LONDON.- Bonhams sale of 20th Century British Art once more exceeded expectations yesterday when it made a 2 million total and a brand new world record price for a Helen Bradley picture sold at auction, for 144,000.
Bradley (1900-1979), who started painting in her sixties, and died shortly before she was due to be honoured with an MBE, had previously commanded 97,000 as a best price at auction, said a delighted Matthew Bradbury, Head of 20th Century British Art at Bonhams. The world record picture titled "Blackpool Beach" a sunny image of bathers, had been estimated to sell for 70,000 to 90,000. Matthew Bradbury said that the sale had “produced strength across the board” with the 90 lots offered generally doing well.
Fourth highest price in the sale was for a recently discovered David Bomberg (1890-1957), "The Canal Lock" which sold for 84,000 against a pre-sale estimate of 30,000 to 50,000.
Other notable results from among the top ten in the sale included a beautiful picture by Sir Alfred James Munnings (1878-1959) titled "The Start, Newmarket" that made 524,000; a picture by Sir Kyffin Williams (1918-2006) titled "Bull" performed strongly with a 50,400 price against a pre-sale estimate of 8,000 to 12,000.
There was also an "LS Lowry" (1887-1976) ‘Newtown’ which went for 43,200, and a Dame Elisabeth Frink (1930-1993) titled "Assassins" which made 62,400 having been expected to sell for 20,000 to 30,000.
