Catalogue Three – August 2008

ITEM 1

Ego-Ominous
Pastels and pencil on wooden panel
Signed in pencil, lower right ‘AOS 1947′
Original frame, with paper label on reverse, titled, numbered and signed by the artist.
515mm x 360mm approx.

Exhibited: Archer Gallery, 1947, no.53

This fabulous magickal portrait from the late 40s exudes an ominous power. When caught askance, the face seems to slide around the frame and pulse with strange energy. The animal atavisms materialising beside the subject are crowned with a fluid automatic drawing and mask-portrait.

The frame is completely original and was chosen by Spare, with the typical label in brown paper on the reverse, titled and numbered in his hand. Even the glass is original. They don’t come much more authentic than this: perfect 40s South London magickal nostalgia.

£3400.00 SOLD

ITEM 2

[Portrait of a man]
Pastel on paper
Signed in pastel, lower left ‘AOS PIXIT 35′
Original frame
420mm x 330mm approx.

This superb portrait from the mid 1930s was probably exhibited in Spare’s 1936 show. The frame is the original chosen by Spare; stained wood with a gilt mount inset. An identical frame was used by Spare on a self portrait from the same period, reproduced on page 53 in Borough Satyr. Portraits of this quality from this period are rare and this example is exceptionally fresh and unfaded.

£1800.00 SOLD (See Catalogue Six)

ITEM 3

Tiresome attitude of a constant virgin
Pencil on paper, titled in Spare’s hand on lower edge with red ink
Signed in pencil, lower left ‘AOS 53′
160mm x 220mm approx.

Nostaglia seldom comes more poignant than the memory of unrequited lust! Here Spare limns repressed sexual tension and the societal convention that stands upon it.

Very, very slightly creased on lower right corner

This item is re-offered from our March list due to a defaulting overseas purchaser, be quick!

£580.00 SOLD

ITEM 4

Untitled [Still-life]
Pencil on green paper
Signed lower right ‘AOS 53′
270mm x 140mm approx.

This item is re-offered from our March list due to a defaulting overseas purchaser.

£150.00 SOLD

ITEM 5

Purgatory
Pen and pastel on brown paper
Titled lower left in ink by the artist ‘Purgatory’
270mm x 125mm approx.
Undated [c.1953]

The theme of this work is one of the most important components to Spare’s sorcery. Traditionally ‘purgatory’ is the place that exists between earth and heaven, where souls wait for purification or punishment between worlds. It was a metaphor Spare explored throughout his life for purgatory and limbo represent ‘inbetweeness’, the application of the neither-neither principle that underpinned his ontology. Here we can see the strange columns and fluid figures that echo of Earth Inferno nearly 50 years earlier.

£420.00 SOLD

ITEM 6

Still Life for Students[Page from sketchbook]
Pencil and pastel on green paper
Signed lower centre ‘AOS 53′
370mm x 270mm approx.

This large sketchbook page gives us a fascinating glimpse into Spare’s art school classes during the early 50s. There are three sketches, one finished in pastel, the other two fluid roughs, with notes for the lucky student. Ephemera regarding his teaching practices is rare.

£560.00 SOLD

ITEM 7

On the Oxford Circuit, by the Hon. Mr. Justice Darling
First edition, illustrated additional title page and 3 full page plates by Austin Osman Spare, each with original tissue guard loosely inserted, decorated initials, original quarter vellum gilt, browned, spine soiled as usual, uncut and unopened, green silk page marker, inscribed on paste-down end-paper ‘Cecil A. Reynolds, 21st June 1909′, 8vo, Smith, Elder & Co., 1909

This book was a key commission for Spare in his early career. On page 29 there is a drawing of gothic arches, incised with the legend ‘Vestigia nulla retrorsum’ – the same legend Spare mysteriously cited in his dedication in The Focus of Life twelve years later.

£135.00

ITEM 8

The Golden Hind, edited by Austin Osman Spare and Clifford Bax
Vol.1 No.1 and Vol.1 No.3, first edition, 10 illustrations by Austin Osman Spare, including two double-page lithographs (The New Eden) printed in brown and olive green respectively, original printed wrappers, large folio, October 1922 and April 1923

These sumptuous folios contain some of Spare’s finest work of the period. A pound coin in the image above gives some idea of the scale of this ambitious project.

£275.00 the pair SOLD

ITEM 9

[Portrait of a woman]
Pastel on paper,
Elaborately signed lower centre ‘Austin Osman Spare 54′
Original frame, with the remains of two original labels on the reverse.
290mm x 240mm approx.

This early 50s portrait presents a mystery. On the reverse there is a label titled ‘Study for the Garden of Satyros’ and a number in Spare’s hand ‘118.’ A work of this title was exhibited in the Mansion House show, 1952 (no.8) and The White Bear, 1953 (no.118), but Spare signed and dated this piece 1954. Either the original work was reframed, or Spare signed the piece elaborately for his 1954 home show. The signature is very bold and the images here do not convey the colour and depth of this piece adequately.

£760.00 SOLD

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