April 15 "THE GLITTERING SPINDRIFT RUNNING BEFORE THE WIND" SAILS AT BONHAMS MARINE AUCTION
The Spindrift was designed and built by the Glaswegian Charles Connell in 1867 and wrecked off the Kent coast just two years later while carrying a priceless cargo to Shangai
A stunning painting by Montague Dawson (British, 1890-1973) titled “The glittering Spindriftrunning before the wind” is to be sold at Bonhams’ Marine Sale in London on April 15, 2014.
Valued at £25,000-35,000, the work is an oil on canvas depicting the longest ever wooden clipper in the trade. Spindrift was designed and built by the Glaswegian Charles Connell for James Findlay of Greenock.
Launched on 18th July 1867 she was undoubtedly her builder’s finest tea clipper and, thanks to her very large sail plan, also one of the fastest ships of the time.
The ship cleared London for her maiden voyage on 13th September 1867 under Captain Middleton and sailed to China, where she docked on New Year’s Day 1868.
One year later, on the 20th November, she was bound for Shangai with a priceless cargo worth £200,000 (approximately £15million in today’s money) but was wrecked off Dungeness the following night.
At the official enquiry it was stated that her leadsman was inexperienced and the pilot mistook a star for the Dungeness Light, despite the clearness of the night.
Bonhams head of Pictures at Knightsbridge, Veronique Scorer said, “This is a highly evocative painting of one of the greatest ships of its day. Had it not been for the tragic accident which led to its sinking Spindrift would probably have joined Ariel, Cutty Sark andThermopylae on the short list of truly legendary clippers.”
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. 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 three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.
