PICTURES BY GRANDMOTHER WHO PICKED UP PAINTBRUSH IN HER SIXTIES OFFERED AT BONHAMS
WORKS BY HELEN BRADLEY EXPECTED TO REACH TOP PRICES
Following the Bonhams’ sale in June, where a picture by Helen Bradley was sold at a world record price, three pictures by the artist will be offered in the 20th Century British Art Sale held at Bonhams New Bond Street on the 17th November.
Born in 1900 in Lancashire, Helen Bradley was always interested in art, but it was not until she was in her sixties and her grandchildren were asking what life was like when she was a child that she started painting the scenes she remembered of her own Edwardian childhood. The scenes she depicted not only delighted her grandchildren, but she subsequently gained worldwide popularity.
In 1971 Jonathan Cape published the first of four books by Helen Bradley "And Miss Carter Wore Pink", which was an instant success. German, French, Dutch and Japanese editions were published, and a special edition produced for the U.S.A.
The characters she painted included Miss Carter (who wore Pink), who features in most of her paintings, as well as her mother, grandmother, her three maiden aunts, Mr Taylor (the bank manager), Helen herself with her brother George, and their dogs Gyp and Barney. Many of these figures can be seen in the pictures offered by Bonhams.
The three works offered by Bonhams are fantastic examples of Helen Bradley’s unique style and narrative. “We went to Miss Carter’s for tea” is estimated to sell for £30,000 - 50,000, “Do you think the Turkey's cooked enough?” is estimated at £25,000 – 35,000 and “Mother said we would walk home through the park” estimated at £20,000 – 30,000”.
Sadly Helen Bradley died in 1979 shortly before she was due to be honoured with an MBE from the Queen for services to the arts.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 27 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com
