It was one of an edition of two known to have been cast in 1925 at Giovanni Fiorini’s foundry in Battersea, and was the only one known to be in private hands.
Now the gallery, based appropriately in Bloomsbury, has commissioned a further 15 bronzes to be cast from the 1924 original by Bronze Age London. Each will be available for £6000 + VAT and 15% of each sale will be donated to the Charleston Trust.
The gallery remains open through the summer and will continue its programme of releasing two catalogues of new works a month – an increase on one per month pre-lockdown.
“It has been difficult trying to buy works because the auctions are going so well,” says the gallery’s Tom Edwards, citing competition from other galleries and private buyers alike. You’ve got to be positive about it for the sake of the trade, though. It would be worse if nothing was selling.”
Since reopening, he adds, visitors have come through the gallery, some of them buying. Sales so far include a large John Piper.
