A Private Collection of 13 watercolours and sketches by Louis Wain (1860-1939) who was famous for his depictions of humorous cats are coming to the market for the first time in 50 years when they will be offered by Parker Fine Art Auctions in a sale of Fine Paintings and Frames on Thursday, October 3, 2024, starting at 11am in Farnham, Surrey. The collection is expected to fetch between £30,000 to 40,000 and are being sold by her son.
Henny Smith, Director of Parker Fine Art explains: “Louis Wain is synonymous with creating human- like depictions of cats and this collection shows cats in hats; with wonderful facial expressions; on the beach and even stealing chickens!”
She continued: “This collection was amassed by a lady who worked in antique shops in the 1940s and 50s. She started to collect Wain due to her love of cats – she owned breeds such as a Blue Burmese and Abyssinians – and the humour she found in the works by Wain.”
The estimates range from £200 to £15,000 and among the highlights “Christmas Shopping”, an en grisaille that depicts cats shopping at a butcher, which was bought from the London dealer Michael Parkin on Christmas Eve in 1986, is expected to fetch between £10,000 to £15,000 [lot 182]. A pen, ink and watercolour titled “I assure you I’m quite sober” carries an estimate of £5,000-8,000 [lot 168]. Elsewhere, a lithograph titled “The Conductor” is estimated at £200-£300 [lot 177] and a Lucky Haw Haw Cat vase made for Max Emanuel and Co. carries an estimate of £300-£500 [lot 174].
AUCTION VIEWING TIMES
Friday, September 27 – 10am – 4pm Saturday & Sunday, September 28 & 29 – 10am – 2pm
Monday, September 30 – 10am – 4pm Tuesday, October 1 – 10am – 4pm Wednesday, October 2 – 10am – 4pm Thursday, October 3 from 9am
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