Painting owned by noted author headlining two-day sale

BERKSHIRE, U.K. — A painting belonging to celebrated children's author, Enid Blyton, will go under the hammer in a two day Interiors sale at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions' Donnington Priory saleroom in Berkshire May 20-21 alongside a diverse and eclectic mix of furniture and works of art. Day One will include Asian & European Ceramics, Clocks and Paintings with Day 2 focusing on Furniture, Rugs and Works of Art.

Anenomes, by Marion L. Bloom (1878-1962), was owned by Blyton, whose bestsellers

include the Famous Five, Secret Seven and Malory Towers series.

The painting is accompanied by A Childhood at Green Hedges, an autobiography by Blyton's daughter Imogen Smallwood, which describes Bloom's work; "…above the cases of flowers, were flower paintings. My mother particularly liked Marion Broom, and her enenomes…"

The current owner, who inherited the work, has a letter from Blyton's daughter to say that it was owned by her mother. It is estimated at £300-500. [Lot 253]

Quirky, collectible and sure to attract attention on day two are a collection of Black Forest carved and stained wood works of art, including a stereoscopic viewer, circa 1900. 'Black Forest' wares were produced in Switzerland in the late 19th and early 20th century as luxury and novelty items aimed primarily at wealthy tourists, typically depicting bears and other majestic wild animals. This unusual carved stereoscopic viewer is accompanied by viewing cards detailing Grand Tour views of Rome, Venice, Pompeii and other Italian sites as well as a guide manual for the cards, Italy Through the Stereoscope, 1903, by D.J. Ellison D.D. It is estimated at £500-800. [Lot 505]

The two-day sale will be held at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions' Donnington Priory saleroom in Berkshire on Tuesday and Wednesday the 20th-21st May 2014 with viewing from Friday 16th May 2014. The catalogue is available to view online at www.dreweatts.com