UNSEEN FOR 100 YEARS: GEORGIOS JAKOBIDES’ PEEK-A-BOO COMES TO LIGHT AT BONHAMS
A Munich School masterpiece by the Greek painter, Georgios Jakobides (1852-1932), which has been hidden from the public eye for over a century, and was recently discovered in a private collection in Athens, is to be sold at Bonhams, New Bond Street, as part of The Greek Sale on 23 November 2010. Entitled Peek-a-boo, it has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £150,000 – 200,000.
The painting, which was unexpectedly discovered on a normal house valuation, was last seen in public when it was exhibited at the prestigious Glaspalast in Munich in 1896 under the titleVersteckspiel and shown at the Zappeion Hall in Athens three years later by the title Kryftoulaki. A review of the latter show in the 3 March 1989 edition of Embros stated: ‘Jakobides incorporates two distinct qualities - that of the realist who faithfully depicts the world of appearances and that of the idealist who glorifies it. This duality is readily revealed in Peek-a-boo.'
Another sale highlight is Nikolaos Lytras’ (1883-1927) The milk, which has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £120,000 – 150,000. Considered to be one of his most important works, it was selected to represent Lytras’ work in an exhibition organised by the Greek Ministry of Culture in 1993 at the National Gallery in Athens. The painting comes to Bonhams from a private collection.
Other important lots include Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika’s Dancing School (estimate £190,000 – 250,000) and Leaves over dry torrent (estimate £130,000 – 180,000); and Diamantis Diamantopoulos’ Boy in sailor’s suit (estimate £120,000 – 160,000).
Bonhams
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, Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 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 towww.bonhams.com
