A copy of Lawrence Holofcener's The Allies has sold as the top lot in Bonhams' 20th Century British and Irish Art auction, held on November 14 in London.
 Holofcener was a perfect choice to create the piece, holding dual nationality |
Depicting Sir Winston Churchill and Franklin D Roosevelt - the British and US leaders during the second world war - the piece sold for $409,250 ($648,647), doubling its pre-sale estimate.
The original sculpture is a recognisable London landmark that was first commissioned by the Bond Street Association (a coalition of the shops and businesses of the city's famed Bond Street) as a gift to the City of Westminster to mark 50 years of peace.
Unveiled by Princess Margaret in May 1995, it now sits at the point where Old Bond Street meets New Bond Street, and has provided a great photo opportunity for many tourists, with just enough room to squeeze in between the two wartime leaders and participate in their discussion.
We are currently offering a number of signed Winston Churchill items in our online store.
Holofcener was the perfect choice to create the sculpture, holding dual British and American nationality. He has exhibited widely in both countries since the 1970s and has created life-size portraits of the 20th century's most influential figures, including Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela and John Lennon.
Bringing the auction's second highest bids was Peter Doig's Road House, which sold for £265,250 ($409,398). The painting was created in 1989, the year which saw Doig return to the UK and embark on the seminal series of works that he completed over the following year. According to Bonhams, it should be regarded as an important work in his oeuvre and had never been offered for sale prior to the auction.
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Images: Bonhams
