A collection of 27 original woodblocks hand-carved by British artists Eric Ravilious and Tirzah Garwood, dating from 1930 to 1950, was rescued from an eBay sale through collaboration between the artists' heirs and the Art Loss Register (ALR). The blocks, believed missing or stolen since the 1950s, were listed on eBay last summer, prompting the family—including daughter Anne Ullman and granddaughter Ella Ravilious—to contact the ALR to halt the sale. The blocks have now been catalogued and split between The Fry Art Gallery in Suffolk and Towner Eastbourne, where they are on public display.
The recovery matters because it reunites a significant trove of printmaking history with public collections, shedding light on the creative processes of two important British artists. Ravilious, the first British artist to die in active service during WWII, has seen rising market interest, while Garwood recently had a solo show at Dulwich Picture Gallery. The blocks, described as "missing pieces" that reveal the making of many prints, offer unique insight into their craftsmanship and ensure these works are preserved and accessible for study and enjoyment.