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Oil Painting Spring 1947 By William McCance | Cat, Kittens & Postwar Symbolism (1 of 38)
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Flag of United KingdomGreater London, UK
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD are worldwide reputable family business Fine Art Brokers & gallery dealers, antiques & collectibles business based in Cheshire, by Chester. Certified member of the Fine Art Trade Guild. “Open Online Exclusively· Virtual Viewings by Appointment”. We sell to the public & trade, art agents, galleries, tv, film theatre, studios, prop shops, interior designers & celebrities. Our ethos is simplistic sourcing historical exceptional quality authentic stock around Europe that represents superb value for money, with strong investment prospects. We offer our clients exceptional professional customer service. Registered Office Address Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9JQ Company Number 15666518. GB VAT registration number 466128775. We can accept online card payments up to a maximum of £5000 any amounts over this must be paid by bank wire transfer only. In person card payments are not accepted due to insurance requirements & payment providers charging us and not returning the processing transaction fee even if an order is fraudulent, cancelled or returned. We can email you a proforma invoice with our bank details upon request. We specialise in sourcing and offering for sale British & European paintings works of art 17th to 20th century from the United Kingdom & Europe, especially portraits, marine ships, animals, hunting, still life & landscapes. We strongly believe in sustainability, antique furniture is Green & environmentally friendly confirmed by Carbon Clear, we are playing our part helping the environment by making customers aware that buying loved used Upcycled furnishings helps the world. No trees are being cut down to make antique furniture unlike the modern equivalent. Antique furniture is unique & stylish, the designs never go out of fashion and offer unique look to your home interior. The simple elegance in furniture design will not only fit into traditional homes but can also look amazing in contemporary setting. We offer our clients exceptional professional friendly customer service. We offer worldwide shipping please ask for a quote today. Book online virtual viewing appointment. Online sellers specialising in selling artworks, sculptures, oil paintings, portraits, maritime marine, landscapes, still life, home interiors, beautiful antiques, vintage & original furniture 18th to 20th century. Bronzes & sculptures, office desks & seating furniture, chairs, sofas, & footstools. Coffee, side occasional & centre tables, chests & trunks. Stylish bookcases, display stands. Sideboards, dressers & cabinets. Hallmarked silverware, clocks & carvings. Collectible Chinese porcelain, vases, ornaments, glassware & ceramics. Attractive large fancy mirrors, appealing enamel signs, plaques & wall hangings. Garden stone ornaments & Architectural water features. Purchasing methods we accept bank wire transfer, cash on collection accepted. We offer UK domestic & worldwide shipping is available please ask for a quote today. We take exceptional care in your goods being securely wrapped & packed and are insured with tracked courier delivery services, with prompt delivery to you. Customs Payment & Brexit Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD operates on a Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis which means that the International buyer is responsible for any import duties, taxes & customs clearance and any other charges which may be necessary to release an order from international customs. Following the UK leaving the EU on 1st January 2021 (BREXIT) there have been some changes to customs & duty charges for EU customers. Tax and import duty varies from country to country so we recommend you check with your local tax office to see if any fees will be payable. If the customer refuses to pay any duty and customs charges and the parcel is returned to sender all shipping charges will be deducted from any refund.
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71-75 Shelton Street

London

Greater London

United Kingdom

WC2H 9JQ

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By appointment only

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+447494 763382

LoveAntiques Dealersince Mar 2017Approved item513 sales by dealerFree Delivery

Oil Painting Spring 1947 By William McCance | Cat, Kittens & Postwar Symbolism

REF: LA541242
£38,000
€43,419
$50,218
Connectwith WhatsApp
LoveAntiques Dealersince Mar 2017Approved item513 sales by dealerFree Delivery
Description
🖼️ “Spring 1947” – Signed McCance Oil | Cat, Kittens & Postwar Symbolism A rare and emotionally charged Scottish Modernist oil painting by the celebrated artist William McCance (1894–1970), “Spring 1947” is a masterwork of symbolic intimacy, painted just two years after the end of World War II. 🐈 A Moment of Nurture – Rich in Symbol and Stillness This deeply moving oil on canvas presents a quiet yet powerful domestic scene: a mother cat curled on a windowsill, gently nursing her kittens. Soft daylight filters through velvet curtains, casting a peaceful glow over the small, sacred tableau. Behind the mother cat rests a delicately rendered animal skull—a memento mori that subtly reminds the viewer of life’s fragility and the lingering echoes of wartime loss. Signed “W. McC” in the lower right, this piece combines emotional warmth, symbolist depth, and postwar resilience, embodying McCance’s evolution from angular modernism to philosophical tenderness. 🎨 Composition & Technique McCance’s mastery is evident in the sculptural impasto, expressive brushwork, and elegant structure of the composition. The mother cat’s body forms a soft diagonal arc that leads the viewer’s gaze across the canvas—from the intimate grouping of kittens to the pale skull, then outward through the curtained window toward spring's light. The colour palette evokes renewal and restraint: Warm siennas and deep umbers define the feline forms Velvety greens and greys anchor the interior Hints of blue and lavender emerge at the window, suggesting transition and hope There is both emotional immediacy and allegorical complexity in the work—a perfect fusion of Modernist structure and humanist sensitivity. 🧾 Provenance & Exhibition History This original painting is from the Estate of William McCance, acquired via a reputable Scottish auction (label verso), and curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD. It has been exhibited at: Reading Museum and Art Gallery, Reading (1960) Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh (1990) Lord Hill Museum, July 2025 📌 Dimensions Framed: 60 cm (W) x 50.5 cm (H) x 3.5 cm (D) 🖋 About the Artist William McCance was a pioneering figure in British Modernism. Trained at the Glasgow School of Art, he began with Vorticist and Cubist influences before shifting to a more reflective, lyrical mode. As a conscientious objector in WWI, his values of peace, renewal, and humanism increasingly shaped his later work. Alongside his wife, wood engraver Agnes Miller Parker, McCance cultivated a body of art marked by quiet symbolism and moral clarity. His works have sold for over $68,000 USD at auction. ✅ Why Collect This Piece? Signed original by a key figure in Scottish Modernism Postwar symbolism of life, loss, and renewal Museum-exhibited, with impeccable provenance A rare, tender subject rendered with quiet power Ideal for collectors of 20th-century Modernist or Symbolist works Rich with narrative—a timeless allegory in paint 📬 Questions? Message us anytime—we’re happy to help. 🔎 Explore more treasures in our gallery: Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
measurements
Height:
50.5 cm
Width:
60 cm
Depth:
3.5 cm
declaration
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD has clarified that the Oil Painting Spring 1947 By William McCance | Cat, Kittens & Postwar Symbolism (LA541242) is genuinely of the period declared with the date/period of manufacture being 1947
condition
📦 Condition & Shipping The painting remains in acceptable condition for its age, with vibrant pigment and no visible restoration. Some edge wear, craquelure, and foxing are present, consistent with age. Framed in a later contemporary wood frame, with some light surface scuffing.
additional info
location
This Oil Painting Spring 1947 By William McCance | Cat, Kittens & Postwar Symbolism is located in Greater London, United Kingdom
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