LONDON.- Bonhams are selling the Indian and Islamic Art Collection of the American painter George Sheridan who was part of the artistic community based in Deià in Mallorca, best known as the home of the poet Robert Graves. The Collection is part of the Bonhams Indian and Islamic Art including Modern and Contemporary South Asian and Middle Eastern Art at Knightsbridge on June 9th.
Three of the sale highlights are from the Sheridan Collection: A 17th century Tibetan carved-bone ritual apron made of strung beads, conch shells, small ritual vessels, and bells, is estimated to sell for £3,000 to £4,000. Another similar such apron is valued at £3,000 to £4,000. And a group of carved-bone ritual vestments carved with masks, seated Buddhas and flower heads is estimated at £2,000 to £3,000.
Sheridans influences included the art of India and the Himalayas which he collected avidly and whose themes he incorporated into his work. His eye for Asian art extended from the Buddhist sculpture of Gandhara, Nepal and Tibet, through classical Indian sculpture to the magical world of Indian miniatures. All of these areas of interest are represented in this collection.
The Sheridan collection includes sculpture, textiles, miniature paintings, brass lamps and ceramics.
Claire Penhallurick, Head of Indian and Islamic art at Bonhams, says: In this one sale there is the widest imaginable spread of Indian and Islamic art forms, and all at very affordable prices for anyone wishing to start collecting in this area. The George Sheridan Collection in particular shows a strength in depth from an artist-collector who had a very good eye for what he was after.