Churchill’s painting sold for £1.8 million
150 artifacts sold at the auction fetched estimated £15.4 million — three times more than the expected amount
A painting by British politician Sir Winston Churchill was sold for £1.8 million, reported the Daily Mail. The painting set a record price for a work of art by the former British prime minister.
According to BBC News, the painting, which is titled ‘The Goldfish Pool at Chartwell’, was painted in 1932 and is a depiction of the pond in his Kent home.
The painting, which had been termed ‘extremely personal’ by auctioneers, was reported to be worth around £400,000 to £600,000.
Eleven pieces of artwork were reportedly sold at the auction at Sotheby’s in London with five of them being purchased by American buyers, whereas only two were bought by UK buyers. The identity of the other four buyers remains anonymous.
A representative for Sotheby said that the auction celebrated “Churchill’s exceptional ability as a painter”. Another major surprise at the auction was the portrait of Sir Winston, which was painted by Sir Oswal Birley in 1950. The painting was sold for almost 10 times its estimated value — £1.4 million.
According to the Daily Mail, more than 4,000 people had arrived at the auction to view and admire the artworks that were up for sale.
Another of Sir Winston’s artifacts that went for a high price was an ivory-mounted wooden humidor box, which he used to keep cigars dry was sold for £20,000.
On the other hand, Churchill’s despatch, which is made of scarlet leather and has the words, “The Rt Hon Winston S Churchill MP” inscribed on it in gold, fetched £158,000; a price, 30 times more than its estimated value.
An interesting aspect about the box is that it is one of the seven boxes the wartime prime minister used during his time in office, whereas the other boxes are at display in The House of Commons War Rooms.
Another politician’s possession to nab a high price was former US president Franklin D Roosevelt’s photograph, which was sold for £32,500 despite being estimated at somewhere between £2,500 and £3,500. The photograph was a gift to the 32nd president of the US from Lady Soames.
Beneath the picture are inscribed the words: ‘For Mary, from her friend the other naval person, Franklin D Roosevelt’.
Following the sale of his items, 38 of Churchill’s paintings will be dispatched to Chatwell, the family’s home, which is now a National Trust site with the paintings being displayed proudly to be admired by those who visit the estate in Westerham, Kent, where the former British leader spent his life between 1924 to the year of his death in 1965.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2014.
According to BBC News, the painting, which is titled ‘The Goldfish Pool at Chartwell’, was painted in 1932 and is a depiction of the pond in his Kent home.
The painting, which had been termed ‘extremely personal’ by auctioneers, was reported to be worth around £400,000 to £600,000.
Eleven pieces of artwork were reportedly sold at the auction at Sotheby’s in London with five of them being purchased by American buyers, whereas only two were bought by UK buyers. The identity of the other four buyers remains anonymous.
A representative for Sotheby said that the auction celebrated “Churchill’s exceptional ability as a painter”. Another major surprise at the auction was the portrait of Sir Winston, which was painted by Sir Oswal Birley in 1950. The painting was sold for almost 10 times its estimated value — £1.4 million.
According to the Daily Mail, more than 4,000 people had arrived at the auction to view and admire the artworks that were up for sale.
Another of Sir Winston’s artifacts that went for a high price was an ivory-mounted wooden humidor box, which he used to keep cigars dry was sold for £20,000.
On the other hand, Churchill’s despatch, which is made of scarlet leather and has the words, “The Rt Hon Winston S Churchill MP” inscribed on it in gold, fetched £158,000; a price, 30 times more than its estimated value.
An interesting aspect about the box is that it is one of the seven boxes the wartime prime minister used during his time in office, whereas the other boxes are at display in The House of Commons War Rooms.
Another politician’s possession to nab a high price was former US president Franklin D Roosevelt’s photograph, which was sold for £32,500 despite being estimated at somewhere between £2,500 and £3,500. The photograph was a gift to the 32nd president of the US from Lady Soames.
Beneath the picture are inscribed the words: ‘For Mary, from her friend the other naval person, Franklin D Roosevelt’.
Following the sale of his items, 38 of Churchill’s paintings will be dispatched to Chatwell, the family’s home, which is now a National Trust site with the paintings being displayed proudly to be admired by those who visit the estate in Westerham, Kent, where the former British leader spent his life between 1924 to the year of his death in 1965.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2014.