Edward Bawden, R.A.

The Fine Art Society, London, where acquired by Tareq S. Rajab, the grandfather of the present owner, in October 1979, and thence by descent

The sheet is attached to the mount with one tab at either side of the upper horizontal edge, but is not laid down. The sheet undulates slightly, but otherwise appears sound. The right and lower edges of the sheet are deckled, with one or two inherent tears. There is some slight lifting at the edges to some of the collaged elements, but otherwise these appear sound and securely attached. There is a small crease to the sheet at the upper right corner. There is some slight discolouration to the sheet, and some small, faint spots of foxing in places, visible upon close inspection. There are some instances of surface dirt and studio detritus, most apparent at the edges of the sheet, and not visible in the present mount. Subject to the above, the work appears to be in good overall condition. The work is window mounted and presented in a simple wooden frame, held under glass. Please telephone the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In 1953, after completing his studies in art and architecture in the UK, Tareq Rajab returned to his birthplace to undertake a government role as Director of the Department of Antiquities and Museums of Kuwait.  He worked tirelessly to preserve the traditional buildings of old Kuwait town, and soon emerged as a significant figure in the development of the arts in the Arabian Gulf.  The Tareq Rajab Museum which he established in 1980, exclusively from he and his wife’s private collection, was the first museum of Islamic art and artefacts and today houses more than thirty thousand different exhibits.  Rajab also founded the Museum of Islamic Calligraphy in 2007 and became a UNESCO representative for Kuwaiti heritage.