LONDON.- Farnon & Lake, a new bespoke auctioneering company that aims to bring a sense of theatricality to the saleroom, is delighted to announce it will stage its first auction on Thursday, October 5th, 2017, at Aynhoe Park, Oxfordshire, presenting more than 160 sculptural works.
The brainchild of Duncan Lang and James Kendling, Farnon & Lake will hold a number of themed auctions in the UK and overseas, each staged in a venue appropriate to the sale. Aynhoe Park, the Cotswold’s home of dance party entrepreneur James Perkins, is a Palladian mansion that houses his personal collection of sculptures, including Grecian and Roman statuary and taxidermy works.
Entitled The Sculpture Auction, the Farnon & Lake sale features works by more than 21 artists – many of whom have created sculptures especially for the auction – and chimes perfectly with Lang and Kendling’s guiding ethos – to bring a sense of theatre twinned with the thrill of the unknown.
The auction offers the chance to acquire large-scale works, such as Bushra Fakhoury’s Dunamis, which is currently located at the end of Park Lane, London, and Danse Gwenedour, another of the Lebanese-born artist’s works sited at Marble Arch. Smaller scale sculptures include bespoke walking sticks by Jenna Gearing – at 23 the youngest artist in the auction.
One lot that is expected to attract considerable interest is a sculpture of William Webb Ellis, widely regarded as the inventor of rugby football, by Graham Ibbeson. This is the original casting of the work sited outside Rugby public school, and will be sold with the sole rights to produce copies in any form, quantity and size thereafter, allowing the successful bidder to reproduce this iconic work, which is depicted as an etching on the Rugby World Cup – aptly named the Webb Ellis Cup.
Animals, mythic and temporal, feature heavily in the show. Unicode by Priscilla Hann is a unicorn rearing on its hind legs and decorated with the dashes and dots of Morse Code, while Eve Shepherd’s Precious Thing, is a delightful bronze of a minotaur staring into an egg containing an infant version of itself. Equine works also feature prominently, with sculptures by William Newton, Amy Goodman and Judy Boyt, who sculpted the famous Badminton trophy.
Also going under the gavel are 15 works by Robert Strickland, one of which is a recently sculpted bust of Lord Nelson, modelled from the hero of Trafalgar’s life mask and then refined using one of his living, female relatives.
Duncan Lang, Farnon & Lake’s Principal Auctioneer, says: ‘For the first time we are bringing together an eclectic and remarkable mix of artists, none of whom have ever previously sold pieces as a collective in any other auction’. Lang continues: ‘Each artist has been encouraged to submit works that demonstrate their signature style, whilst pushing the boundaries and conceptions of what they are renowned for. The resultant collection is of sculpture that is bold and rare, with unique one-off commissions and original pieces taking centre stage.’
‘Our auctions bring us into contact with an array of interesting and remarkable people and we are lucky enough each time to be able to immerse ourselves in their world, be it beautiful sculptures, exquisite couture or just the truly unusual.’
‘We are seeking to turn the traditional idea of auctions on its head, making them an event to genuinely get excited about. We’re not just talking about the pieces being sold but also the stories behind each one, where the event takes place and how every piece is presented offering exceptional investments in the most unusual and engaging way.’
The venues for Farnon & Lake’s sales will be as eclectic as the work it offers for sale. Adds James Kendling about the decision to hold its inaugural auction at Aynhoe Park: ‘We chose James’s home as it perfectly mirrors how we feel auctions should be – appearing entirely normal from the exterior yet once you step inside you are immersed in an entirely alternate experience. It beautifully stages each of the sculptures.’
‘For us, an auction is not just a sale to the highest bidder. It is theatre, the thrill of the unknown. We believe an auction is an event not to be missed with an exultant victory to be seized.’
Information: Preview event will take place on Thursday 5th October, 7pm to 9pm commencing with a Butler-served canapes and drinks reception. Access to Aynhoe Park will require pre-registration of interest. Every sculpture will be listed and available to view online in advance of the day for all registered guests. For those unable to attend in person, a live online bidding facility will be available, again via a pre- registration process. A catalogue of the sale is available on request.
Full list of artists: Marie Ackers, Philip Blacker, Wesley Neal Rasko, Judy Boyt, Richard Chapman, Bushra Fakhoury, Mel Fraser, Caroline Bromley-Gardner, Jenna Gearing, Amy Goodman, Priscilla Hann, Graham Ibbeson, Lydia Karpinska, William Newton, David Norris, Kathy Prest, Eve Shepherd, Marion Smith, Robert Strickland, Ingrid Sterling, Susie Wilson.
