2024 Overview

We've had a memorable 2024 encompassing new team members, a new sales department, two charity auctions, an off-site sale of classic motorcycles and 42 auctions in the salerooms comprising approximately 40,000 lots. See some of the highlights below ranging from Filipino modern art to C18th German rabbits, a book signed by Chairman Mao and a 1943 US Dodge weapons carrier....

A collection of works by modernist Filipino artists consigned by a private UK client had Shaun expanding his knowledge of abstract expressionist art. These two works by Fernando Zóbel (1924-1984) titled Por la carretera general de Valencia, pasado Perales de Tajuña - pequeñas hogueras, Novembre de 1966 (along the main road of Valencia, past pear trees of Tajuña - small bonfires, November 1966) (left) and La Puerta Estrecha (the narrow door) (right) sold for £165,000 and £74,000 respectively.

We were delighted to welcome Dr. Jun Kong, a Cambridge alumnus and experienced Chinese art collector, as the head of our newly established Asian Art department. Under Dr. Kong’s expertise, we successfully launched our first single-owner Asian Art auction in November, marking a new milestone for LSK.

Dr Kong will be curating Spring and Autumn Asian Art auctions, with the next sale in April already including a stunning collection of works depicting the Chinese “Eight Daoist Immortals,” featuring an extremely rare and finely painted famille rose vase from the Qing Dynasty Daoguang period (1821–1850).

Sticking with China, a fascinating lot in our March auction was this 1938 first edition of ‘On Protracted War’ signed by Mao Zedong / Tse-tung (Chairman Mao). Mao’s signature is incredibly rare and highly sought-after, and this is an early example from the war-torn period before the foundation of the People’s Republic of China. The volume was bought by the vendor’s left-wing grandfather from the British Communist Party in 1950, and remained undiscovered in a drawer until very recently when the vendor’s own father died. It sold for £27,000.

And now to a different kind of 'china'. It has been claimed that the fame and success of the Meissen porcelain factory was based on the work of master modeller Johann Joachim Kändler (1706-1775), and these exquisite circa 1750 hares testify to that. It is remarkable to find a pair, let alone a set of three, so it was no great surprise when the bidding jumped to a hammer price of £21,000

In October, we welcomed Rosie Frost as a valuer and cataloguer with an eye for the unusual, a love of research and a passion for Spanish Colonial micro-carved objects of devotion (a speciality we didn't realise we'd been lacking until now!). She is already an intrinsic part of the team and is heading up our social media accounts (so feel free to say hi on Facebook and Instagram).

Forty years and a world of design and function apart, this 1983 Mercedes and this 1943 US Dodge WC51 weapons carrier (which was discovered in a barn in France and possibly came ashore during the D-Day Landings), each sold for £15,000 in our June Classic Cars auction.

Slightly less roadworthy, this large-scale model 1930s Alfa Romeo P2 racing car by C.I.J of France was a hit in one of our Toy auctions and achieved £9,000.

With gold prices remaining high, our Coins and Jewellery auctions have seen some extraordinary prices recently. However, this 2021 George and the Dragon 200th Anniversary Gold Sovereign Series eight coin proof set by Hattons of London was surely bought by a true collector. Marking 200 years since the George & The Dragon first appeared on British coinage, this was the first time since 1821 that both the monarch’s portrait and the design are the work of the same designer. It sold for £13,400.

There were many more impressive (and sometimes downright baffling) sales throughout the year and all are available under auction results at the top of page, however, I will finish with these six bottles of Chateau Petrus 1998 Pomerol which sold for £12,000. Cheers to that and we hope to see you again in the New Year!

Do you have anything suitable for one of our 2025 auctions?