Lot 325
JESSIE MARION KING (1875-1949), ERNEST ARCHIBALD TAYLOR (1874-1951) & MERLE TAYLOR (1909-1977)
AN ARCHIVE FROM THE COLLECTION OF MERLE TAYLOR
£2,268
Auction: Lots 267 to 528 | 18th April at 10am
Description
Letters to Merle Taylor from her mother, Jessie Marion King
1949 Christmas card designed by J.M. King, signed “from the E.A. J.M.K.T. Kirkcudbright” and “Greengate” motif;
ALS to Merle Taylor from her mother, J.M. King, 2pp; and another on Greengate letterheaded paper, signed ‘B.H. and J.M.’ and ‘love from B.H. and me’ respectively; and three further notes, one dated 1946;
Six leaves of unsigned pencil sketches of figures in costume;
Letters to Merle Taylor, presumably from her father, Ernest Archibald Taylor, but signed “B.A.
June 11th 1951, autograph letter, 4pp., referring to Cardon Holme, near Biggar;
Oct 2nd 1951, autograph letter, 4pp.; and another dated the following day, 4pp, regarding Anna and a cottage;
And further ephemera relating to E.A. Taylor, including art examination certificates;
Letters written to or from Merle Taylor from friends
Signed autograph note from Merle Taylor to her mother: “Arrived safely. The small boy fed me with chocolate the way up…”;
ALS from Charles Oppenheimer to Merle Taylor, 2pp., dated 1952: “The weather has been so cold & the daylight so soon gone for my own work on these shortest winter days that I have not been able to do much in your father’s studio…”
ALS to Merle Taylor from Dorothy [Dorothy Johnstone?], 4pp., writing about an art exhibition at the Constitution Hall;
ALS to Merle Taylor from her ‘Auntie’ Adah, 5pp.;
and a large quantity of others, some from Scottish artists, including several letters of sympathy on the death of E.A. Taylor;
Two female artist’s smocks
One in blue with an open back; the second produced by Lilla, 7 Lower Grosvenor Place, London, in blue of a lace-up shirt design with smocking on the breast;
And a large quantity of other items, including: C.80 loose photographs from Merle Taylor’s collection, several featuring her parents; a folder of correspondence to Merle Taylor from auctioneers, museums and galleries; a collection of personal effects from the King / Taylor household including a paintbrush, pens, weights in a white metal case, a pair of glasses, an Ilford colour filter, and a pipe;
All contained in a metal document case (quantity)
Footnote
Note: A fascinating insight into the life of Merle Taylor, and her relationship with her parents, the artists Jessie Marion King and Ernest Archibald Taylor. The archive contains intimate familial letters, alongside well wishes and expressions of sympathy from friends. Two painter’s smocks, presumably having belonged to J.M. King, are also featured.
