Important works from the Reddihough Collection by artists of the St Ives School and other key figures in the history of British Modernist art, made a total of £4,937,875 at Bonhams Modern British and Irish Art Sale in London on 15 June. They came from the private collection of one of Ben Nicholson's major supporters, Cyril Reddihough, and every lot found a buyer.

The sale as a whole made a total made £8,282,350.

The top lot of the sale, which was from the Reddihough Collection, was Reclining Figure by Henry Moore which sold for £1,818,500 against an estimate of £150,000-200,000.  This is a world record for a plaster model by Moore and the highest selling work in this season's London Modern British art sales. Few of Moore's original models exist as they were often destroyed to prevent unauthorised casts being produced.

1928 (Pill Creek) by Ben Nicholson which sold for £722,500 (estimate £200,000-300,000.  This outstanding and highly important example of Nicholson's work ranks among the finest paintings by Nicholson from the formative first decade of his career.

Painted Relief by Ben Nicholson which made £434,500 (estimate £400,000-600,000).  The painted reliefs which Nicholson produced from 1933 onwards are among his finest achievements and made crucial contributions to international art scene in the first half of the 20th century.

Bonhams director of Modern British and Irish Art Matthew Bradbury said, “The astonishing total for this landmark collection is testimony to Cyril Reddihough's great taste. His patronage of Ben Nicholson provided the artist with the security he needed to develop his ideas and was crucial to the emergence of the most distinctive and influential voice in British Modernism.”  

A solicitor by profession, Yorkshireman Cyril Reddihough was also a talented amateur artist who in his mid-20s struck up an acquaintance with Ben Nicholson that deepened into a lifelong friendship. They visited each other frequently over many decades and travelled through Italy together during the 1950s.  Reddihough became a major supporter of Nicholson's work, buying paintings from the artist throughout the latter's career. He also purchased important pieces by Nicholson's first wife Winifred Nicholson (1893-1981) and Barbara Hepworth (his second wife) and by many other British modernist artists including as Henry Moore, Christopher Wood, Jean Helion & Henri Hayden. 

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Enquiries

For further information and images call Lucinda Bredin on +44 (0) 20 7468 8394, or email lucinda.bredin@bonhams.com or press@bonhams.com.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Today, the auction house offers more sales than any of its rivals. The main salerooms are in London, New York and Hong Kong. Sales are also held in the UK in Knightsbridge and Edinburgh; in the US, in San Francisco and Los Angeles; in Europe, in Paris and Stuttgart and in Sydney, Australia. Bonhams also has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of forthcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.