Letters to the Editor

I went to the Chelsea book fair [The ABA Chelsea Rare Book Fair] at Chelsea Town Hall on Saturday, April 30. What a delightful fair, set in a wonderful building, with a wonderful atmosphere and books on proper bookshelves.

I have been greatly heartened by the news that Christie’s is to trial shipping by sea freight with a view to reducing the environmental impact of existing systems of packing and transport (front page, ATG No 2539).

Being a collector and ‘auctionroomholic’, it grieves me at the way digital advancement plus the pandemic has given auctioneers a way to reduce the service they provide and yet continue with high commission fees.

I was saddened to read that Cindy Mainwaring has passed away (Obituary, ATG No 2539). She was a jolly and positive woman and I shall always have very fond memories of her.

I wholeheartedly agree with Gill Behari’s letter in ATG No 2539 (‘Why I believe high postage costs are unacceptable’).

Your report that the UK’s share of the global art market has declined blames VAT and Brexit for this (ATG No 2537), but fails to mention the effect of Artist's Resale Right which is probably the real reason for the current decline.

Lying in the bath before coming into my shop for yet another quiet Saturday, I listened to an item on the radio about Record Store Day or #RecordStoreDay.

I am an avid reader of ATG as a private collector.

Like your reporter, for many years I also believed the lamp featured in ATG No 2538 (A Trio of Arts & Crafts designers in focus) was by Arthur Stansfeld Dixon, director, and chief designer of The Birmingham Guild of Handicraft.

I read with interest your informative report on the sale of Lalique perfume bottles (ATG No 2535). I was amazed at the huge prizes.

Re: your article in ATG No 2538 (A Trio of Arts & Crafts designers in focus) including a Mouseman oak blanket chest sold at Sheffield Auction Gallery for £12,000 hammer, which features the mouse carved in recess rather than profile.

I am writing to tell you of a recent complaint which I brought up with an auction house regarding postal charges, and was wondering if you have had other trade outlets saying the same thing.

The image on the sewing box in your letters section (ATG No 2537) is the Victoria Sea Water Baths, Southport, Lancashire.

I’d like to lend my support to Ivor Braka in his brave and principled decision to fight the parasitic bureaucracies of the ARR (front page, ATG No 2536).

This print is on a sewing box made in the Victorian period.

I very much enjoyed Roland Arkell’s excellent article on Ercol furniture (ATG No 2531).

In ATG 2530, you featured a view of the Doge’s Palace by Samuel Prout that I purchased at Chorley’s on January 25. Your report mentioned John Ruskin’s admiration for Prout which was a key reason behind my decision to buy the work.

I was interested to read (Issue 2533, 12 March) of the “Byzantine ring from Guilhou’s huge collection”, which was sold at Toovey’s for £11,000.

Max Rutherston is right to take exception (ATG No 2533) to the letter from Pete Matthews (ATG No 2532), who saucily tells the trade to stop moaning about the Ivory Act.

Re: RJ Horlock’s letter in ATG No 2529. The picture mentioned is based on a print by Thomas Burford, 1710-74, October from a set of prints for the 12 months, c.1745.