It will not be easy for any exhibitor at any fair but the market for 20th century British art is particularly strong at the moment and the mood of the exhibitors at the 20/21 British Art Fair, at the Commonwealth Institute from September 17-21 is understandably more bullish than others.
The 20th century masters will all be represented at that event, including sculptress Elizabeth Frink who was responsible for the bronze head of the artist Breon O’Casey pictured right.
In 1953 or 1954, while a student at Chelsea, Frink made a plaster sculpture of O’Casey and sold it
without making a bronze casting.
Unaware of the laws of copyright the new owner had a bronze cast made for himself and it was only in 1989 when a dealer requested another cast that he discovered permission was required from the artist.
The owner contacted Frink who was delighted to trace the plaster, which she rated as a fine example of her early work. She bought it back, kindly allowing the seller to keep his bronze.
The artist had another cast made, which is in her catalogue raisonné, while the first bronze cast, shown here, will be on the stand of Gloucestershire dealer Nina Zborowska priced around £20,000.
Frink without copyright at 20/21 British Art Fair
While the antiques trade no longer totally shuts down during late July and August it really gets into gear in September, a particularly intensive time for antiques fairs. There are three major fairs in the capital this month, The Chelsea Antiques Fair, The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair and the 20/21 British Art Fair.
