Ronald Searle: Leasing with Lloyd's

On June 21 at Lyon & Turnbull's auction house in Edinburgh, the American Peter Arno's cartoon art was scooped up for 900 GBP, more than its high estimate, while Englishman Ronald Searle's charming illustration for Lloyd's Bank offered in the following lot failed to find a buyer. The Searle advertising art had an estimate of 700 to 1,000 GBP, actually lower than its 2001 Christie's South Kensington estimate of 800 to 1,200 GBP. Twenty-two years ago it sold for a healthy 940 GBP. 

Ronald Searle
Lyon & Turnbull listing ended June 21, 2023

https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/auction/lot/lot-164---ronald-searle-cbe-rdi-1920-2011/?lot=272017&so=4&st=Ronald%20Searle&sto=0&au=&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=1&pp=96&pn=1&g=1

The sale at Christie's was held in 2001:

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-2070084

https://www.christies.com/search?entry=Ronald%20Searle%20leasing&page=1&sortby=relevance&tab=sold_lots

December 31, 2023 Update:  Sold!

Note:  Now who wouldn't want to see all of Ronald Searle's illustrations for Lloyd's Bank? All you need to do is check out the recent post in Matt Jones's indispensable Searle tribute blog here.

If you somehow missed my post on the Peter Arno cartoon, also in the June 21 sale, it's just a click away here.

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Peter Arno: "I Refuse, Madam!"

What better way to welcome in the summer than with a seasonally appropriate vintage Peter Arno cartoon original? The work of the American New Yorker cartoonist was offered for sale Wednesday at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh, of all places, with a presale estimate of 500 to 800 GBP ($636 to $1017). Bidding online started at 240 GBP.

"I refuse, madam! It's too hot to pull down the shades!"
Peter Arno
Original art
The Peter Arno Pocket Book (1945)

"I refuse, madam! It's too hot to pull down the shades!"
Peter Arno
Framed original art
The Peter Arno Pocket Book (1945)

Peter Arno
Lyon & Turnbull listing accessed June 18, 2023

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Peter-Arno-1904-1968-I-refuse-madam-It-s-to-163-c-C6343C4AF1?utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=artistalerts&utm_content=199624

The Arno art sold for 900 GBP (or $1145), which was above the high estimate, plus the 31% buyer's premium.

The drawing appears, at the very least, in The Peter Arno Pocket Book (1945).

"I refuse, madam! It's too hot to pull down the shades!"
Peter Arno
The Peter Arno Pocket Book (1945)

https://flashbak.com/18-great-cartoons-peter-arno-pocket-book-1945-61156/

Perhaps you've seen the book:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155655730841641447/

Note:  Today marks the twelfth anniversary of Attempted Bloggery. It has received more than two and a half million page views over its 4,359 posts. See, you're not alone.

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