The Discovery of Winnie the Pooh Originals
We were wrapping up the initial examination and inventory for a client’s insurance appraisal. It was the end of a long but pleasant day filled with fine antiques and bold, historic and sweeping canvases of both equine and maritime art. Mr. Dykes and our client stepped past a little alcove bar, when our client waved a dismissive hand at four small framed drawings, and said, “Those are nothing, not worth including.”
It was one of those magic moments when time seems to stop for me and the lighting in the room seems to shift to a slightly brighter scale. I smiled as if possibly recognizing a long lost friend, then peered through my loupe at the few sparse strokes of the first drawing. I bent to examine the second, The third. The last. I straightened and said, “No, sir. We do have something very worthwhile here. Very worthwhile indeed.”
Less than five months later, we sold four of the original drawings from Winnie the Pooh. The sale was held in New York by Bonham’s and the total hammer price for the four lots amounted to $378,830.00. Collection of Ernest Howard Shepard Illustrations for Winnie- the- Pooh Sold for $378,830.00.
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Late Qing Dynasty
Sold for US$458,000 inc.
This work, targeted at the explosive Russian art market and specifically aimed at the biggest Russian sale of the year in November, underwent extensive examination and authentication by independent experts brought in by Christies, and their research confirmed Mr. Dykes’ proper attribution. Later that year, Mr. Dykes’ identification of the artist was resolutely confirmed by a top expert in the field, Anna Gregorieva from Moscow State University. The sale took place on November 26, 2008 in London, with Mr. Dykes and his clients in attendance. Despite the global economic crisis exploding at the time, the still life sold for 1.5 million British pounds or $2,250,000.00
“Lilacs in a Vase”, by Natalie Goncharova
(Russian, 1881 -1962) – sold for $2,890,00.00
Lot #275, Oil on canvas, Moscow (Russia 1824 – 1896)
Sold for $2,884,000.00
“View of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior from the Kremlin”, by Aleksei Petrovich Bogoliubov
Russian pictures auction
London Christie’s Important Russian Pictures Auction. Two of our client families each flew to London to observe the sale and were present, hearts pounding, as their paintings literally dominated the sale. The total sales for Llewellyn Dykes’ clients that day $6,629,080.00. Following are several of the works sold at that auction:
Sold for $782,800.00
“A Country Track by the Black Sea,” Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovski
Sold for $78,280.00
“Horse and Sleigh,” by Konstantin Egorovich Makovski