99p To £4,200! 

Cavendish Square bargain turns out to be rare artwork

 

There are plenty of things in Swindon you can buy for a pound - but not many you can then turn into £4,200!

 

But a lucky find for one lady browsing at the Barnados Clearance Centre in Cavendish Square last November meant a trip to Bonham's Auction House in London this week and a very healthy profit, thank you.

 

 

Jo Heaven spotted a rare work by renowned artist Ben Nicholson and after having it authenticated as a rare print of his work 'George and Rufus', it was valued at between £2-3,000.

 

But even Jo was surprised when the canvas eventually sold at Bonham's in Knightsbridge yesterday for £5,250, which, with commission, leaves her with £4,200.

 

Ms Heaven is donating 10% of the money to Barnardos and the rest to help setup a charity for helping children in the Gambia. 

 

Ben Nicholson, 'George and Rufus'

 

Is a screenprint in colours on fabric created by the English artist in 1938, who was an influential abstract painter and sculptor, who died in 1982. His works are considered some of the most collectable of 20th Century British art.

 

The other four prints on the same subject (which were made for a children's book) are from a single piece of cloth, the others of which are on display in the V&A Museum in London.