Largest bottle of single malt in the world!

In our Rare and Collectable Whisky, Wine and Port auction that took place last week we were extremely fortunate to have this Tomintoul 14 year old 105.3L bottle of single malt go under the hammer - the largest in the world!


Lot 832: Tomintoul Single Malt Whisky

For the size of the bottle it was no surprise that it was estimated to go for at least £100,000, but with 105.3 Litres of single malt whisky it is definitely worth it. Created by The Clockhouse Restaurant and The Whisky Castle in Timontoul, it gained accreditation from The Guinness World Records for being the largest bottle of Single Malt in the world in 2009.



The bottle was on display at The Whisky Experience in Edinburgh, standing at 4ft 9ins it took 14 people to fill and close it, according to the BBC.

This video, sourced from YouTube, shows how the massive whisky bottle was filled.

Sadly the bottle never reached its estimate and has been returned to its owner. Steven McGinty, our whisky valuer commented: "It was unique but I'm not going to say I was disappointed because it will earn what the owners wanted under different circumstances. Today just wasn't the day when somebody felt inclined to bid for it." (The Herald)

For more auction results have a look on our website.

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Be Inspired By McTears

We trust that your Christmas shopping is well under way, and some of you may be smug enough to have yours completely finished! However, if you have been struggling to decide what to get that special someone, McTear’s have an abundance of exciting lots coming up that are sure to put a smile on your loved one’s face this Christmas!


Lot 1114

We have this beautiful nine carat gold charm bracelet with a boot, lantern and coffee charm- a very thoughtful present that can be personalised with charms to suit anyone. This is estimated between £250 and £350, and is coming up in lot 1114 in our Fine Jewellery auction.


Lot 1245

Keeping with fine jewellery, we have this truly stunning size T diamond cluster ring in lot 1245, estimated between £3500 and £4500. The central brilliant cut diamond in approximately 1.4 carats and is surrounded by brilliant cut diamonds of approximately 2.2 carats.

Lot 1389

If you need a present for someone, who isn't flash, but appreciates class and quality, you certainly cannot go wrong with lot 1389. These pearl earrings with a diamond stud are simple yet stunning. This is estimated between £2200 and £2800.


Lot 978

Now now now, lot 978 is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any whisky lover. This lot is estimated between £80 and £120, includes a collection; Glenfiddich Special Old Reserve Single Speyside Malt whisky, Teacher’s Highland Cream Blended Scotch Whisky, Castle Pride Blended Scotch Whisky, Chivas Regal 12 year old Blended Scotch Whisky and Scottish Island Malt Whisky Liqueur by The Melldalloch Liqueur Company.

Check out what else we have in our upcoming auctions here or even get gift vouchers here for those slightly more 'choosy' loved ones!

History of Rolex... 'Inextricably linked to the visionary spirit of Hans Wilsdorf, its founder'

With a selection of fabulous Rolex watches going under the hammer in this weeks Watches and Coins auction, we thought it would be interesting to delve into the history of these world renowned timepieces.

The history of Rolex stems back to 1905 when the ‘visionary spirit’ of Hans Wilsdorf, its founder, evolved the idea of a watch being worn on the wrist. His vision, originating in London, saw that wristwatches had the potential to have more than just a functionality purpose; they could become both ‘elegant’ and ‘reliable’.

1908 saw the creation of the name and the brand as we know it today, Rolex. ‘Genius in five letters’ is how they described it. Having a name that was easily recognisable and transferable into different cultures and languages but what also looked attractive on the watch.

1910 saw Rolex’s first achievement. Their attention to detail and exceptionally precise timepiece granted them the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision by the Official Watch Rating Centre. Then 1914 saw another achievement for Rolex when they were awarded a class “A” precision certificate and from then on Rolex were indistinguishable with perfectionism.


An example of an Oyster wrist watch in our Watches and Coins auction.

In 1926 and 1927 Rolex formed the waterproof watch and to justify this functionality they ventured on a ‘cross channel challenge’ and after a 10 hour swim the watch was still in pristine condition resulting in their claim shifting to proof.

Continuing with their innovation, 1953 saw the ‘pioneering watches being developed’ which included watches intended for professional services. Watches included ‘The Explorer’ for human adventure, ‘The Submariner’ for deep sea diving, ‘The GMT- Master’ for airline pilots, ‘The Oyster Perpetual Milgauss’ for the scientific community and many more in the years to come. In 1976, to celebrate 50 years of the Oyster, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise were launched to honour individuals who have the bravery and ambition to commence major challenges.

In 1985 Rolex went on to become the watch making brand to pioneer the use of 904L in their steel watches. The 21st century conceived the 4130 movement exclusively by Rolex which contains just 290 components, far less that a standard chronograph therefore enhancing the stylish, timeless and simplistic watches.


Another example of their precision in this 18 carat gold ladies wrist watch.

The most recent thing to happen, in ties with Rolex’s long history of sporting, Rolex entered into partnership with Formula 1 Racing as their Official Timekeeper and Official Timepiece.

Their history, timeless attention to detail and chronograph precision has meant that Rolex today remains the watch that people desire to have.

Information sourced from the Rolex website. Read more here Rolex History.

Our Watches and Coins auction tonight at 5pm features the above watches and plenty more 'timeless' pieces that may catch your eye. 

Ready to Bid and Buy at McTear's

Time to start to your Christmas shopping for your nearest and dearest, and why not start at McTear’s Auctioneers? There is much to be appreciated in next week's auctions, have a look at only a few of our favourite Lots coming up.

First up, we have this George IV silver and cut crystal six bottle cruet set in Lot 1, estimated between £250-£350. A cruet set is a collection of small containers to hold condiments such as oil, mustard, vinegar and pepper. The shape of each cruet is specific to the condiment it is designed to hold. This could be a very stunning addition to your next dinner party... Forget the fine china, let the George IV silver and cut crystal cruet set to the talking! Also, this precious set is a sparking feature for your sideboard decoration! Watch out for this on Tuesday 12th November in our Silver Auction, and see what else it has to offer here.


LOT 1

Next up in Lot 130, we have this 14 piece Irish Belleek porcelain shamrock tea service set… a grand way to serve up tea to visitors. Belleek is an Irish village in Country Fermanagh which has been producing much desired pottery for over 155 years. See what else is in our British and Continental Ceramics and Glass Auction on Tuesday 12th November here.

LOT 130

Tune in to Lot 355 for this 19th Century Hagspiel Figured Walnut Baby Grand Piano. This is a beautiful feature to warm up a room with the wonderful aesthetics it produces. Estimated between £300 and £500, this is sure to be a popular Lot for keen bidders. See more included in our Furniture , Clocks and Works of Art Auction on Tuesday 12th November here.

LOT 355 

Time for some bling, with Lot 1051 offering up this glamorous Lady’s 18ct Gold Rolex Date Just Wrist Watch, with diamond dot numerals. Do you know a very lucky lady who deserves this striking watch? The watch is estimated between £5000 and £7000… Christmas is just around the corner! See what else we have in our Watches and Coins on Wednesday 13th November auction here

LOT 1051

See our other upcoming auctions that week, our catalogues are ready for viewing;

Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine & Port Auction on Wednesday 13th November at 10.30am

Fine Jewellery Auction Wednesday 13th November at 6 pm

The Scottish Pictures Auction Thursday 14th November at 6pm

Diamonds shine on...

It is a known saying that ‘Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend’ and to most ladies this is very true. But, what is it about the dazzling piece of jewellery that makes it so special?

First, let’s appreciate this stunning, dazzling diamond that is expected to become the world’s most expensive and valued jewel.


Source: The Daily Mail: £40m diamond set to become worlds most expensive jewel

The 56.90 carat 'Pink Star' is set to go for over £40million at a Sotheby’s auction next month in Geneva. According to BBC news the diamond, which was mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999, has received the highest possible colour and clarity rating from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) so it is no surprise that there will be such a demand for this beautiful gem.

The name diamond comes from the Greek word "adamas", meaning indestructible, which embodies and portrays the toughness of the gem. The 4 C's, carat, cut, colour and clarity are the 4 descriptive characteristics of the gemstone and for being as beautiful as diamonds are, it is hard to believe that it really is quite a simple material of pure carbon. The sophistication of the cut and polish are what makes diamonds truly stand out and 'shine'.

The most common use for a diamond today would probably be the engagement ring. We have a romantic Austrian aristocrat, Archduke Maximilian, to thank for this when he decided to give his fiancée a diamond ring when he proposed to her in 1477 (Source: The Independent). However it has always been custom to wear the ring on the left index finger as it is thought that this is where a vein leads directly to the heart... How romantic!

There is not doubt that diamonds are a desirable piece of jewellery with timeless style and elegance. The example above just shows the exceptional value of diamonds, not only in their beauty, but their sheer quality and distinctions.

McTear's may not have a diamond quite as spectacular as the 'Pink Star', but there might be something that catches your eye in our Fine Jewellery auction on the 13th November 2013.

Whisky Hammer Highlights Worldwide... Wow!

Now that you are an expert from reading our previous blog 'A Guide to Whisky for the Non-Whisky Connoisseur', this one follows well… It is a well known appreciation, especially of us Scots to occasionally enjoy a glass of our finest export- whiskey!

Here is a list of some of the most expensive whiskies in the world- we are sure it will be no surprise where the origins of the best whiskies come from, because let's face it, we Scots for it best!

1. Macallan 1946 – £285,000


Macallan 1946

This single malt whisky in a LaliqueCire Perdue decanter was auctioned in 2010, with the proceeds going to charity. It is particularly unusual because it was made with peated malt due to the then-prohibitive coal prices that shot up because of World War II. This is a classic Macallan and one of the best ever released.


2. Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve 1955 – £58,000


Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve 1955

Glenfiddich had a barrel of Scotch whisky aging since New Year’s Eve of 1955. When the granddaughter of Glenfiddich’s founder William Grant, Janet Sheed Roberts, passed away, the company honoured her by making 15 bottles from the barrel. Four bottles were kept by the family and 11 were sent to auction. A whisky connoisseur from Atlanta bought one of them for $94,000. The whisky has been recognised for its floral, fruity and sweet taste.

3. Macallan 1926 – £46,500

Macallan 1926

The oldest in Macallan’s fine and rare collection, this single malt was distilled in 1926 and bottled in to 40 in 1986. The blend is dry and concentrated with no water added. The colour reflects that of the old barrel. It was purchased in 2005 by a South Korean man.


4. Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch Matheson – £36,000

Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch Matheson

This is a blend of four single malt whiskies distilled in different years. Only 12 bottles were made in 1942, each of which was given individual names relevant to the Dalmore Estate. The most expensive was the Matheson, named after Alexander Matheson, the estate owner. It was purchsded in 2005 by an anonymous buyer who quickly opened it and drank it with five friends.


5. Glenfiddich 1937 – £12,400


Glenfiddich 1937

This is from Glenfiddich’s Rare Collection. It was distilled in Scotland in 1937 and left to age. The barrel was then opened and made into 61 bottles in 2001. The whisky is said to have a rich walnut colour with hints of cedar, cinnamon, cloves and toffee. The bottle was auctioned for charity in 2006, in New York.

Please note that all above prices have all been converted from dollars and simplified. These are some lavish hammer prices, see what Hammer Highlights we had at McTear's recently, where the great whisky buying interest has led to bottles of Scotland's finest winging their way to all corners of the globe.

McTear's next whisky auction is one the Department is already looking forward to and preparations are already underway. Join the global whisky audience at 10.30am on 13th November for more collectable and drinkable whisky in our Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine & Port Auction. Furthermore, to discuss selling or buying whisky, wine and other spirits at McTear's, please contact specialists Stephen McGinty or Dominic Hughes on 0141 810 2880 or email stephern@mctears.co.uk ordominic@mctears.co.uk.

The Lord Provost's lunch in aid of the STV Appeal!

Who was lucky enough to be at the Lord Provost's lunch at Glasgow City Chambers this weekend?

Another event to fundraise money for The STV Appeal 2013 took place this weekend with great success raising £26,000 for the appeal. Our Brian from McTear's was there on the day helping out with the gavel. Over £2000 was paid for a Gerard Burns painting and £500 for a tour of STV with Sean Batty.



All in all it was a fantastic afternoon and with The STV Appeal 2013's live show happening this Friday it was another great contribution and fundraising event for the cause.

Get ready to bid once again...

5 weeks have nearly past and once again McTear's are busy getting ready for next week's dedicated auctions.

Kicking off our 3 days will be the Asian Works of Art auction with ceramics, metalwork and furniture dedicated to rare and collectable objects from Asia including China, Japan and India. An example of one of these fine pieces is this beautiful Japanese Sumo Tegata from the 1981 sumo league, featuring hand prints and signatures of Kurohimeyama, Takamiyama and Chiyonofuji.


Lot 125 Estimate: £1500- £1600

McTear's will then give you the chance to bid on some fantastic items in our clocks, musical and scientific instruments auction including long case clocks, telescopes, violins and more. This unique and eye-catching Junghans Spelter mantel clock is just an example of what's to come in this auction.


Lot 349 Estimate: £120-£180

As with every block of dedicated auctions, we will be hosting our Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine and Port auction with roughly 500 lots going under the hammer. It's hard to single out specific lots in this auction as there is such a variety, however this one caught our eye. Highland Park1958 Singal Island Malt Whisky (700ml and 44% volume) with decanter and commemorative book in wooden box is set to go under the hammer for an estimate of £800-£1000.


Lot 700 Estimate: £800-£100

Whether you want to treat yourself or someone else we have the auction for you. McTear's Fine Jewellery auction will give you the chance to bid on approximately 300 lots beautiful jewellery. For example this stunning ring would be a fantastic gift with Christmas coming up. The unusual Pearl and Diamond dress ring set with a row of graduated diamonds, flanked by two spherical pearls (size P)is estimated to go for £400-£600.


Lot 1227 Estimate: £400-£600

This is just a small selection of what we have coming up next week in our auctions. Starting on Tuesday the 8th and finishing on the 13th of October with The Scottish Contemporary Art auction, it's a week of auctions not to be missed.

Asian Works of Art - Tuesday 8th October 10.30am

Clocks, Musical & Scientific Instruments - Tuesday 8th October 6pm

Furniture, Works of Art & Collectables - Tuesday 8th October 7pm

Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine & Port - Wednesday 9th October 10.30am

Watches & Coins - Wednesday 9th October 5pm

Fine Jewellery - Wednesday 9th October 6pm

The British & International Pictures Auction - Thursday 10th October 6pm

The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction (Sunday) - Sunday 13th October 2pm

Sir Tom Hunter Donates Painting Valued at £35,000 to STV Appeal 2013

Sir Tom Hunter, a Scottish philanthropist, has donated an original painting, 'Night-Time Rituals II', by Jack Vettriano to be auctioned at McTear’s Auctioneers in support of the STV Appeal 2013.


Kelvingrove Art Gallery

Sir Tom Hunter, a trustee of the STV Appeal, comments: "I'm delighted to donate this stunning piece of art in support of the STV Appeal. This is your chance to buy an original work by Jack Vettriano and to change the lives of children blighted by poverty, so dig deep and help the STV Appeal."

Artist Jack Vettriano supports this donation saying that he would “encourage any potential bidders to follow his example by bidding as generously as they can in the knowledge all funds will go to the STV Appeal, which was set up to address a hugely important issue for Scotland."

Vettriano adds, “Night-time Rituals, explores a theme to which I like to return from time to time – it’s about creating an atmosphere of anticipation and indulging in those rare moments where all your senses collide.”

Interested bidders can view the painting at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, where it is displayed until the 10th October 2013.

The sale of the painting is from McTear's Gallery 1842 online bidding auction. Bidding has started and will end during the live STV Appeal show, hosted by Lorraine Kelly, on Friday 11th October. So why not have a look and get involved? Get yourself a new fine piece of art for a fantastic cause!

The STV Appeal helps children and young people in Scotland who are affected by poverty, as there are still 220,000 children living in poverty today, and was launched by STV and The Hunter Foundation in 2011.

A Guide to Whisky... For the Non-Whisky Connoisseur

Whisky is Scotland's biggest export, and can possess a huge value for just one bottle, and a fine bottle at that... but do you understand the malt madness?

We are not trying to convert you to becoming a whisky connoisseur in a single blog, but just want to introduce you to some of the 'lingo', facts and history to help you appreciate the value of this fine Scottish produce.

Whisky distillation has been associated strongly with monks in Scotland from between 1100 to1300, as well as with our Irish friends making it difficult to determine the exact origin. However, although whisky is produced throughout the world today, it is strongly recognised that the Scots should be proud to be the best- of course!

 Whisky is from the Gaelic term 'uisge beatha', which means 'water of life!' It was originally used in the  medical field for the purpose of an internal anesthetic and an external antibiotic, and is still multipurpose today from curing toothache, to cooking or simply enjoying as a relaxing beverage hot or cold.

Scotch whisky, is one that has been wholly matured in oak casks in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years by a licensed distillery. Malt Scotch whisky is made from barley, water and yeast and follows 5 distinct stages:
1. Malting, to convert barley to malt.
2. Mashing, to produce wort from ground malt.
3. Fermentation, to produce a weak impure spirit walled wash, upon the introduction of yeast.
4. Distillation, to strengthen and purify the spirit in the wash and remove solids.
5. Maturation, to transform the raw spirit into whisky.

The main factors influencing the flavours and aromas of a Single Malt varying by distillery include; the barley, the water, the landscape (whisky allows you to detect particular heather, sea and mountains), the craft, and the oak cask.

The length of fermentation effects the overall flavour of the spirit; a short fermentation time (two days) tends to produce a nutty, spicy, flavour, but four days can help create a light spirit, and is one of the factors in delivering a smoother tasting whisky as well as its fruity flavours. Scotch whisky is typically distilled twice in copper stills. The size, shape and number of stills have a big influence on the taste, due to the spirit’s interaction with the copper. Generally, the more the spirit interacts with the copper in the still, the lighter the spirit. Maturation has a major impact on the final character of a Single Malt. The whisky is matured in oak casks to remove harsh tastes and to allow a variety of flavours and aromas from the wood to interact with the spirit. Sweeter and fruitier notes tend to be formed from European oak casks to produce a darker coloured spirit, whereas American oak tends to form sweet vanilla and coconut notes.

 It takes three years in the cask for the spirit to be legally titled as Scotch whisky, however classic malts need longer to develop the single malt whiskies that truly embody the locations from which they are come.
 There are four whisky-producing regions in Scotland. They are; Highlands, Islands, Lowlands and Speyside. They offer flavours that are hugely diverse:

The Scotch Whisky Regions

Highland malts, cover a variety within this region’s malt whiskies. Broadly speaking, these malts are warm and rounded with spicy notes.
Island malts, define whiskies from Scotland's islands. They use peat rather than wood as a fuel to malt barley. This smokiness is clear with a peaty nose and flavour to match.
Lowland malts, are fresh with floral and cereal aromas and have a lighter body and colour.
Speyside malts, are often complex, offering fruity and floral flavours with hints of green apples and citrus notes.

 On another 'note'... Irish whiskeys (notice the different spelling) differ from Scotch whisky because it is typically distilled three times and also it is uncommon for peat to be used in making Irish whiskey. This is thought to make a smoother, more approachable drink than many Scotch whiskies. The US whiskey industry has not got the same heritage as the Irish and Scottish industries. Approximately a third of American whiskeys are produced as bourbon. Bourbon must contain at least 51% American corn. The balance is made of a combination of malted barley, wheat or rye, and must be aged for at least two years in new charred America white oak barrels.

  McTear's is world famous for auctions of Fine & Rare Whisky, holding several world records in the sale of whisky. There is an international demand for the expertise of McTear’s specialist so the annual calendar has seen an increase from four auctions to ten. Our next Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine & Port Auction is on Wednesday 9th October 2013- come along to show off your expertise!

 Keep up to date with us on Twitter and Facebook also... Cheers!

Pedal for Scotland 2013... We Did It!

Monday was a great day with achievements all round as we completed and survived the Pedal for Scotland (Official)! We may not have completed it in a record time, but we all completed it on the same day!
Thank you so much to everyone who donated. Now that we've completed it, can anyone donate more? We would love to get to £2000!! Visit http://www.justgiving.com/mctears. Almost £1400 has already been paid to the STV Appeal, lets make it more, please!

Exceedingly Good Auctions at McTear's

We are slipping in to September with a successful string of auctions to start the month. McTear's held a number of special auctions at the beginning of the month, which showed numerous Lots exceeding their estimated prices due to the keen interest of our eager bidders.

Below we have some particular highlights of Lots where bidders showed their keen interest in certain items;

This Lot 1717 canvas of 'Returning Home' in the Scottish Pictures Auction held on 5th September 2013 was painted by Tom Scott (1854-1927), a Scottish artist. Tom Scott is best known for his watercolours of Selkirk and the Scottish Borders, a few examples of his oil paintings have appeared at auction over the past 30 years and others are known to be in notable private collections. This early work is signed 'T Scott', a slight variation from his usual 'Tom Scott' and is housed in an outstanding Barbizon frame which reflects the style of the work. This beautiful canvas was estimated at £1000-£2000, however this was exceeded by £200, to £2200 by a keen bidder who now hosts the Scottish artwork in his home.


Lot 1717

Next up, we had Lot 1313. This lucky Lot exceeded it's estimate by £190. It is a continental judgendstil silver enamel pendant decorated with pink enamel daisies within a foliate design, having mirrors in the interior. Estimated at £100-£150, the unique pendant sold for £340.


Lot 1313

The Watches and Coins auction on 4th September showed numerous generous hammer prices... namely Lot 1019, for the 18 carat gold pocket watch with white enamel dial. This pocket watch was estimated at £400-£600, but the special accessory gained strong interest with the final hammer price being over double the estimate- £1300!


Lot 1019

A special mention also goes to Lot 603. This Macallan 1946 Select Reserve Single Speyside malt Scotch whisky was auctioned in the Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine and Port auction on Wednesday 4th September. This single malt has been aged for 52 years and came in a wooden presentation box. There is no doubt that this is one of our most competitive auctions for the fine connoisseurs out there. This Lot was estimated at £2800-£3200, but the winning connoisseur paid £800 above the estimate- a hammer price of £4000 ... ready for a very special occasion!


Lot 603

Have a look at some of the other auction results on our website.

Do you feel inspired to get some exceedingly good auction results? Read up on How to Sell at Auction and try using TextIt or What's It Worth to find out if you have something worth bringing to auction.

Keep an eye on our next upcoming auctions here.

Extravagant Artwork Auctions

At McTear's, we auction many fabulous and extravagant pieces of art which are valued by our experts. Our bidders really have an eye and appreciation for beautiful, interesting and inspirational artwork, but how much would you pay for some of the world's most sought-after artwork?

Have a look at some of the below artwork by famous artists, which have had their hammers crashing down at humongous sums of money - perhaps some of the masterpieces you own will be the same in a few years!


Nu au Plateau de Sculpteur, Pablo Picasso

Nu au Plateau de Sculpteur translates to 'Nude, Green Leaves and Bust' by the well known Impressionist artist, Pablo Picasso. It was painted in just one day in March 1932. By 2010, this painting was auctioned for $106, 500,00. Wow, not bad for a day's work!


Portrait of Dr. Gachet, Vincent van Gogh

This painting is by the very well known Dutch Impressionist artist, Van Gogh. He painted two similar versions of this portrait, one of which can be viewed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the other which was purchased by Ryoei Saito, a business man from Japain for just $82.5 million... JUST?!


Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer, Gustav Klimt

The above is a 'Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer', painted by Gustav Klimt in 1907. By 2006, the painting was selling in auction for $135,000,000, to the cosmetics heir Ronald S. Lauder.
Interestingly, this sale came after a court order placed by the Austrian government, to return it to the artist's heir after many years disputing that the painting had been stolen by Nazi's in World War II - Quite some attention and adventure for one painting!


The Scream, Edvard Munch

One of four that exist, this most vibrant version of the original iconic image created by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch sold at auction in May 2012 for almost $120,000,000.

The 19th century image, portraying what the artist called "the great scream in nature" soon became the subject of countless parodies throughout the 20th century and, today, remains on a par with Da Vinci's Mona Lisa as one of the most recognised images in the world.

Keep up to date with the pieces of our more affordable artwork up for auction on our website, and also see our Facebook and Twitter to ensure you hear everything first... or even have some artwork you own valued by us to see what you could get at auction.

Eh... So What IS Contemporary Art?

This is a question that isn't asked often enough. This is something that we all assume everyone knows, and should know by telepathic means because you wouldn't want to ask a "silly" question at an art function.

The answer can be complicated with tangents into understanding the study of many “isms” in six decades of art. But the simple answer is... Contemporary just means "art that has been and continues to be created during our lifetimes". This means it is contemporary to us, today!

So, what is the difference in contemporary art and modern art?

Modern art is art created in and around 1860 to around 1970. This is when artists such as 'The Impressionists', including Vincent Van Gogh, began to challenge the traditional academic view of art and started to look at the world differently.


Vincent van Gogh, Country road in Provence by Night, 1889

And Post-modern art?

Contemporary art includes, and develops from Post-modern art, which is itself a successor of Modern art. It is within our lifetime, particularly the last twenty years. Contemporary artists use a variety of materials and techniques and technologies such as computers to produce their work.

To explore further... The term of contemporary art does not necessarily commit to a particular style, however contemporary artists can express themselves and respond to social issues in a way that previous artists couldn't. Often today's artists work in and respond to a global environment that is culturally diverse, technologically advancing, and multifaceted. They can work in various mediums and often reflect on modern-day society.

When engaging with contemporary art, onlookers should set aside questions like, "Is a work of art good?" or "Is the work aesthetically pleasing?" Instead, they should consider if it is "challenging" or "interesting." Contemporary artists may question traditional views of art definitions, what art is, and how art is made, while creating a dialogue with, and in fact sometimes rejecting previous the styles and movements.

Here are some of our upcoming contemporary art works- notice the varying styles.

Lot 1837: Laetitia Guildbaud, Guiness Babe, acrylic on canvas, estimated at £300 - £500.



Lot 1837

Lot 2022: Paul Bloomer, Bigton Sunset, oil on canvas, estimated at £300 - £500.


Lot 2022

Lot 1851: James Fullarton, The War Memorial, Saltcoats, acrylic on board. Estimated at £200 - £500.


Lot 1851

Come along and view our Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on Sunday 4th August at 2pm, to form your own impressions on contemporary art- especially now that you are an expert- or just come along to get your hands on a nice new picture that would look great your wall!

What's Coming Up in McTear's End of July Auctions?

From 30th July until 4th August, we have 8 auctions for you to get bidding in. These include auctions of Asian Works of Art, Furniture, Works of Art & Collectables, Clocks, Scientific and Musical Instruments, Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine & Port, Watches & Coins, Fine Jewellery, International Pictures, and Scottish Contemporary Art.
We have an interesting piece in our Asian Works of Art auction; our Lot 39 Chinese Wooden Wedding Basket is rich in legacy and tradition and still used to this day. The basket is traditionally customized and filled with a wedding gift to give to the bride and groom. They are traditionally red in colour, as this colour symbolises joy and love... a pretty and practical addition to your home, but we are not sure you would want to give it away?


Lot 39

In our Furniture, Works of Art and Collectables Auction, Lot 400 brings 19th Century Pewter Scottish communion tokens. They were a token issued to members of Presbyterian churches to provide them entrance to the Lord’s supper. John Calvin first recommended Communion tokens with the intent that no unworthy person would be admitted to the communion service. Overtime, with church acculturation and rising liberal theology, the tokens became unfavourable as some people viewed the church discipline as unfashionable and judgemental, and communion became considered more of a means of grace than reward.


Lot 400

Finally, keeping in theme with the recent news of the birth of the Royal Baby, George Alexander Louis, we wanted to highlight the upcoming pen and ink drawing by Scottish artist Hannah Frank (1908-2008) in Lot 1667 'There was once a King's Son - The Garden of Paradise' in our Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on Sunday 4th August. Hannah Frank was born in Glasgow and attended Glasgow School of art. Her unique contemporary style of elongated black and white figures have been described as having a medieval romanticism and melancholy air bearing her instantly recognisable stamp.


Lot 1667

See below for further information on our auctions and browse our catalogues to find yourself more unique and wonderful pieces to get bidding on:

Asian Works of Art -Tuesday 30th July 2013

Furniture, Works of Art & Collectables- Tuesday 30th July 2013

Clocks, Scientific and Musical Instruments- Tuesday 30th July 2013

Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine & Port- Wednesday 31st July 2013

Watches & Coins- Wednesday 31st July 2013

Fine Jewellery- Wednesday 31st July 2013

The International Pictures Auction- Thursday 1st August 2013

The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction- Sunday 4th August 2013

A Taste of Scotland at McTear's

With July's special auctions just around the corner we are reflecting on some of the Scottish highlights from our June's special auctions... We have something for all 'tastes' at McTear's!

The Scottish Picture Auction on Thursday 27th June, offered a selection of pictures from Scotland's best known artists from the last 200 years. This favourable auction brings great interest and keen bidders. In particular, the signed oil canvas, named 'Girl With Ducks' from the Scottish Artist Annie Muirhead Paterson (1847-1947), will make a beautiful Scottish contribution to the successful bidder who won this canvas for the bid of £1700. Look out for our International Pictures Auction on Thursday, 1 August 2013 at 06:00 PM.


Lot 1706

From the traditional, to the more modern and 'interesting' type of artwork... The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction held on Sunday 30th June added a splash of unique taste. Check out the bird in this oil canvas titled 'The Voyagers' by John Bellany. This exquisite piece had a hammer price of £4800, and will certainly be a feature in the winning bidder's home. Our next Scottish Contemporary Art Auction is on Sunday, 4 August 2013 at 02:00 PM.


Lot 1706

JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA THE VOYAGERS oil on canvas

Back to Scottish tradition, on Wednesday 26th June at McTear's, this 1938 Single Highland malt whisky, 'The MacAllan' in a branded wooden box, estimated between £2000 and £3000 went under the hammer for an amazing £3400- just one of numerous fantastic bids in our 'Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine and Port' Auction. We are sure this will be saved for a more than very special occasion!


Lot 572

Also, watch out for our other upcoming auctions:
Asian Works of Art Auction on Tuesday, 30 July 2013 at 10:30 AM
Clocks, Scientific and Musical Instruments Auction on Tuesday, 30 July 2013 at 06:00 PM
Furniture, Works of Art and Collectables Auction on Tuesday 30 July 2013 at 07:00 PM
Watches and Coins Auction on Wednesday 31 July 2013 at 05:00 PM
Fine Jewellery Auction on Wednesday 31 July 2013 at 06:00 PM

View our website, 'like' us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with McTear's.

Get Your Morton F.C. Jersey When the Full Time Whistle Blows!

Get your Greenock Morton F.C. jersey in McTear's exclusive‘timed bidding’ auction after the Peter Weatherson Testimonial match, in  Gallery1842.

 Greenock Morton Football Club were established in 1874, and now are one of the oldest Scottish senior Football Clubs. With almost 140 years on the pitch, Morton are a club with a great history of achievements... and a great collection of jerseys to go with it!

  Greenock Morton play St Johnstone in Cappie Low Park on Saturday 13th July at 3pm in their Peter Weatherson Testimonial Match. We at McTear's are auctioning every jersey worn by the Morton Players this Saturday, at full time of their match- some of which are individually autographed or even autographed by the whole team.


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 With bids beginning at only £50, this is a great opportunity to get your hands on a piece of blue and white Morton history, or treat someone who you know is part of their very loyal fan base!

 All proceeds from this auction will be going to the Peter Weatherson Testimonial Fund to reward this player for his contribution to Greenock Morton Football Club.

 Get bidding before the full-time hammer drops!

Job opportunity for an experienced Credit Controller

McTear’s Auctioneers has an excellent opportunity for an experienced Credit Controller to join our highly successful organisation.

The candidate will have the following responsibilities:

·         Managing day to day collection of cash and reconciliations,
·         Managing  large sales and Debtors ledgers,
·         Contacting customers by email, telephone and post to collect overdue invoices,
·         Management of client accounts,
·         Investigating and resolving invoice and customer enquiries
·         Maintaining records and collating information to report to the financial controller.
·         General administration and accounting tasks,


The ideal candidate will have:

·         Minimum of 12 months credit control experience,
·         Ability to work on their own initiative and as part of a team,
·         Good  Excel and report writing knowledge and experience,
·         Confidence, resilience and excellent verbal and written communication skills for chasing debt.
·         An understanding of external credit reference agency reports and setting credit limits would be advantageous.


Salary   - £DOE
This is  a part time post 3 days per week.


The position is available immediately, so early application is advised.

Please send a copy of your CV with a covering letter to lynette@mctears.co.uk

Magda and Brian take to the Radio...

Magda and Brian were our nominated experts on Ally Bally's nationwide AM network mid morning radio show on Tuesday morning.



Magda is pictured here taking calls with questions on values of Asian Works of Art along with almost anything else! It was an extremely busy switchboard today.

We'll be back on next month so make sure you listen out for them and feel free to call in with your questions!

Prohibition Era Special Old Reserve...

What a great few days of auctions we had in June and we are now busy getting ready for our July auctions.

In our Whisky auction in particular we have this Prohibition Era Special Old Reserve. This was bottled by The American Medicinal Spirits company as a way around the prohibition era laws regarding alcohol. Will be coming up in our 31st July Whisky auction.



Keep an eye on our website for information and online catalogues for our other auctions happening at the end of the month.

Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and visit our website to keep up to date with what McTear's are up to.

Coming up in June...

Over the week beginning 24th of June we will have a total of 9 auctions including Fine Jewellery, Rare and Collectable Whisky, Wine and Port, Silver including Scottish Provincial and The Scottish Contemporary art auction.

Who thought the day would come that we would be auctioning a genuine antique Fijian weapon of war? This unique weapon, with a tribal name 'Totokia', designed to drive a hole into the skull of the enemy was also believed to possess there own life force or ‘mana’, making them treasured objects in life or in death. They are highly sought after so we look forward to seeing what will happen in the Furniture, Clocks and works of art auction on Tuesday at 6pm.


Lot 364

Another lot coming up during the week will be the craftsmanship of Tain silver, made in Tain, Ross-shire. This particular piece, a pair of bud vases made by William Innes of Tain circa 1835 demonstrates the quality of Innes's work, from each delicately worked wavy rim to the chased foliate designs of each vase. It will be up for bidding on our Scottish Silver auction on Tuesday 25th at 10.30am.


Lot 7

Our Scottish Pictures auction on Thursday 27th at 6pm will also feature a beautiful item up for auction. This fine example of McTaggart’s mature oeuvre was painted in 1873 and 'The Sea Bird' is definitely one not to be missed in this upcoming auction.



Lot 1737

For more information on these auctions including the expected hammer prices, have a look at the online catalogues for each auction.

British & Continental Ceramics & Glass -   Tuesday 25th June
Silver including Scottish Provincial - Tuesday 25th June 
Furniture, Clocks & Works of Art - Tuesday 25th June
Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine & Port - Wednesday 26th June
Clocks, Watches and Coins - Wednesday 26th June
Fine Jewellery - Wednesday 26th June
Sports, Movie & Television Memorabilia - Thursday 27th June
The Scottish Pictures Auction - Thursday 27th June
The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction - Sunday 30th June