Latest News Articles by Jonathan Franks
Collection from German castle hidden in wooden crates for 90 years emerges in Munich
14 March 2022More than 600 lots at Neumeister’s Munich sale on March 30 have been hidden from public view for 90 years, packed in wooden crates.
Sale season off to a roaring start in Germany
14 March 2022The most cherished coin from the reign of Victoria proved popular at a German saleroom
French inventor Colmar's Arithmomètre sells in German saleroom
14 March 2022Although the French inventor Charles-Xavier Thomas de Colmar introduced the first model of his calculating machine Arithmomètre in 1820, he waited some 30 years before he started producing them in series.
Highlights from central Europe including a British dealer bidding 85-times estimate for a portrait copy
17 January 2022ATG picks out 16 recent stand-out items making waves in German, Austrian and Swiss salerooms
Sale reflects centuries of Sitwells
10 January 2022Fresh generations of the famous family added to hall’s collections to create eclectic mix. Jonathan Franks reports.
Tiepolo at the double
10 January 2022It is thought that Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) executed at least a hundred drawings featuring the Punchinelli, the hook-nosed, humpbacked clowns which were central to the commedia dell’arte. Jonathan Franks reports.
Greek shippers deliver further highlights to London
10 January 2022While the Tiepolo drawing caused the biggest stir at the Roseberys (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) November 17 sale (see separate story in this edition), there were several other notable results, writes Jonathan Franks.
Russian icon inspires bidding battle in Germany
29 November 2021Russian interest drives €125,000 result in Germany.
Artist supervised by Matisse met a tragic end in wartime
29 November 2021The German painter Rudolf Levy was born in north Germany, but was at home in many parts of Europe.
Venice in large format in Vienna
29 November 2021Star of the show at Dorotheum (28/25% buyer’s premium) in Vienna on November 9 was a large-format Venetian scene, painted by Luigi Querena in 1865.
Late 18th century clock to turn heads in German auction
29 November 2021A late 18th century clock at auction in Germany has links to a French architect.
New direction in von Bechtejeff’s career
29 November 2021Although he was born and died in Moscow, the decisive phase of Wladimir von Bechtejeff’s artistic development can be dated to his time in Germany.
German Expressionist Arnold Topp headlines Munich auction
29 November 2021For many decades, the name Arnold Topp meant little to art collectors.
Showing caution over ‘El Greco’
27 September 2021Experts split over El Greco attribution but Holy Family painting offered in Germany gets away
Standing figure makes bidders sit up and take note
27 September 2021A rare standing figure from the Yuat River area of Papua New Guinea was the star of the show at a Brussels auction.
Mystery chess set gets bidders on board
27 September 2021A handful of collectors joined the competition when Mehlis (23% buyer’s premium) in Plauen offered a 19th century ivory and ebony chess set.
Brueghel’s ‘own view’ of everyday Dutch rural life
27 September 2021Numerous international bidders set their sights on a tondo by Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564-1638).
Lion sculptures and corkscrews among eclectic delights at German auction
27 September 2021An eclectic mixture of works from the vast collection of the multi-talented German artist Charles Crodel formed a substantial part of a Hamburg auction.
Munich fair switches from summer to autumn
27 September 2021The stage was set for the 12th edition of Highlights in Munich at the beginning of July, but at short notice the local authorities prevented the event from going ahead, due to concerns about Covid.
Four seasons in rock crystal form
27 September 2021One of the unusual lots in the glass sale at Dr Fischer in Heilbronn on October 16 is a mid-17th century wooden casket, the sides and top panel of which are fitted with engraved rock crystal panels.