Seventy years of art, antiques and design to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
25 May 2022 The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is a historic first and chance to celebrate her long reign.
Find examples of leading British art and design at auction.
Though much has changed in that time, the appeal of certain British products, artists and makers hasn’t. The proof is on thesaleroom.com where outstanding examples of work spanning the past 70 years can be found to bid for and buy.
1950s – Austin-Healy
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The coronation was in 1953 shortly after the British sports car maker Austin-Healey was established. Finished in Ice Blue over Ivory, this usable 1958 100/6 (BN4) has been restored and was recently shipped back to UK after being used by a US owner for several years. It goes under the hammer at Silverstone Auctions’ Supercar Fest Sale of Iconic and Classic Cars of May 28, where it has an estimate of £38,000-44,000. View the catalogue entry here.
1960s – Lucie Rie
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The works of Austrian-born mid-century British studio potter Lucie Rie (1902-95) have long been popular, but her prices have soared recently, reaching well over six figures on the open market. She came to London in 1938 and was already widely celebrated by the time the 1960s rolled around. This squeezed oval bowl dates to around that time or the early 1970s. It is offered with a 1982 V&A exhibition pamphlet at Lockdales in Ipswich. It appears in The Fine sale #217 of June 8-9 and has an estimate of £2000-3000. View the catalogue entry here.
1970s – Stuart Devlin
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Another renowned immigrant of Britain’s 20th century was Australian gold and silversmith Stuart Devlin, who moved to London in 1965. He opened a small workshop, where his most popular pieces were limited edition Easter eggs. A number of these are on offer at Olympia Auctions on June 1. These gem-set egg on stand dates to 1977 and opens to reveal flowers in a bowl comprised of diamonds, opal and enamel. It is expected to take £2500-3500. View the catalogue entry here.
1980s – British poster design
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From the London Underground map to travel advertisements, British poster design thrived in the 20th century. Film posters were a major part of that. By the 1980s James Bond was well established on cinema screens around the world. The first of the franchise that decade was For Your Eyes Only, released in 1981 and starring Roger Moore. This British Quad film poster features artwork by native Londoner Brian Bysouth off a design by American Bill Gold. It has an estimate of £200-400 at Ewbank’s James Bond 007 sale on May 27. View the catalogue entry here.
1990s – Tracey Emin
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The Young British Artists (YBAs) took the world by storm in the 1990s. Among their number was Tracey Emin who made headlines in 1997 with her appliquéd tent Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-95 and then in 1999 when she submitted My Bed for the Turner Prize. Not all her works are either so large or so challenging. This work on paper, I Did, is offered in Kunsthaus Lempertz’s June 2 auction in Cologne, where it has an estimate of €3000-5000. View the catalogue entry here.
2000s – Harry Potter
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Released in 2000, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was the fourth instalment in JK Rowling’s fantasy series. By then, the boy wizard had taken the world by storm and caused a publishing sensation, which has lived on with the impressive auction results it has claimed over the years. This edition, offered by Taylors Auction Rooms of Montrose in its antiquarian book sale on May 30, comes with a golden ticket to meet the author and the book is signed by Rowling. It has an estimate of £900-1200. View the catalogue entry here.
2010s – Banksy
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The mysterious British street artist Banksy has captured public imagination for year and sparked endless imitations on public walls and beyond. In 2015, he once again caused a sensation by launching an inverted Disneyland dubbed ‘Dismaland’ in Weston-super-Mare. This collection of ‘amusement park’ merchandise was designed by Banksy and fellow contemporary artist David Shrigley. It is offered at East Bristol Auctions’ sale of Contemporary art on May 28 where it has an estimate of £1000-2000. View the catlogue entry here.