‘Lot 191, ‘The Homecoming’ by H.L. Pritchard.’
‘This sculpture in the classic Greek style, dating from 1918-19, in bronze. It depicts the artist being held in the arms of her fiancé, Private Graham Colquhoun.’
‘Ms. Pritchard was inspired to create this work after watching soldiers returning from the First World War being greeted by wives, fiancées and loved ones at Euston Station one evening. Expecting her fiancé to be on the train, only later did she learn he had been killed in action on the final day of the war.’
‘She sculpted this memorial of their fictional reunion, which has stayed in the family ever since.’
‘There is no reserve on this lot. It is being sold by the State having been seized following the death of the artist and liquidation of the family assets.’
‘Do I have an opening bid of five thousand pounds?’
‘Four thousand?’
‘Two thousand?’
‘I should remind the buyers that failure to secure a sale will result in the sculpture being sold and melted down for it’s raw materials.’
‘Do I have one thousand pounds?’
‘Very well. The lot remains unsold.’
A final knock of the gavel echoes.
‘Moving on ladies and gentleman, lot 192.’
Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Al Forbes. For more details visit HERE.
To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Iain Kelly 
41 responses to “THE AUCTION”
An entertaining piece of flash fiction, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Robbie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad, but in some ways it might be more fitting for the memento to disappear now that both of the subjects have, if there’s no one out there who’d truly appreciate it. And if the recycled metal ended up in a number of different pieces, you could see that as the unfortunate couple having left a legacy after all. A really good take and sympathetically written Iain.
LikeLiked by 2 people
An interesting thought JS, perhaps it is better to just let go in the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so sad! Beautifully written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve really managed to pack in quite story into this little flash, including the origins of the sculpture, and its resting place. I really well conceived take, I think.
The only thing I would change is that stray comma in “It’s raw materials”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
stray apostrophe, even.
d’oh.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. With regards the stray apostrophe, I take your point, although there is some debate about whether inanimate objects can have the possessive ‘s’, so I’m going to stick with it 😉
LikeLike
Clever story, Iain, reminding us that sentiment has no financial value.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you CE. No matter what we like to think, we’re all just dust in the end.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aww, I’m so sad for the artist and the soon-to-be-melted sculpture. Great work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Cynthia – a bit of a tragedy this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s also my pack-rat nature showing, I think. I’m trying to de-clutter at home so I think my imagination took it pretty hard when that statue got sent to the scrap heap ☺ The habit of wanting to keep everything is hard to break.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tell me about it – you should see my house!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a constant struggle 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
With the end of her life, so too the end of her memorial.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Afraid so.
LikeLike
So sad! The death of her dreams was bad enough. But the death of her art which could’ve lived for centuries is a tragedy. A heart-wrenching and wonderfully told tale, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. A bit of a downer – one character dying twice in 200 words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really liked how you structured this, as the auctioneer telling not only the story of the sculpture’s creation, but then also of its ending. Touching and sad on both accounts. Although that must have been a pretty odd crowd at the auction. Usually people will pay *more* for a piece of art or furniture that has an interesting story behind it, especially something sentimental and historical like that. I know I would have! Imagine how much more interesting it would be to tell the story of this sculpture to a visitor you’re showing around your house than to only be able to say, “Oh this? No story, I just bought it because it looks nice.”
LikeLiked by 3 people
Haha very true. Often I think the buyers are looking for the name of the artist rather than the piece itself – unfortunately our artist here has no reputation to speak of.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A bittersweet story! Nice Creativity!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
So many stories in this piece. Well told
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Michael
LikeLike
No buyers for true love? A sad commentary on our cynical times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Afraid so 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had me going once, going twice, three times, right to the end Iain. Sold to the scrapyard!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you – a sad end!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is truly poignant. You create a sense of melancholy and sombre reality very well. Have you just paid your tax bill?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, thanks Geoff. Fortunately all is well here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This story is very holistic in that it covers or should i say uncovers a lot of human frailties. A very sad but utterly readable story, Kelly,.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Neel, very kind.
LikeLike
Gone and soon to be forgotten, sadly. A sorrowful tale indeed.
Click to read my SunPhoFic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Afraid so, thanks Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
In appreciation of your blog I am nominating you for a Liebster award. https://theporchstories.blog/2018/01/29/liebster-award/
LikeLike
Oh such a tragically ending story of both the artist and her work . Sometimes great art and artists are lost in time and only a few shine in their piece of work/s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading Norma
LikeLiked by 1 person
The treasures of the past are the trash of the future. Another great story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person