Salerooms
Everything but the kitchen sink
Alistair McAlpine
For many years the great auction hous- es of London sold only fine art in all its forms. If you wanted to dispose of the brie- à-brae of life you had to look for others to sell it for you. Sotheby's and Christie's in their boom years acquired their reputations and became establishment businesses.
Rich men admired them and sought to buy these two companies as social prizes. It was not to be, however, for when the illus- trious Mr Swid and Mr Cogan tried to buy Sotheby's the Palace was consulted, or so people said. The Queen, I have no doubt, was horrified that her favourite auctioneer was likely to fall into the hands of two high- ly commercial Americans. In any event, Swid and Cogan were seen off.
I can recall lunching with Mr Cogan at the Connaught Hotel whilst his bid for Sotheby's was being considered. 'Just what,' he asked, 'is the exact social status of Sotheby's?' My fellow guest replied, 'Some- thing akin to an old and respected butler.' The cold wind of commerce was already blowing through their spacious state rooms and I might have been a little less kind had I replied to Mr Cogan's question. Sotheby's were no more, no less than auctioneers; no more, no less respectable than the people who sell property or cattle at auction. The world has changed since then and so have the auction houses and the goods that they sell. Once, a sale of Old Masters would have been the highlight of an auc- tioneer's year. But now Sotheby's are advertising a sale in March of space histo- ry, the star lot of which is a 72-page work- ing manuscript of Albert Einstein's 'Theory of Relativity', estimate £3.8 million — a sum that could buy a respectable Old Master.
On 8 March, they are selling an original sample of penicillin. Its label is inscribed `The mould that makes penicillin. Alexan- der Fleming'. This lot will fetch well over the £10,000 estimate. On 24 February, Sotheby's are selling yet more wonders of the modern world, this time in a sale of animation art from Walt Disney's pictures, works from the film Pocahontas which was premiered on 10 June 1995. How quickly the paraphernalia of commerce becomes sought after by collectors these days. Quite what the aristocrats who founded Sotheby's and Christie's'and who sold the collections of the likes of Talleyrand would make of it all, I shudder to think.
While Terence Conran has been credited with changing the decorative style of young professional homes in the Sixties, Godfrey Bonsack has not had the same recognition for his efforts. Bonsack, however, undoubt- edly put a new dimension into the lives of Sixties' property developers.
It was their bathrooms that Bonsack changed for he was the first to promote the plastic bath. Bonsack produced baths in all shapes and sizes, the taps came in silver sil- ver and gold gold, and the baths were deco- rated with designs that ranged from gold basket-work to plain black. Bonsack sold baths that were shaped like armchairs and baths that you could hold a small cocktail party in. Baths with water as still and dark as night, and baths where the waters swirled, powered by pumps that forced the water to pummel and punch your body. In fact, such an important figure was Godfrey Bonsack in the history of British design that I confidently predict a sale of his work at Christie's in the not too distant future, which is more than I can say for Conran, for there must be warehouses full of dis- used Conran goods, whereas classic Bon- sack baths are a great rarity.
In any event, the Bonsack collection is to be sold on 14 February. Not a collection of baths, I'm afraid, rather the contents of the late Mr and Mrs Bonsack's Mayfair apart- ment. The star item is 'French gilt and poly- chrome bronze clock, garniture moulded with cloisonné figures, the drum-shaped case with white enamel Roman and Arabic dial is signed Martinot a Paris'. The clock is 58 centimetres high and will be offered with a matching candelabra (estimate £3,000). The Victoria and Albert Museum should not miss this lot, for sooner or later they will have to recreate a Bonsack bathroom on their premises and the clock and candelabra would go perfectly in it. A rather more interesting sale will be held in the afternoon, also at Christie's, where they will sell the late Mrs Bonsack's couture clothes.
St Valentine's Day is on 14 February, and those who want a Valentine's card that is a little different need only to pop around to either Bonhams on 5 February or Christie's on 7 February where there will be dozens of cards for sale. Whether it be in the sale- rooms or in love, the course of life does not always run smoothly, so perhaps it might be sensible to buy a Victorian Valentine card at Bonhams. I quote the verse it con- tains:
You're double faced as all can see And such as you I'd scorn to be; In both your smile or frown 'tis clear Danger is always lurking near. The girl will lead a dreadful life Who's fool enough to be your wife.
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