A sketch by LS Lowry on a folded piece of tissue could sell for £10,000 at a Nantwich auction.
The six-inch square napkin drawing, probably scribbled in the café where he stopped for tea, will go under the hammer at Peter Wilson auctioneers.
The previously unseen drawing shows “The Old Handball Court, Nelson, Glamorgan” – a listed building and the largest of its kind in mainland Britain.
The napkin, dated November 6 1961, will be offered in a two-day sale at Peter Wilson on Market Street on April 27-28.
Paintings specialist Stephen Sparrow said the sketch was drawn probably on one of the several trips Lowry made to South Wales.
“It was Ebbw Vale businessman Monty Bloom who introduced Lowry to the Valleys,” Stephen Sparrow said.
“Bloom, who became the artist’s friend and one of his major patrons, recognised the appeal the grim contrast of spoil tips side by side with the area’s rugged mountains would have on the artist.
“Lowry was inspired by the Welsh scenery and aged 77, he embarked on a new era of painting, working in a new, intuitive and experimental way.
“Together, Lowry and Bloom made visits to the area every six months or so and it is thought this sketch may have been done when the two men stopped for refreshment in a local café.
“One can well imagine Lowry drawing this whilst in discussions with Bloom and noting the exact location where he had seen the distinctive free-standing handball court in Nelson.
“As was his habit, he then added the fantastic figures and a dog to the foreground and it is interesting to see the scribbled out area to the left of the picture as if he had decided it detracted from the composition.
“The appreciation of perspective and strength of line is typical of Lowry’s ability as a draughtsman and artist.”
Lowry subsequently gave the napkin as a gift to his close friend, the artist Percy Warburton.
He subsequently gave it to a Cheshire family who have consigned it to the Peter Wilson sale.
The napkin sketch will be on view alongside a number of limited edition Lowry prints and paintings by other well known Northern artists such as Geoffrey Key, William Turner and Arthur Delaney.
There are 650 lots for viewing on Sunday April 24, 2-4pm; Monday April 25, 10am-5pm; Tuesday April 26, 10am-4pm, and on morning of the sales, 9am-10am.
Contact the auctioneer on 01270 623878 or [email protected]
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