Designer Desire: Gilbert Rumbold

Montage of Gilbert Rumbold illustrations

A few weeks ago, we featured an auction lot that was a vintage book of cocktails illustrated by Gilbert Rumbold (a few images of it are included in the montage above). It was a 1st edition and examples have, in the past, sold for a whopping £600.00.

I was so taken by the very Art Deco book cover and illustrations that I delved into the internet to find more of his works. I haven’t found a lot, but what I happened across is smashing. He created beautiful fashion illustrations, decorative maps and – those 1930s obsessions – motor cars, ships and aeroplanes.

It is, however, the Savoy Cocktail book for which he is most well known. In fact, there’s still a cocktail named after him, served at the London Hotel’s American bar; consisting of Grey Goose vodka and champagne flavoured with cucumber, lime and peppermint.

Apparently, Gilbert Rumbold – who was from Broadstairs in Kent, tragically lost an arm in a train accident. He was fond of a tipple and often sketched the interiors of pubs such as the Captain Digby in Broadstairs.

Image credits:
Prints Online

Auction Alert: 20th Century Design

Arne Jacobsen for Skelton: A Cylinda-Line Stainless Steel Coffee Set

 

Tennants is the largest family-owned fine art auctioneers in the UK with branches in London, Harrogate and Leyburn in North Yorkshire – the latter being where the upcoming 20th Century Design sale is being held. It takes place on (THIS!!) Saturday 26th February 2022, from 9:30am, with 242 lots coming up for sale.

The first 29 lots are Whitefriars art glass – mainly ones designed by Geoffrey Baxter with a few from William Wilson and Harry Dyer. If you wanted to start a ready-made collection of Whitefriar’s glass, now is your chance!

Over the years, I’ve seen lots of examples of wooden furniture by ‘The Mouseman‘ – who carved a little figure of a mouse as his signature somewhere on his work – dozens of which are coming under the hammer here. I was unaware of the many, many other similar furniture-makers… Beaverman, Eagleman, Foxman, Rabbitman, Squirrilman, Woodpeckerman, Wrenman and Gnomeman. There will be examples of all of their works in this sale.

In order to bid online, you need to register on the Tennants website – there’s and online bidding surcharge of 1.5% + VAT in addition to the 22% buyer’s premium on the final hammer price.

Alternatively, bid via The Saleroom where there’s a surcharge of 4.95% + VAT on the hammer price (again, in addition to the standard 22% buyer’s premium).

For certain sales, we offer a packing and shipping service for items up to a total value of £5,000 (inclusive of buyer’s premium, VAT and any other associated charges). Packages can be up to 60cm x 60cm. Prices range (from £20) depending on the size and destination. Items are fully insured and can be tracked from dispatch to delivery. Prior to bidding please contact us to ensure that we can assist with shipping for an item.

For items that they won’t ship themselves, they recommend a number of other shippers and couriers.

Whitefriars - Geoffrey Baxter: A Large Textured Range Banjo Glass Vase

Lot 1: Whitefriars – Geoffrey Baxter: A Large Textured Range Banjo Glass Vase
In aubergine, pattern 9681, 1972 catalogue, 33cm high
Estimate: £800 – £1,200

Whitefriars - Geoffrey Baxter: Six Textured Range Coffin Glass Vases

Lot 21: Whitefriars – Geoffrey Baxter: Six Textured Range Coffin Glass Vases
In pewter, cinnamon, willow, kingfisher blue, ruby and flint, pattern 9686,13cm high
Estimate: £150 – £250

Tibor Reich (Hungarian, 1916-1996): for Denby Pottery

Lot 77: Tibor Reich (Hungarian, 1916-1996): for Denby Pottery
A Tigo Ware Retek Raddish Pourer, black body, stamped TIGO, 18.5cm high; and Two Tigo Ware Tok Marrow Pourers, black body with incised white stripes, one stamped TIGO (twice) the other MADE IN ENGLAND, 21.5cm high (3)
Estimate: £100 – £150

Arne Jacobsen for Skelton: A Cylinda-Line Stainless Steel Coffee Set

Lot 95: Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) for Skelton (sic): A Cylinda-Line Stainless Steel Coffee Set
Comprising coffee pot and cover, creamer, sugar bowl, serving tray and a revolving ashtray, tray and coffee pot labelled skelton (sic) stainless from denmark design arne jacobsen cylinda-line no.01_1 and no.014 2, coffee pot 17cm high
Estimate: £100 – £150

Craddock (Harry). The Savoy Cocktail Book

Lot 108: Craddock (Harry). The Savoy Cocktail Book
1st edition, London: Constable & Company, Ltd., 1930. 8vo, original cloth-backed pictorial silver boards, colour illustrations throughout by Gilbert Rumbold, binding slightly rubbed as usual, small abrasion to front board, bound without errata slip, a few trivial spots internally
Estimate: £200 – £300

A Pair of Art Deco Frankart Figural Bookends

Lot 110: A Pair of Art Deco Frankart Figural Bookends
Cast as steamlined female heads, cast FRANKART INC PAT APPLD FOR, each 15cm high
Estimate: £100 – £150

Robert Mouseman Thompson: An English Oak and Steel Woodworking Tool

Lot 132: Robert Mouseman Thompson (1876-1955): An English Oak and Steel Woodworking Tool
With steel tip, brass ferrule and oak handle, with carved mouse trademark to top of handle, 12cm long
Estimate: £100 – £150

Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen: A Pair of Swan Swivel Armchairs

Lot 235: Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) for Fritz Hansen: A Pair of Swan Swivel Armchairs
Model No.3320, tan leather, on a swivelling cast aluminium four point base, stamped FH MADE IN DENMARK, 74cm wide, 87cm high
Estimate: £3,000 – £4,000