London – The largest known private collection of works by the British Painter Jessica Dismorr exceeded expectations at Bonhams' Blazing a Trail: Modern British Women auction which ran from 9-18 September on bonhams.com. The Quentin Stevenson Collection of Works by Jessica Dismorr featured 19 impressive examples spanning over 20 years, including Woman Seated (Self-Portrait), which sold for £57,600 against an estimate of £4,000 - 6,000, setting a new auction world record for the artist.

The 95-lot sale achieved a total of £924,660, with 82% sold by lot.

Christopher Dawson, Head of Bonhams Modern British & Irish Art British Art department, commented: "Over the past four years we have represented almost 100 women artists through our Blazing a Trail: Modern British Women auction, a sale which strives to promote and celebrate the outstanding work of British female artists. This year's iteration greatly exceeded expectations, with 82% of lots selling – and over half of sold works fetching upper auction estimate or above. The sale was led by Jesicca Dismorr's Woman Seated (Self-Portrait) from the esteemed Quentin Stevenson collection, which fetched £57,600, setting a new auction record for the artist. Further strong results were seen for Winifred Nicholson's Christmas Present (£55,200), Sophie Ryder's Dancing Hares (£40,800) and Emily Young's Fertility Torso with Head (£48,000), who visited Bonhams this week to speak to collectors about her practice.

"This week's sale marks our sixth Modern British art auction of 2024 – with the strong results confirming our position as the leading international auction house in this discipline for both sell through rates, and sold above estimate rates".

Jessica Dismorr (1885-1939) was one of only two women to be members of the Vorticist movement, and the only female contributor to Group X. She exhibited with the Allied Artists Association, the Seven and Five Society and the London Group, as well as exhibiting her abstract works at the Artists' International Exhibition of 1937.

Other highlights of the sale included:

• Jessica Dismorr (British, 1885-1939), Three Tempos, 61.3 x 74.4 cm. (24 1/8 x 29 1/4 in.). Sold for £40,800.

• Jessica Dismorr (British, 1885-1939), Vases, Jugs, Curtains (Still Life with Pots and Vases), 46 x 60.5 cm. (18 1/8 x 23 3/4 in.). Sold for £33,600.

• Emily Young (British, born 1951), Fertility Torso with Head, 120 cm. (47 1/4 in.) high (excluding the base) Carved in 2008. Sold for £48,000.

• Winifred Nicholson (British, 1893-1981), Christmas Present, 50.9 x 61.3 cm. (20 x 24 1/8 in.). Sold for £55,200.

• Sheila Fell R.A. (British, 1931-1979), Village in Cumberland, 126.7 x 152.6 cm. (49 7/8 x 60 in.). Sold for £24,000.

• Sophie Ryder (British, born 1963), Dancing Hares, 94.4 cm. (37 1/8 in.) high. Sold for £40,800.

18 September 2024