The four looted funerary stelae from Yemen now under the care of the V&A.
Looted stelae to be looked after by V&A
Four looted ancient carved stone funerary stelae from Yemen, found in an interior design shop in east London, will now go on display with the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Probably dating from the second half of the first millennium BC, they came from necropoli that have been subjected to looting in recent years.
They were spotted by an archaeology enthusiast in the shop and recovered by The Metropolitan Police’s Art and Antiques Unit.
An agreement has been reached between the V&A and the Republic of Yemen for the museum to temporarily care, research, and conserve the stelae and for them to go on display at the V&A East Storehouse, one of two new locations for the museum in east London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park scheduled to open in 2025. The stelae will then return to Yemen once it is deemed safe to do so.
Sloane Street opens in Fulham Road
The frontage of Sloane Street Auctions in Chelsea.
Sloane Street Auctions has expanded and opened a new gallery. Founded last year by established fine art dealer Daniel Hunt, the firm will now trade from its existing location at 69 Lower Sloane Street as well as a new Chelsea showroom at 158-164 Fulham Road.
The 6000 sq ft gallery will house its Contemporary art, jewellery, and books departments.
The next sale is scheduled for September 28.
The Bruno Effect becomes Effetto
The art and antiques online marketplace portal The Bruno Effect has relaunched as Effetto. The business was founded two years ago by former 1stDibs International managing director Carmine Bruno.
Debut of dedicated Rothschilds sale
Christie’s New York is to hold its first-ever dedicated North American sale of works of art, furniture, and paintings belonging to a branch of the wealthy Rothschild family.
The sale includes the private collections of the French branch of the Rothschilds. The art and antiques were largely acquired by Baron James de Rothschild (1792-1868), the founder of the French branch of the banking family, his wife Betty (1805-1886), and their son Baron Alphonse (1868-1949).
The collections will be sold across three sales at the Rockefeller Center followed by an online auction: The Rothschild Masterpieces evening sale on October 11, The Kunstkammer on October 12 and Le Goût Rothschild on October 13 with the online sale on October 3-17.
Christie’s will also offer the third and final sale of The Collection of Ann & Gordon Getty. Wheatland was Mrs Getty’s childhood home and her country retreat.
The sale of her collection from this home will be offered across 700 lots in New York on October 18-20.
TV duo get their Frinking caps on
The possible Elisabeth Frink sculpture to be investigated by the Fake or Fortune? team.
Image: BBC Studios/Anna Gordon
The BBC’s Fake or Fortune? TV show returns this month for its 11th series.
The show features art dealer Philip Mould and broadcaster Fiona Bruce who investigate whether artworks submitted by members of the public are genuine.
For the first programme in the new series, scheduled for September 26, the duo head to the Essex countryside on the trail of Dame Elizabeth Frink (1930-93). Owner Amanda Kirke discovered a sculpture at her local car boot sale and her initial search on the internet brought up a similar looking figure produced by Frink in an edition of 10 in 1956.
Using scientific analysis and laser scanning technology, together with the expert opinion of a friend and fellow sculptor of Frink’s, the show seeks to uncover evidence to convince the authentication committee that this figure is genuine.
Mould said: “There is a lot at stake; if this is a genuine Frink it could be worth up to £60,000. But if it’s not, then its scrap metal value is a mere £10.”
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2 Fake or Fortune? returns with Elisabeth Frink mystery
3 Police appeal after antiques stolen from retired Merseyside dealer
4 Rare Dunhill ‘Aviary’ lighter stars in our pick of five auction highlights
5 Battle for lowly estimated Empire period Sèvres plates
In Numbers
Six pairs of King Charles Coronation chairs are being offered at a Christie’s online sale closing on November 3.
Christie’s Images Limited 2023
181
The number of days between the coronation of King Charles III on May 6 and the first auction of chairs from the event. Six pairs of the 100 oak chairs designed by Rugby-based cabinetmaker NEJ Stevenson in collaboration with The Snowdon School of Furniture are being offered at a Christie’s online sale closing on November 3. They are being sold to raise funds for charities chosen by the King Charles and Queen Camilla.
