A canine painting by John Emms – estimated at £12,000-18,000 at Lawrences of Crewkerne.
The unsigned canvas measuring 11¾ x 9¾in (30 x 25cm) was spotted by the vendor’s father in the Crewkerne saleroom in c.1955.
Then a young man with a fondness for country sports (and later to become a master of foxhounds), he not only recognised it as a work by John Emms (1844-1912) but he secured it for £4.10s. The sum equates to about £300 in today’s money and represented the buyer’s entire disposable income for a month.
Treasured for over 65 years, this characterful paintings by Emms is now coming back to Lawrences with hopes of £12,000-18,000.
