Several works by Scottish-Italian artist Eduardo Paolozzi, gifted to his longtime collaborator and model maker Ray Hardinge Campbell Watson, are being auctioned at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh. The collection includes a bronze statue titled *Hermes/Mondrian Head – 1996* (estimate £10,000–£15,000), along with plaster sculptures, prints, and folio sets, many bearing personal inscriptions. The sale reflects a creative partnership that spanned over thirty years, during which Paolozzi and Watson collaborated on major projects such as the Tottenham Court Road murals for London Underground and a Pizza Express mural in the late 1960s.
This auction matters because it offers a rare glimpse into the intimate, collaborative process behind some of Paolozzi’s most iconic public works, highlighting the often-unseen contributions of model makers and assistants in the art world. The personal inscriptions and direct provenance from Watson’s collection add historical and emotional value, making the sale significant for collectors and scholars interested in postwar British sculpture and the dynamics of artistic friendship.