AN AUCTION DUEL

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 456, 14 June 1937, Page 6

AN AUCTION DUEL

Portrait Found In Attic A begrimed and torn canvas, which had been relegated to an attic in the house ,a.t Nonsuch Park, Cheam, Surrey, was sold recently for 12,100 guineas, after lively bidding by art dealers, says ‘the "Daily Telegraph” Another auction romance concerning portraits by Frans Hals was- thus revealed.

Although the catalogue contained no mention of the name of Hals, and lhe entry stood briefly as; “Portrait of a man in black coat and white ruffle',’ the discerning sleuths who had scenlted possibilities and’ had taken the trouble to go down to Cheam on the view days, turned up in force.

All “played ostrich” until lhe bidding began in earnest. Then fit was seen that the representatives of most of the leadinig art firms had “got wind” of ithe prize, and they took off the gloves for a fight to a finish. Although Mr. Alfred Vicars (of the art firm of Vicars ER-others") fought manfully throughout, he had' to give in after making his final effort. at 12,000 .guineas, and the picture was secured by Mr. Arthur de' Casseres.

Nonsuch, where the sale took place, with its 100 acres of” park, has been bought from lhe trustees of the Walker family for the “Greqn Belt” of London.

In the dark days of neglect a noble Hals portrait could be picked up for a few pounds. Indeed, one such which had been bought in. the Strand in 1884 for a five-pound nolle—with a -till-life subject thrown in—realised £9OOO when Lork Glanusk sent it ■to Sotheby’s in 1913. In the famous Andrew Mellon col-, lection there is a Hals portrait of his friend the painter, Nicholas Berchem, valued at £34,00.0. Yet when it was sold in London eighteen years ago it was- described as a portrait ■of the artist by Njehlajos Berchem. This, however, did not confuse the experts, who saw the masterful brushwork of Hals “Staring them in. the face,” and the bidding raced’ to £12,000,