1st Oct, 2024 10:00
Modern and Contemporary Art | To include the David and Pam McCleave Collection
90
▲ Terence Cuneo (1907-1996)
A de Havilland 'Mosquito' under construction at the Parker Knoll factory
signed and dated '.CUNEO./.OCT.1943.' l.r., oil on board
51 x 71cm
Provenance: Christie's, South Kensington, 'Twentieth Century British Art', 4 December 2002, lot 541;
The David and Pam McCleave Collection of Modern British Art.
The de Havilland 'Mosquito', famously known as the 'wooden wonder', was a versatile British aircraft used during the Second World War. Its construction - which relied heavily on wood due to the scarcity of metals during the war - required the expertise of skilled craftsmen to piece together the aircraft's intricately shaped wooden components.
The Parker Knoll factory in High Wycombe, renowned for its high-quality furniture manufacturing, was one such place where these skilled craftsmen could be found. The workers at Parker Knoll, accustomed to crafting fine furniture, possessed the precise woodworking skills needed to assemble the Mosquito's complex wooden structure, and it was this collaboration that was essential to the success of the aircraft's production.
The present lot was one of many commissioned by de Havilland in which Cuneo showed the process of wartime manufacture. Through such works, Cuneo vividly illustrated the behind-the-scenes labours that contributed to the war effort, immortalising the role of craftsmen in the creation of this remarkable aircraft.
Take advantage of our Sworders Delivery Service. Please see 'Shipping estimate' below.
A selection of Terrance Cuneo featuring in our 1-2 October Modern & Contemporary Art auction.
Sold for £2,400
Condition Report
Framed: 69.5 x 89.5cm
Small losses to the centre of the left edge, please refer to illustration. Some further scattered minor losses predominantly to the lower half. Overall the paint appears stable and the painting appears to be in otherwise good condition. Not examined under UV light, for a full report please contact the department.
IN PERSON
To bid in person at auction for the first time please register for a bidding paddle in advance by filling out and submitting a registration form at our front desk. When registering in person we require photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence.
ABSENTEE BIDDING
If you cannot attend the auction in person we can bid on your behalf. You can leave an absentee bid on our website.
The amount you bid should be your maximum bid. We will bid up to that limit for you, and remember you may end up paying less than your limit, depending on other bidding on the day.
You can leave an absentee bid up to half an hour before the start of any sale. Please note when we receive two or more absentee bids for the same amount, the first bid received will be the one taken.
LEAVE COMMISSION BIDS ONLINE
If you would like to leave a commission bid on our website you can do so up until 30 minutes before the sale starts. Leaving a commission bid through sworder.co.uk is free for all registered clients. Thereafter you may register bank card details under your account in order to bid live. Click here to register an account.
BID LIVE ON sworder.co.uk
You can bid live at our auctions from the comfort of your home or office using bidding platform Sworders Live. It is easy to register and you can watch the auction live as it happens. A 'Bid Live' button will appear on the auction on our website homepage when a sale is live; simply click the button to sign in or register with your card details. There is no additional charge for this service.
For further instructions on registering to bid live, please click here.
TELEPHONE BIDDING
If you would like to bid by telephone please contact our team prior to the auction with your details of the lots you are interested in and your full name, address, telephone number(s) and email address. Once our team have entered your bid request you will receive an email confirmation. We will contact you during the sale and one of our team will bid live with you over the phone.
Please note that we normally offer this service for lots with an estimate of £500 or higher and all telephone bid requests must be received by close of business the day before the auction.
Auction: Modern and Contemporary Art | To include the David and Pam McCleave Collection, 1st Oct, 2024
The David and Pam McCleave Collection
Viewing
London Viewing | Highlights
A selection of lots will be on view Tuesday 3 - Thursday 19 September at our London Gallery, 15 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ, as follows:
Monday-Friday, 11.30am - 5.30pm
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:
Thursday 26 September, 10am - 4pm
Friday 27 September, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 29 September, 10am - 1pm
Monday 30 September, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
Please select the shipping destination;
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
Request A Valuation
Here at Sworders, we are happy to offer a free online valuation service. Please fill out the form and press the 'Submit' button below.
To help us with your valuation please attach clear photographs of the item where possible. You can submit up to 5.
Approximate dimensions are also useful. Expect to hear from the appropriate valuer as soon as possible.
