Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Egypt recovers Islamic manuscript spotted in Bonhams auction
09 August 2018A rare Islamic manuscript consigned to a Bonhams auction in London has been returned to Egypt in the latest example of Egyptian authorities succeeding in retrieving artefacts from abroad.
Corbet oil head and shoulders above the rest
06 August 2018A small but enigmatic study attributed to Victorian artist Matthew Ridley Corbet (1850-1902) drew dramatic competition at John Nicholson’s in Fernhurst, Surrey.
’Giotto’ export an issue for Italy says High Court
06 August 2018The owner of a rediscovered painting attributed to Giotto has lost a High Court battle over its export from the EU.
5 key details about this rare Scottish silver ‘argyll’
02 August 2018A rare George III argyll (or gravy warmer) will be offered at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh this month. Despite the associations with the Dukes of Argyll, only two Scottish silver vessels are recorded.
Titanic rescue medal makes £45,000 at Bourne End auction – VIDEO
01 August 2018A prolonged bidding battle emerged today in Buckinghamshire as the gold medal awarded to the bursar on board the RMS Carpathia, the ship that famously rescued survivors from the Titanic in 1912, sold at £45,000.
Saleroom selection: 5 lots that caught bidders’ eyes this month including a Fabergé picture frame
31 July 2018Among the lots at auctions around the UK that brought keen bidding in July were a Fabergé picture frame, a Scottish banknote, a Modern British bronze sculpture and a Maltese lacquered wall clock. Further afield, a Korean censer drew attention in the Netherlands.
Owner of rediscovered Giotto valued at £10m loses High Court battle over export
27 July 2018The owner of a rediscovered early Renaissance painting has been blocked from taking the work to Switzerland after a High Court judge rejected her claim over the granting of an export licence.
Lord Byron memorial ring fetches £9200 at Yorkshire auction
25 July 2018A gold and enamel ring made in memory of Lord Byron after his death in 1824 drew solid bidding at Tennants’ latest fine art sale in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.
William Morris’ pen and paint brush sell for £2200 at Dorset auction
23 July 2018A quill and paint brush belonging to William Morris drew significant interest at Duke’s latest Art and Design sale in Dorchester.
Ada Lovelace computing book taken to £95,000 at Cirencester auction
20 July 2018A book by the 19th century computer pioneer Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) – known as ‘the Countess of Computing’ – has sold for £95,000 at Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester.
American art dealer Eugene Thaw’s collection heads to Christie’s
19 July 2018“Great art collecting need not be based on a great fortune. Education, experience and eye are more important.” So said the late American art dealer and collector Eugene V Thaw who died aged 90 earlier this year.
Liverpool hero’s gold medal from Titanic rescue offered at Buckinghamshire auction
18 July 2018A gold medal awarded to the bursar on board the RMS Carpathia, the ship that famously rescued survivors from the Titanic in 1912, will be offered at Bourne End Auction Rooms this summer.
Mixed auction results as £4.6m Rubens tops Old Masters series
09 July 2018The July Old Master auctions in London were a mixed affair with the lack of blockbuster lots meaning the overall total was down on the levels of the last two years.
Record for a Rembrandt print at Christie’s Old Master sale
06 July 2018Christie’s latest evening sale of Old Masters in London generated a premium inclusive total of £31.2m with records posted for painting by Gerard David (c.1460-1523) and a print by Rembrandt (1606-69).
Dutch Old Master looted at Arnhem sells for £1.6m at Sotheby’s auction
05 July 2018A Dutch Old Master painting looted by the Nazis after the Battle of Arnhem but now returned to its rightful owners after 73 years has sold at Sotheby’s for £1.6m.
“The market seems robust”: Christie’s specialist ahead of Thomas Chippendale auction – video
03 July 2018Ahead of Christie’s dedicated sale this week of 20 lots of Thomas Chippendale furniture, ATG speaks to Christie’s international head of furniture Robert Copley about sourcing for the auction, the state of the market and the star lots.
Trio of firms rises from ashes of Mossgreen
02 July 2018Australia gains three new auction houses as specialists go it alone in Melbourne
Pick of the Week Saint’s head sets a gold standard
02 July 2018A rare medieval gold head of a saint generated significant interest at a sale in Paris conducted by Pierre Bergé & Associés at the Hôtel Drouot.
‘Masterpiece level’ 19th century art receives Christie’s rebrand
02 July 2018Christie’s has added a top-end sale of 19th century art to its calendar of New York auctions in October.
“It’s very difficult deciding what to bring” – jewellery exhibitor at Masterpiece
29 June 2018London jewellery dealership Hancocks has exhibited at Masterpiece since the fair’s inception nine years ago. Here director Guy Burton tells ATG why he regards the event as a good opportunity to meet both new and established clients, and explains how the firm works out what items to exhibit on the stand.