Page 22 - pp-Suter-Miscellany

A Suter tour de force: a vase with a bouquet of flowers,
with insects and birds

The “bouquet and vase” mount corresponds exactly
with the entry in Suter’s 1900 catalogue:

“Exceedingly fine Bouquet with Vase, richly
ornamented with Butterflies and Birds”.

Priced at three pounds sterling, a considerable sum for
the time, it is a great rarity: how many have survived
beyond this family heirloom is unknown. The dealer
who acquired the paintbox made vague mention of
“exhibitions”, but no details have been forthcoming. It
is possible that Suter exhibited paintings locally either
when he was still in inner London, or later in
Tottenham (or both). But his finest art work, on
surviving evidence, is the “bouquet and vase”: it entails
as much skill as any watercolour (and more complex
specialist expertise).

A man of piety