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CHESHIRE ANTIQUES CONSULTANT LTD

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Item Details

Scottish Oil Painting Still Life Floral “Mary’s Garden” — Dan Ferguson ROI (1910–1992) — Wildflowers Heather Thistle Foxgloves Bluebells — Framed Under Glass
Overview
A striking, traditional Scottish still life oil painting depicting a richly gathered bouquet of mixed wildflowers and cottage-garden blooms arranged in a tankard/jug vase on a dark tabletop. The muted background heightens the colour and gives the work excellent decorative presence. Retains strong documentary interest with an original Paisley Art Institute Exhibition label and later traceable market history.
Subject & Medium
Medium: Oil on board
Subject: Scottish still life floral bouquet in a tankard/jug vase
Presentation: Framed and glazed (under glass) for protection
Composition & Technique
This is an “exhibition-style” floral still life designed to read well across a room:
Balanced pyramidal bouquet: tall stems provide height; rounded masses of bloom form the centre; lighter trailing stems soften the base.
Layered depth: overlapping heads and interwoven stems create real spatial recession rather than a flat decorative pattern.
Tonal staging: restrained background and dark tabletop act as a foil, intensifying saturation and clarity of the flowers.
Realistic vessel: the tankard/jug is convincingly modelled with reflected highlights and subtle half-tones.
Flowers Depicted
A distinctly Scottish mix rather than a generic floral arrangement, including:
Heather (Calluna/Erica type) – feathery purple sprays
Thistle (Cirsium type) – spined blue-purple heads and bracts
Foxglove (Digitalis type) – upright tubular bell spikes
Daisies / Oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum type) – white rays with yellow centres
Asters / Michaelmas daisies (Aster/Symphyotrichum type) – fine-petalled mauves/purples
Chrysanthemums – denser, layered heads (notably yellow)
Bluebells (Hyacinthoides type) – drooping blue bells
Cornflower / knapweed-like blues (Centaurea type) – spiky blue accents
Meadow fillers/umbels and mixed foliage for naturalism
(Identifications are based on flower-head structure, spike/umbel silhouettes and colour placement as depicted.)
Artist
Dan Ferguson ROI (Scottish, 1910–1992), recorded as a Scottish painter and printmaker associated with Motherwell, Lanarkshire, and trained at the Glasgow School of Art. The reverse exhibition label for this painting records “Dan Ferguson, R.O.I.” and gives a Motherwell/Lanarkshire address, supporting the attribution.
Title, Signature & Presentation
Title: “Mary’s Garden” (as per exhibition label)
Signed: “Dan Ferguson” (lower right)
Framed: decorative gilt moulded frame
Glazed: under glass (protective front)
Dimensions (Framed)
Height: 75 cm
Width: 60 cm
Depth: 5.5 cm
Approx. image size: 61 × 46 cm (painting area)
Provenance / Exhibition History
A desirable combination of period exhibition documentation and later traceable handling:
Paisley Art Institute Exhibition label (verso), fully completed:
Exhibit no.: 2
Title: “MARY’S GARDEN”
Price: £40
Artist: “DAN FERGUSON, R.O.I.”
Old address: Redyett, Motherwell, Lanarkshire
Agent: McClures, Glasgow
McClures, Glasgow trade/agent involvement as recorded on the label (additional reverse trade label present).
Publicly recorded market history via McTear's (Glasgow) where “Mary’s Garden” (oil on board; signed; titled label verso; framed and under glass) was sold 20 June 2024.
Later curated/handled in the trade by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd (dealer label present on reverse).
All reverse labels are retained and should be photographed clearly in the listing.
Why This Works for Interiors and Collectors
Strong decorative impact at a very displayable scale (75 × 60 cm framed)
Traditional Scottish palette and subject matter (thistle, heather, bluebells)
Exhibition documentation and verso labels add credibility and interest
A finished, “collector” still life with a convincingly painted metallic vessel and crisp floral detail
Glazed presentation helps long-term display and protection
Condition Report
Offered in good used condition commensurate with age:
Light surface foxing and craquelure in places
Foxing/ageing visible to the reverse/backboard
Frame with general wear including marks, dusting, minor chips and cracking consistent with handling and age
Overall presents well for display.
Shipping
Worldwide shipping available. This is a glazed framed work and should be packed as fragile: protected glass face, rigid boards, corner protection and double-boxing recommended; tracked and insured service advised.

• Period: 1970's
• • Price: £4,950.00
  • €5,737 Euro
  • $6,776 US Dollar
• Location: London
• • Dimensions: H: 75cm (29.53in)
  • W: 60cm (23.62in)
  • D: 5.5cm (2.17in)