A Year of Exceptional Auctions

As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on and celebrate a successful year at McTear’s, marked by record-breaking auctions, remarkable lots and an ever-growing global community of buyers and sellers.

Over 40,000 lots went under the hammer in 143 auctions, with standout pieces in every area, from Scottish contemporary art, whisky and silver to watches, Asian art, British pictures and jewellery.

The sales calendar drew interest from around the world, with winning bidders hailing from 50 countries, reinforcing McTear’s reputation as a truly international auction house.

As Scotland’s leading player in the auction of Scottish Contemporary Art, McTear’s has sold thousands of important works by a host of internationally acclaimed artists, including John Bellany, Peter Howson, Jack Vettriano, George Wyllie, John Byrne, Steven Campbell, Jolomo and Gerard Burns, amongst many others.

In March, Bellany’s early masterpiece ‘The Players’ sold for £38,600, while the hugely respected late Paisley artist and playwright, John Byrne, featured in a number of auctions over the course of the year. A highlight was Byrne’s oil on board ‘The Stranger’, which achieved £13,000 following fierce bidding.

Another rare contemporary work, this time by acclaimed Dubai based artist Sacha Jafri, sold for £38,000 in May, while the Scottish Colourists featured prominently in McTear’s Scottish Pictures Auctions. George Leslie Hunter’s stunning oil on canvas ‘Villefranche-Sur-Mer’ was the highlight of the April catalogue, achieving an impressive £31,000.

The past year showed again why Scotland’s oldest whisky auctioneer is also one of the industry’s most respected. In October, a superb Macallan 1928 Anniversary Malt made its way from Hawaii to Glasgow, where it was purchased for £46,000 by a buyer from the United States, while in other auctions rare drams from Laphroaig, Highland Park, Springbank, Bowmore and other prestigious distilleries were carefully shipped to the collections of discerning buyers across the UK and overseas.

Diamonds were at the forefront of our monthly jewellery sales, with exquisite pendants, tennis bracelets and a fabulous £16,000 solitaire ring shining in the auction spotlight. Meanwhile, in August’s 19th & 20th Century Design auction, a quite remarkable mantel clock by Liberty designer Archibald Knox secured £36,000.

In 2024 the increasingly popular Sporting Medals & Trophies auction featured the largest and most comprehensive Celtic F.C. medal collection to ever come to auction, pinpointing key moments in the club’s history, whilst showcasing some of its most legendary names. Important Rangers F.C. and many other clubs and sports featured in this always-anticipated auction of sporting relics.

From a 400 lot £20,000 biscuit tin collection to an £85,000 gathering of rare whisky and the £31,000 collection of Glasgow antiques legend, Billy Clifford, McTear’s has continued to underline its expertise in the sale of single owner private collections.

We were also pleased to help raise much needed funds for a number of hugely deserving charities. This included the Special Wee Dram auction, raising funds for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, alongside our support of Marie Curie and our annual fundraising drive for Glasgow Women’s Aid.

As we conclude 2024, we would like to thank our loyal clients, consignors and bidders for making this year unforgettable. We look forward to 2025 with an excellent calendar of sales, ready to bring more rare and remarkable lots into the auction spotlight.

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We are pleased to present The January Sales - browse auction catalogues here >>

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Advice on selling art, antiques, jewellery, watches, coins, medals, instruments, toys and models, whisky and wine is free and without obligation, available at McTear’s, online and at your home. Entries are invited for all specialist sales. To discuss consigning to a McTear's auction, call 0141 810 2280, email auction@mctears.co.uk or visit mctears.co.uk. You can also contact a specialist by clicking here and completing the short form.