Latest News Articles by Jonathan Franks
Go on the Toyomasa snail trail in Cologne
05 June 2026The Japanese netsuke carver Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856) was renowned for his miniature portrayals of animals in a distinctive, highly detailed style.
Five-figure auction sums are a sign of the times
05 June 2026Selection of advertising art underlines the extraordinary demand in Germany
Glass – take your pick
05 June 2026Two very different pieces of glass went way over the odds at a specialist sale at Dr Fischer (30% buyer’s premium) in Heilbronn.
Klee and Kirchner meet at last
05 June 2026In 1934, a meeting of two great modern painters took place in Bern. One of them was the Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who had left Germany shortly before the end of the First World War.
Impressive imperial vases take top place
05 June 2026Two impressive vases from the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St Petersburg took top honours at the sale held by Auktionshaus OWL (27% buyer’s premium) on May 16 in Bad Driburg in North-Rhine-Westfalia.
Kandinsky clinches it
05 June 2026The illustrated book that Vasily Kandinsky published in 1913 under the title 'Klänge' (Sounds) is considered one of the finest examples of Expressionist literature.
Nautilus but nice
05 June 2026Many of the Austrian designer Gustav Gurschner’s works of art were driven by the new possibilities provided by electricity.
A message that Sengers is in hot demand
05 June 2026Until now, paintings by the Dutch artist Lode Sengers (1896-1956) have rarely gone into four figures.
Bidders battle it out for a marvellous Miklosch watch
15 May 2026A seemingly never-ending bidding match ensued at Cortrie in Hamburg on May 9 for a tourbillon-watch by the German watchmaker Richard Miklosch (1939-2014) .
Hondius extras make a world of difference to Mercator maps
15 May 2026Jodocus Hondius’ additions for his edition of Gerhard Mercator’s pioneering 'Atlas Sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura' made the work one of the most accomplished collections of maps from the early 17th century.
How bible translations in China spread the word
15 May 2026One of two translated versions that appeared almost simultaneously emerges in German saleroom
Letters from French and Scottish queens who shared tragic fates
15 May 2026The sales at Stargardt (20% buyer’s premium) in Berlin are an important rendezvous for autograph dealers and collectors.
Roman torso and ‘Cycladic’ figure stand out for bidders
08 May 2026The modest reserve of €2500 for the 13in (34cm) Roman marble torso of a seated man from the 1st or 2nd century left the bidders at Dr Eder (25% buyer’s premium) in Cologne with plenty of upward scope.
Sixteenth century Old Master sleepers awake in Switzerland
08 May 2026In recent sales at Artcurial, Bailly, Beurret and Widner (25% buyer’s premium) in Basel, works of art from the renowned collection of Lotar Neumann in Gingins have been consigned by his descendants and achieved notable results.
Cracking price for rare crackled Primavera glass
08 May 2026Vases and other vessels employing the Primavera technique belong to the rarest types of glass produced in Murano.
Actor star value pushes up prices
08 May 2026Collection of popular and well-respected Austrian figure puts in a notable performance at auction
Naturalist got into a flap after his pigeons book was hijacked
01 May 2026While many people have a decided aversion to pigeons, this did not apply to the bidders at Kiefer (25% buyer’s premium) in Pforzheim, Germany.
Munich auction house Neumeister to close
27 April 2026German auction market in shock after news that Neumeister will close.
More celebrations for de Caullery
17 April 2026There was plenty of interest at a sale held by Van Ham (27% buyer’s premium) in Cologne for a painting of a Medieval scene with jousting tournament.
Three Old Masters come to auction with a direct link to Augustus the Strong
17 April 2026Three Old Master paintings being sold by Van Ham on May 22 in Cologne have a direct connection to the collection of Augustus the Strong.