Inside the Relaunch

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As the market has evolved across the past decade, Sworders has seen a welcome increase in buyers and sellers located in London. Having a gallery here naturally brings us closer to them.

They say it’s all about location and I can’t think of a place better suited to our current needs than the Victorian thoroughfare of Cecil Court in the heart of the West End. We are easy to find, have a period window frontage in a charming pedestrian-only street and enjoy the benefits of like-minded neighbours. Within a stone’s throw of the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery, other shops on the street include leading dealers in modern British art, antiquarian books and more general antiques. We are reminded every day that the city remains a key centre of the global art market.

^{Sworders London Gallery}

What do we do here? While giving the space fresh new look (I particularly love our new handmade furniture and the driftwood banister!), we also wanted to take the opportunity to refine and define the services we offer from Cecil Court.

That means more viewing events for selected auction highlights, an increase in the number of valuation days led by our specialists in collecting disciplines as diverse as militaria, jewellery and Asian art and an engaging calendar of ‘after office hours’ events.

^{Zimeng Li, Junior Valuer | Pictures Department}

In a highly competitive market, I am a big believer in doing a few important things really well rather than trying to be ‘all things to all men’. We don’t have the luxury of being a regular storage or pick-up site for items purchased at auction in Stansted, but we can showcase the very best of Sworders at Cecil Court and be the place where clients learn more about the services we provide and our reputation for excellence.

A key role for me and gallery manager Madeleine Armstrong is to introduce the Sworders’ brand to London’s private collectors, its dealers and its professional services providers. All can expect an exceptional service when they come through the door.

^{Lizzie Lardner, Head of Sworders London}

Telling Tales, Adding Value

So much of what we do is about story telling: the stories of objects and the talented artists and artisans who made them and the stories of the owners who treasured and admired them.

Sworders know that a great single owner collection can be far more than simply the sum of its parts. Connoisseurship, a good ‘eye’, years of careful editing, and market freshness – all can add value.

^{Sworders Catalogues}

Sir Jack Mervyn Frank Baer (1924-2016) was one of the most enduringly successful and well-regarded London picture dealers of his generation. When tasked with selling the contents of 9 Phillimore Terrace, the Kensington house where he and his wife Diana lived for more than 50 years, Sworders were delighted to tell his story.

Interweaving a compelling narrative with some fine works of art ensured a highly successful sale. Baer’s Modern British pictures brought a succession of multi-estimate sums - a haunting pencil and grey wash bust length portrait sketch by Gwen John selling at £58,500 - while a group of mid 17th century Florentine hardstone pictures of wild animals sold for a mighty £169,000 following a battle between two phone bidders.

Sworders London

15 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ

 london@sworder.co.uk | 0203 971 2500

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