Tuesday 3 June 2025
Leslie Thornton, British 1925-2016 - Fall of Pompeii, c.1955-63; bronze, unique, H151 x W52 x D38...
View More
Leslie Thornton,
British 1925-2016 -
Fall of Pompeii, c.1955-63;
bronze, unique, H151 x W52 x D38...
Starting Bid: £5,500
Estimate: £8,000 - £12,000
Login To BidSee shipping conditions on our partner's website.
Additional fees apply 31.2%. Inc.VAT/sales tax - Bid Calculator
Please note that submitting this bid is legally binding.
Lot 178
Description
Leslie Thornton,
British 1925-2016 -
Fall of Pompeii, c.1955-63;
bronze, unique, H151 x W52 x D38 cm (ARR)
Provenance:
private collection, purchased directly from the artist and thence by descent
Note:
with thanks to the Estate of the Artist for their assistance with the cataloguing of this work.
Thornton was part of a seminal group of Post-War sculptors in Britain, who combined Archaic and industrial forms to create a highly evocative visual language, that responded to the complexities of the age. Thornton exhibited alongside these artists, including Eduardo Paolozzi, Kenneth Armitage and Elizabeth Frink, at important exhibitions such as 'New Sculptors Exhibition' in 1955 at the ICA and the international travelling show 'Young British Sculptors' organised by the British Council.
The present work features the vertical emphasis common to much of his work, such as 'Figure in a Setting, 1964' now in the Arts Council Collection, and evokes a modern evocation of the biblical Tower of Babylon in its monumentality. Through the suggestion of Pompeii in its title, Thornton perhaps reflects a post-nuclear sense of a civilisation under threat by uncontrollable forces. The composition of the work relates to the artist's commission for the Daily Mirror building created in 1961, that was based on the theme of the history of printing.
Works by the artist are in international collections, including the National Galleries of Scotland, Leeds Art Gallery and the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Venice.
Condition Report
Please login to request a condition report or ask more questions.
Fees & VAT
Buyer's Premium
The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.
VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT
Qualifying living artists and the descendants of artists deceased within the last 70 years are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their work is bought through an auction house or art market professional.
It applies to lots with hammer value over £1,000 as follows:
0 to £50,000 - 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 - 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 - 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 - 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500
Please note ARR is calculated in euros. Auctioneers will apply current exchange rates.
Export of goods
Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.
Own a similar item?
Request a ValuationReceive alerts about similar lots
Get StartedContinue Browsing
LOT 179
Ceri Richards CBE, Welsh 1903-1971 - Jardin Sous la Pluie, no.68, c.1967; oil on canvas, signed and...
Estimate: £3000 - £5000
Starting Bid: £2,000
LOT 180
Geoffrey Clarke RA, British 1924-2014 - Cross, c.1989; aluminum, stamped with initials on the...
Estimate: £700 - £900
Starting Bid: £480
LOT 181
John Milnes-Smith, British 1912-1998 - Two Figures on Red, 1951; oil on paper, signed with initials...
Estimate: £400 - £600
Starting Bid: £280
LOT 182
John Wells, British 1907-2000 - Untitled, 1956; oil on canvas, signed and dated on the reverse of...
Estimate: £6000 - £8000
Starting Bid: £4,200
LOT 183
Georges Mathieu, French 1921 -2012 - Composition, 1948; ink on paper laid down on card, signed and...
Estimate: £5000 - £7000
Starting Bid: £3,400
LOT 184
Jean Albert McEwen RCA, Canadian 1923–1999 - Heureuse Année, 1958; watercolour on paper, signed and...
Estimate: £1000 - £1500
Starting Bid: £700
LOT 185
Alan Davie CBE RA HRSW, Scottish 1920-2014 - Opus D.5-70-13, 1970; gouache on paper, titled upper...
Estimate: £300 - £500
Starting Bid: £200
LOT 186
Alan Davie CBE RA HRSW, Scottish 1920-2014 - Opus D.Untitled, 1976; gouache on paper, signed and...
Estimate: £300 - £500
Starting Bid: £200
LOT 187
Alan Davie CBE RA HRSW, Scottish 1920-2014 - Animal Magic, 2010; oil on canvas, signed, titled,...
Estimate: £2000 - £4000
Starting Bid: £1,400
LOT 188
Oswell Blakeston, British 1907–1985 - Abstract compositions; two oil on board works on shared...
Estimate: £300 - £500
Starting Bid: £200
LOT 189
Oswell Blakeston, British 1907–1985 - Dolores; oil on paper and mount, signed and titled on the...
Estimate: £300 - £500
Starting Bid: £200
LOT 190
Oswell Blakeston, British 1907–1985 - And Finally the Rose; oil on two separate boards, signed...
Estimate: £300 - £500
Starting Bid: £200
LOT 191
Jiří Kolář, Czech 1914-2002 - Le Coureur Apprivoise, 1989; collage, signed with initials and...
Estimate: £500 - £700
Starting Bid: £340
LOT 192
Clifford Fishwick, British 1923-1997 - Untitled (coastal scene), 1961; oil and metallic paint on...
Estimate: £600 - £800
Starting Bid: £420
LOT 193
Denis Williams, Guyanese/British 1923-2008 - Untitled (Lying figure and legs), 1954; ink on paper,...
Estimate: £500 - £700
Starting Bid: £340
LOT 194
Aubrey Williams, Guyanese/British 1926-1990 - Untitled, 1963; gouache on paper, 50.2 x 63 cm (ARR)
Estimate: £2500 - £3000
Starting Bid: £1,600
Newsletter Signup
Keyword Alerts
Would you like to receive personalised keyword alerts when new catalogues go live. If so, please indicate these below
Set a password to save your keyword alerts
Passwords are a minimum of 7 characters and must include an upper case letter, a lower case letter, a number and a special character (e.g., !@#$%^&*).