Latest News Articles by Jonathan Franks
Cypher machine takes more than eight-times estimate at German auction
17 April 2026With only one key, the Diskret, which was offered at a recent sale at Auction Team Breker (21.8% buyer’s premium), did not conform to the conventional layout of a typewriter.
Davy medal emerges in German sale
17 April 2026In 1869, under the terms of the will of John Davy, brother of the celebrated chemist Humphry Davy, the Davy Medal was established in his name.
'Prismatic Cubism' painting by Romanian artist to be offered in Germany
17 April 2026The Romanian artist Arthur Segal spent much of his career in Germany among the avant garde.
Strong contest for Arita vase Augustus admired
17 April 2026Augustus the Strong, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, was known as a monumental collector.
German industrialist's collection of bronzes shine at auction
17 April 2026Thuringian auction house enjoys more success with collection of local industrialist
Arms of Prussia Chinese export tureen emerges at Lempertz sale
17 April 2026Founded in 1751 at the behest of the Prussian king Frederick the Great, ‘The Royal Prussian Asiatic Company in Emden to Canton and China’ aimed to profit from the trade between Europe and China.
Criticism of father of Art Nouveau taken with pinch of salt
17 April 2026The Flemish designer Henry van de Velde excelled in many fields, working as a painter and architect, before he devoted himself to creating a multitude of designs, from cutlery to furniture, from wallpaper to porcelain.
Threshing out a deal for the rarest tin play toys
17 April 2026Collectors with a keen eye for rarities saw to it that unusual pieces of Märklin offered by Antico Mondo (21.5% buyer’s premium) in Bornheim went for multiples of their estimates.
Chinese clock market marvel created by Grantham
20 March 2026Very little is known about the late-18th century London maker John Grantham other than that he made many watches for the Chinese market, one of which came up for sale at Cortrie (21% buyer’s premium) in Hamburg.
Polish painter Buchbinder goes for gold in Frankfurt
06 March 2026Prices for the 19th century Polish genre painter Simeon (Szymon) Buchbinder moved to a new level at a sale at Blank (22% buyer’s premium) in Bad Vilbel, near Frankfurt.
Bulky bronze bovine brings in a beefy six-figure sum
06 March 2026Although he produced numerous bronze figures for public monuments and decorative elements for religious building, the German sculptor Ewald Mataré (1887-1965) is best known for his numerous figures of cows in a multitude of styles from realistic to cubistic.
A rare Vizagapatam visitor stars in German auction
06 March 2026It has been some years since a good piece of Vizagapatam furniture turned up at a German auction, so it was quite an event when Bieberle (21.42% buyer’s premium) in Magdeburg offered a writing cabinet.
Märklin carousels are money-spinners at German auction
06 March 2026While two early Märklin carousels went round and round, the bids at Hohenstaufen (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Göppingen went up and up.
New record set for sculptor Georg Kolbe at Berlin auction
06 March 2026Stehende Frau (Standing Woman) by Georg Kolbe soared to a new record at Grisebach (32% buyer’s premium) in Berlin.
Austrian artistry in the spotlight at auction
06 March 2026Vienna sale includes sought-after works by local creative talents Moser, Hoffmann and Marenzeller
Art Nouveau vase by Henri Bergé for Daum blossomed at German sale
06 March 2026From 1897, when he joined Daum in Nancy, until his death in 1937, Henri Bergé was one of the leading designers at the firm.
Sèvres plate too expensive for a French king comes to auction in Germany
06 February 2026Sèvres had high hopes of royal approval and purchase but the Service des Départements was rejected
Massier parrots and palms planter cultivate bids at auction
06 February 2026Delphin Massier, the creator of a large cachepot on stand sold by Dannenberg (28% buyer’s premium) in Berlin, was a member of the dynasty of ceramic artists who worked in Vallauris from the 18th century onwards.
Rare Transylvanian wedding beaker celebrated at German sale
06 February 2026In many parts of the German-speaking world, it was once customary for a newly married couple to drink together from a silver or parcel gilt bridal beaker.
Wedding of wine god Bacchus inspired Boucher’s work
06 February 2026Greek mythology provided François Boucher with an endless source of inspiration. One tale he returned to on several occasions was that of Ariadne and Bacchus.