Celebrity auctioneer and TV personality Charles Hanson will preside over a moovellous auction to be held at the Graduate Hotel, Cambridge from 7pm on 23 September.
Some 43 Cow and mini moo sculptures will go under the hammer during the course of the evening, raising vital funds for Break - a charity working with children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care. Regional and national artists have created stunning collectors’ items from these bespoke 3D canvases, which have been showcased over the summer months as part of the Cows about Cambridge art trail.
Charles Hanson, known to millions as the auctioneer from Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip and Flog It, and his team at Hansons Auctioneers are proud to be part of the Cows about Cambridge Charity Auction: “We are privileged to see many incredible objects go ‘under the hammer’ but none more unusual than this stunning collection of Cows, designed both by established and emerging artists from Cambridge and beyond.
This is a fantastic opportunity to give a Cow a home and own an original piece of art as a permanent memento of this unforgettable event.”
All interested bidders aged 18+ are invited to attend the live auction, as the organisers would like to maximise funds for Break by filling the auction room with as many bidders as possible. Tickets are available at cowsaboutcambridge.co.uk/auction.
For those unable to attend in person, online bids are currently being accepted at cowsaboutcambridge.co.uk/auction. Here, bidders can place their bid in advance then follow the action on the night and join the live bidding via a livestream straight into their living room. Absentee or proxy bids are also invited.
“Paddles at the ready! Based on similar trails, we would anticipate most Cow sculptures selling for in excess of £4,000,” explained Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-Founder of trail organisers Wild in Art. “Your generosity will make a huge difference to Break’s work with vulnerable young people in Cambridgeshire. Please bid generously and help us to create a meaningful legacy for Cows about Cambridge, following an incredible summer of fun, creativity, collaboration and cow puns galore!”
“What better way to bounce back from COVID than to see these cows bring fun, conversation and people back together on the streets of Cambridge,” said Rachel Cowdry, CEO of Break. “Now is your opportunity to take a piece of that adventure home for you or your workplace – while also having a direct impact on the lives of young people leaving care all across Cambridgeshire. Your generosity means a stable home, a support network who act as the family they may not otherwise have, and the opportunity to form friendships with other care leavers. I can’t thank you enough.”
The 43 spectacular auction lots include:
Lot 4: Rudders and Udders
Designed by Paula Wilson, Artist in Residence at the National Horse Racing Museum for five years, Rudders and Udders captures an air of energy and excitement synonymous with the city of Cambridge. The brightly-coloured oars that adorn this sculpture represent many of the Cambridge University college boat clubs.
Lot 22: Connecting Tails
Connecting Tails celebrates the city of Cambridge in a series of tiny vignettes, each one telling a story about a different Cambridge scene, surrounded by geometric shapes that represent the city’s architectural heritage. The colour palette is bold and vibrant, enticing passers-by to come closer and take a journey around Cambridge.
Lot 40: STEM Cow
Created by Kelly Stanford, an artist and science communicator who uses art to make STEM subjects more accessible to the public, STEM Cow highlights famous Cambridge pioneers and scientific discoveries with imagery, quotes and facts. Signatures of 127 local scientists - including Jane Goodall, the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees; Eben Upton of Raspberry Pi; and astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell - represent the modern-day research carried out in the city.
Families and those who are unable to bid are welcome to attend the Farewell Weekend at The Grafton on 17-19 September, where all 43 Cows will be gathered in one place. They are also invited to watch the live auction via the Cows about Cambridge YouTube channel; bids cannot be made from this platform.
Cows about Cambridge has been brought to the city by Wild in Art in collaboration with Break, principal partner Cambridge BID and official travel partner Thameslink. For more information about the auction, visit cowsaboutcambridge.co.uk/auction.
