The Oysters (or Oysters/Still Life with Glass)
Original Etching Plate (Copper Intaglio Matrix) • Walter Richard Sickert (1860–1942)
Style & Movement
British Post-Impressionism / Camden Town Group influence
Medium & Technique
Etching on copper plate; hard-ground line work with visible foul-biting and plate tone in the recesses.
Creation Period
Circa 1923-1929
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 15 cm; Landscape format
Subject Description
A close-cropped still life composition featuring a pile of oysters in their shells arranged on a plate or platter, accompanied by a tall, footed drinking glass (likely an ale or absinthe glass) to the left. The scene evokes a gritty, urban domesticity typical of Sickert's interest in mundane interior life.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (as a matrix); showing oxidation and surface patination consistent with age and previous use for printing.
Estimated Market Value
$3,000 - $5,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$2,500 - $4,500 USD
Provenance History
Likely passed from the artist's estate or through a London print publisher such as Carfax & Co or Leicester Galleries. The presence of corner mounting holes suggests it was once displayed or secured for professional restrike purposes.
Art Historical Significance
Walter Sickert was a pivotal figure in transition from 19th-century Impressionism to 20th-century Modernism in Britain. His copper plates are rare artifacts that reveal his drawing speed and approach to line, influenced heavily by his mentor James Abbott McNeill Whistler.
Notable Features
The plate is shown in its raw copper state, meaning the image is laterally reversed compared to the final printed paper versions. The loose, vibratory line work is quintessential of Sickert's later, more economical graphic style.
Condition Issues
Visible oxidation (verdigris/tarnish), surface scratches, and four mounting holes drilled into the corners for display or mechanical securing; remnants of ink may remain in the etched grooves.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be kept in a low-humidity environment to prevent further corrosion. Recommend professional cleaning only by a metal conservator to remove active oxidation without dulling the etched lines. Use acid-free mounting if framed.
Collector Notes
Sickert