No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more

The following thirty eight lots by Louis Wain were passed down by direct descent to the current vendor from her mother-in-law who worked for the publishers Gay and Hancock Ltd. in the 1920's. She and Wain struck up a friendship during his frequent visits to the publishing house, presumably in order to show-off his portfolio. On these meetings he would present a few as a gift, possibly having just sketched them and after a while she followed this by purchasing a number directly from him. Wain never had anything published through Gay and Hancock, so we can only assume that they did not take to his unique brand of illustration. The lovely free, off-the-cuff penmanship that Wain produced throughout his life is shown in all these unframed works, from his early period through to 1920. Although some are not particularly fresh ideas for him, he had a number of stock expressions and poses that he would use in his illustrations, all have an stunning originality to them that provokes a smile on the face of the viewer. THE PROPERTY OF A LADY

Louis William Wain (1860-1939)

A gentleman cat, monocle in place

Details

Louis William Wain (1860-1939)
A gentleman cat, monocle in place
signed 'Louis Wain' (lower left)
pen and black ink and watercolour heightened with white, unframed
15¼ x 12½ in. (38.7 x 31.7 cm.)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. This lot is subject to storage and collection charges. **For Furniture and Decorative Objects, storage charges commence 7 days from sale. Please contact department for further details.**

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