture.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SAMUEL-JOHN-PEPLOE-STILL-LIFE-WITH-FRUIT-AND-FLOWERS-IMAGE-LYON-TURNBULL-2--1024x1175.jpg\" alt=\"Samuel John Peploe, 'Still Life With Fruit and Flowers'\" class=\"wp-image-50359 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1175\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SAMUEL-JOHN-PEPLOE-STILL-LIFE-WITH-FRUIT-AND-FLOWERS-IMAGE-LYON-TURNBULL-2--1024x1175.jpg\" alt=\"Samuel John Peploe, 'Still Life With Fruit and Flowers'\" class=\"wp-image-50359 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SAMUEL-JOHN-PEPLOE-STILL-LIFE-WITH-FRUIT-AND-FLOWERS-IMAGE-LYON-TURNBULL-2--1024x1175.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SAMUEL-JOHN-PEPLOE-STILL-LIFE-WITH-FRUIT-AND-FLOWERS-IMAGE-LYON-TURNBULL-2--480x551.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SAMUEL-JOHN-PEPLOE-STILL-LIFE-WITH-FRUIT-AND-FLOWERS-IMAGE-LYON-TURNBULL-2--131x150.jpg 131w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SAMUEL-JOHN-PEPLOE-STILL-LIFE-WITH-FRUIT-AND-FLOWERS-IMAGE-LYON-TURNBULL-2--768x881.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SAMUEL-JOHN-PEPLOE-STILL-LIFE-WITH-FRUIT-AND-FLOWERS-IMAGE-LYON-TURNBULL-2-.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Samuel John Peploe, &#8216;Still Life With Fruit and Flowers&#8217;<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the top lots grab headlines, it\u2019s very possible to build a private collection over time on a modest budget.&nbsp; Jewellery, pottery, antiques and furniture auctions offer the opportunity to nab a nifty art-deco pendant, unique hand-made sculptures, wall art, or even a classy Ercol chair. Many items would make fantastic wedding, birthday or anniversary presents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong><em>\u2018it\u2019s sometimes possible in auction to secure an original for the same price as a modern print!\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<cite><em>Alice Strang, Lyon &amp; Turnbull\u2019s Senior Specialist in 20th-Century Modern &amp; Contemporary Art<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018The fun is in searching, finding and discovering something unique,\u2019 says Alice. \u2018For example, old holiday and railway posters are popular at the moment but it\u2019s sometimes possible in auction to secure an <strong>original<\/strong> for the same price as a <strong>modern print<\/strong>!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EDWARD-ATKINSON-HORNEL-1864-1933-A-JAPANESE-TEA-GARDEN--1024x1581.jpg\" alt=\"Edward Atkinson Hornel, 'A Japanese Tea Garden'\" class=\"wp-image-50362 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1581\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EDWARD-ATKINSON-HORNEL-1864-1933-A-JAPANESE-TEA-GARDEN--1024x1581.jpg\" alt=\"Edward Atkinson Hornel, 'A Japanese Tea Garden'\" class=\"wp-image-50362 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EDWARD-ATKINSON-HORNEL-1864-1933-A-JAPANESE-TEA-GARDEN--1024x1581.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EDWARD-ATKINSON-HORNEL-1864-1933-A-JAPANESE-TEA-GARDEN--480x741.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EDWARD-ATKINSON-HORNEL-1864-1933-A-JAPANESE-TEA-GARDEN--97x150.jpg 97w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EDWARD-ATKINSON-HORNEL-1864-1933-A-JAPANESE-TEA-GARDEN--768x1186.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EDWARD-ATKINSON-HORNEL-1864-1933-A-JAPANESE-TEA-GARDEN--995x1536.jpg 995w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/EDWARD-ATKINSON-HORNEL-1864-1933-A-JAPANESE-TEA-GARDEN-.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Edward Atkinson Hornel, &#8216;A Japanese Tea Garden&#8217;<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The old myth about getting slapped with a massive bill because you scratched your nose doesn\u2019t happen. There are many ways to take full control of the bidding experience, says Alice: \u2018You can bid by phone while watching the auction online. This means a representative in the room will ask every time if you want to go higher. Or you can register though the website and place bids in private up to your own limits. But to get the full experience it\u2019s always best to take your paddle into the room\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pre-auction viewings are the crowning glory of the experience. How often do we get up-close to an genuine Peploe or Hornel, or check the signature of A A Milne on an original copy of <em>Winnie the Pooh<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>L&amp;T\u2019s website also includes a virtual tour where you can take a stroll through the stunning interiors of this converted church building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>With thanks to Malcolm McGonigle for this review<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Writer, screenwriter and Artmag contributor Malcolm McGonigle watched the excitement build in the room at Lyon &#038; Turnbull\u2019s Scottish Paintings &#038; Sculpture\u00a0auction in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101035,"featured_media":50360,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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