A collection of 22,000 photographic portraits by Julia Bennett was offered by Carl Williams Rare Books for £25,000.
An archive of photographs depicting 20th century Londoners sold to a buyer who spotted it in Dealers’ Diary, ATG No 2577.
The collection of 22,000 photographic portraits by Julia Bennett was offered by Carl Williams Rare Books complete with its filing cabinets at an asking price of £25,000.
Relatively unknown today, Bennett documented tens of thousands of people. Her archive, left well organised, was offered apparently complete. Most pictures were taken at her studio on 73 Oxford Street, though some were from Africa and India.
Around 20,000 of the prints were in black and white, with the remaining 2000 or so in colour. The London dealership acquired the collection from a private owner who bought it at Bennett’s house clearance auction held by Marcus Rowell.
Dealer Williams said he was “delighted” with the sale.
Celebrating the Haughtons' fairs at 40
A new book celebrating the Haughtons' fairs.
A book has been published celebrating the 40th anniversary of the International Ceramics Fair & Seminar founded in 1982 by Brian and Anna Haughton. Released last year, The Man with the Butterfly Tie (referring to Brian’s sartorial choices on fair opening days) comprises historic ceramics introduced in short texts.
More than 40 academics, art dealers and collectors profiled ceramics sold in Brian’s gallery with a foreword by Rosalind Savill, former director of the Wallace Collection, and Meredith Chilton, former director of the Gardiner Museum in Toronto. Copies are available online or at the Haughton Gallery on Duke Street, St James’s, London.
Dealership teams up for self-portrait prize
Modern British Art dealership Piano Nobile and the Ruth Borchard Collection dedicated to British and Irish self-portraiture have opened entries for this year’s Self Portrait Prize. The annual Contemporary art award invites entries from any artist in any size or medium. Shortlisted works will be exhibited at the Atkinson Museum, Southport, and the winner receives £10,000. Entries are due before March 31.
Centre for British Photography launches first exhibitions
Based on works from the personal collection of dealer James Hyman, the Centre for British Photography in St James’s, London, has launched with two inaugural exhibitions.
The English at Home: Twentieth Century Photographs from Hyman Collection and Headstrong: Women and Empowerment both run until April 30 with an accompanying programme of talks.
Though the centre is a mainly institutional endeavour, it does have a shop with photographic prints and books related to its exhibition programme. It also hosts some selling shows, starting with works by Contemporary photographer Paul Hill.
Drawings dealer stages first photography show
Alexander Lindsay at Stephen Ongpin Fine Art.
Stephen Ongpin Fine Art, the Mayfair drawings specialist, is hosting its first photography show. Scotland: The Light I Saw features recent photographs by Alexander Lindsay and runs until February 26. Prices range from £1000-6500.
