Latest News Articles by Terence Ryle
Iconic Eames chair in Elstob & Elstob debut sale
15 April 2019In terms of name recognition in the UK, Alvar Aalto is probably outranked by the American couple Charles Eames (1907-78) and his wife Ray (1912-88). Of their output the lounge chair (670) and ottoman (671) designed in 1956 is the most iconic.
French Art Deco vase leads South London selection of a wide range of design
15 April 2019Now a regular fixture for a number of auction houses, specialist Modern Design sales have moved a long way since the days when the title could mean mountains of Moorcroft and Clarice Cliff and not a lot more.
Georgian ladies shoes step up to four figures at Stroud Auctions
15 April 2019It was a case of best feet forward at Stroud Auctions (18% buyer’s premium) when a pair of Georgian ladies’ embroidered shoes with cut steel buckles and leather soles was offered.
Ski resort chairs slide into saleroom
15 April 2019When it comes to 20th century furniture female designers are a rarity. Some folk still think ‘Ray’ Eames – real name Bernice – was a man.
Caterpillar and cat sum up modern living
15 April 2019The recent Modern Living sale at Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) was dominated by ‘Mouseman’ furniture, something of a speciality at the Leyburn rooms.
Silver charger runs up impressive price
01 April 2019Bearing later Georgian or Victorian embossed decoration, this 13¾in (35cm) diameter, 22oz silver charger, below, was a much earlier work.
Furniture highlights in the regions
01 April 2019Among the best furniture lots in the regions so far this year was the small early 19th century centre table attributed to George Bullock (1777-1818) offered by Stride & Son (18% buyer’s premium) on March 8.
Cricket scene bowls over bidders
01 April 2019Providing a stern test of the resolve of cricket enthusiasts, a Victorian loving cup was the unexpected star of Michael J Bowman’s (17.5% buyer’s premium) sale at Chudleigh.
Buoyant market targets the best quality
01 April 2019Prices high despite lack of good-quality stock as buyers aim for top standards.
A superb selection of sentimental samplers
25 March 2019Among the most desirable of all needlework samplers are those associated with pupils at the Ackworth School, founded as a co-educational boarding school in 1779 by the Quaker physician John Fothergill and still thriving today.
Silver with rare Marks
25 March 2019Having produced only 700-800 works in his short-lived career, Gilbert Marks (1861-1905) is not among the best-known silversmiths of his generation but was considered one of the foremost craftsmen of his day.
Bidders with lots of bottle tops
25 March 2019Whatever it may be, someone, somewhere will be avidly collecting it.
Pedestal steps up to new level
25 March 2019Dealer’s collection makes up first single-owner sale run by former Christie’s expert.
Glass and ceramics greats star in saleroom
25 March 2019Iconic names in the worlds of glass and ceramics starred in Kingham & Orme’s (20% buyer’s premium) wide-ranging March 1 sale at Evesham.
Pub slot machine finds new home
25 March 2019Having stood in the George IV pub in Workington since the 19th century, a mahogany penny slot machine made its last public appearance at Cumbrian auction house Mitchells (20% buyer’s premium).
Indo-Portuguese table cabinet in Edinburgh auction underlines market demand
11 March 2019Underlined by a £65,000 bid for a table cabinet, the attraction of Indo-Portuguese furniture – that combines familiar European forms with the exotic lure of the East – is as strong today as it was in centuries past.
Buyers take Paul Reeves dealer name as mark of quality
11 March 2019Some buyers regard sales of dealers’ stock as a minus on the grounds that the lots have been ‘seen’. Others view them as a plus, reckoning the material has already been the choice of an expert.
Wealth of East India Company evident at auction
11 March 2019The wealth of material brought back to Britain from the days of the East India Company was illustrated at John Nicholson’s (24% buyer’s premium) sale when four Indo-Portuguese or Anglo-Indian tortoiseshell and ivory works were consigned by different vendors.
Elizabethan beaker is rare survivor of war meltdown
11 March 2019Silver across five centuries caught the eye at provincial sales in February.
Howard furniture keeps on a high at auction
11 March 2019Never wholly out of demand since top Victorian upholsterer Howard & Sons began producing furniture from its Soho premises, these built-for-comfort sofas and armchairs continue to excel whenever offered at auction.