14th May, 2025 10:00
Paul Atkinson | The Nomadic Collector
602
A carved mahogany figural group
20th century, Cuban, depicting a trio of musicians, the conga drum carved with the inscription 'Los Sonoros',
42cm wide
27cm deep
63cm high
"A 1960s traditional Cuban band, carved out of a single block of Cuban mahogany. I first saw it many years ago behind the bar of Countess Von Rosen’s Mallorcan mansion where it had occupied pride of place for the last 50 years!
The Countess explained that she and her husband had purchased it directly from the sculptor in the 1960s in Havana from his tiny workshop on the balcony of his Government owned apartment. It apparently left Cuba in a diplomatic bag and is unsigned because commerce was banned under Communist rules, and the artist was not allowed to sell his work.
He was apparently regarded as a master carver by the island community. I would wholeheartedly agree!"
- Paul Atkinson
£300 - £500
Buyer's premium: 30.00% (inclusive of VAT, where applicable)
Condition Report
broken and repaired to the guitar stock, tuning pegs appear to be composite, overall with small scratches knocks and chips
IN PERSON
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Auction: Paul Atkinson | The Nomadic Collector, 14th May, 2025
We are proud to unveil the full catalogue for our upcoming auction, Paul Atkinson | The Nomadic Collector — a two-day sale taking place at Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers on 13 and 14 May 2025.
This remarkable collection, assembled over a lifetime of travel and discovery, reflects Paul Atkinson’s deep passion for dealing and his boundless curiosity. Spanning continents and centuries, it includes Grand Tour bronzes, Anglo-Indian carvings, Ottoman swords, African tribal masks, and fine European furniture.
Paul was a master storyteller and magnetic personality whose charm opened doors worldwide. His acquisitions come with fascinating histories and exceptional provenance — from fishing with Bob Marley in Montego Bay, to viewing exhibitions with Salvador Dalí, to uncovering fossils in cellars once used by Charles Darwin.
Viewing
VIEWING
London Viewing | Highlights
A selection of lots will be on view Tuesday 22 April - Friday 2 May (weekdays only) at our London Gallery, 15 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ, as follows:
Monday-Friday, 11am - 6pm
Saturday - Closed
Sunday - Closed
For more information, please contact 0203 971 2500 | london@sworder.co.uk
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 9 May, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 11 May, 10am - 1pm
Monday 12 May, 10am - 4pm
Full Terms & Conditions relating to our auctions can be found here
Please note that this item is not suitable for a pre-sale automated shipping estimate due to the items weight/size.
The below table shows indicative shipping costs for larger items being delivered within the UK mainland. Please note that all the below costs are purely for indicative purposes and are to be used as a guideline only. If you purchase multiple large items, we will combine deliveries to reduce the shipping costs.
Should you be successful in buying this item, a specific shipping estimate will need to be requested after the sale using the link in your invoice email; this also includes all requests for international delivery.
If you would like further information about shipping and collection please see here.
Buying a pre-loved, antique, or vintage item not only provides you with unique style and value for money but it also helps to reduce landfill, and the annual emissions of an antique or vintage piece can be as little as one sixteenth of those of its new equivalent!
Sworders is proud to be supporting the work of Antiques are Green - the movement that was founded in 2009 to promote “a greener future created from the past”. Read their fascinating carbon footprint study of a Georgian chest of drawers versus a modern equivalent here
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