'Spectacular' art collection sells for £169k

A "spectacular" series of 20th century art, collected in a 40-year "labour of love", has been sold at auction for £169,000.

The Cotswold Auction Company's house in Cheltenham sold the works gathered by Gloucestershire collector Maurice Costley.

Mr Costley regularly visited the UK's top galleries and gathered an "extensive collection" of art over his lifetime.

Auction house director Liz Poole said it was a "truly spectacular" collection of 20th century art, sculpture and design.

The artworks included a bowl made by Lucie Rie which sold for £16,000, a piece on canvas by Alberto Morocco depicting a lido beach hut which sold for £12,000 and a painting called “Arum Lily” by Craigie Aitchison, which sold for £14,000.

“Mr Costley built up his collection over 40 years, starting in the 1980s with purchases of East Anglian art before developing a wider passion for modern art and sculpture," Ms Poole said.

“He enjoyed regular visits to some of the country’s top galleries, gathering an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture and ceramics over his lifetime.

“This truly is a spectacular collection of 20th century art."

The series from Maurice Costley was auctioned by the Cotswold Auction Company in Cheltenham on Tuesday.

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