Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering for sale this large and heavy Marquetry Panel of a Slave Market. The Panel bears a typed label on the back, as shown, with the name of the person we believe made the panel. The label is marked No. 2, give the name and address of a Mr. A. J. Gibson, 19 Portland Aenue, Hove, Sussex. It gives the title 'Slave Market' and the price, which was typed as £10. 10s. 0d. and had been changed in pencil to 15 guineas. The label is dated 22nd July 1943

Just for your interest, 10 guiease in 1943, would be worth £571.42 today and 15 guineas would be worth £899.97. So it must have been very highly priced back in 1943.

The panel depicts an Arab slave market, with two bearded men and five women in various stages of undress. Two of the girls are white, one nude and one in a dress, who may be leaving with a buyer, and three with darker skins, one of whom is seated to the right foreground.

The panel is made in a lot of detail and totally unlike the style of the Rowley Gallery marquetry, so it is likely that Mr. Gibson is the maker. We checked this address in the 1939 Registry, but he was not at that address then and, as we only know his initials, not his Christian name, we can proceed no further with a relatively common surname.

The picture is framed in a light wood, stepped frame. It will be supplied with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

Marquetry size: 24 3/4 x 19 inches - 62.9 x 48.25cm

Frame size: 27 x 21 1/4 inches - 68.55cm x 54cm

Medium: Diverse woods

Weight: 4kg.

Condition: Very good. There are a few historic worm holes from long dead woodworm in the frame, but no holes in the picture itself. There are two old horizontal cracks to the veneer above the head of the dark haired women in the centre, but there is no veneer missing or sign of any repair.