Latest News Articles by Terence Ryle
Scoping out a new London specialism
02 October 2017Cameras, scientific and medical instruments specialist Flints (20% buyer’s premium) held its inaugural sale on September 21.
Peaks and valleys for Welsh pots
25 September 2017Auctioneer hails return to form for Swansea and Nantgarw porcelain at Cardiff themed sale...
Stand corrected as ‘Louis XVI table’ brings £21,000
25 September 2017A heavily carved and silvered wood ‘console table’, offered with an estimate of £1500-2500 at Lacy Scott & Knight’s (20% buyer’s premium) September 9 sale came with a somewhat exotic story.
Doulton market shines twice with Double Jester
25 September 2017The second Royal Doulton figure to buck the generally lukewarm market within a fortnight, a 'Double Jester' figure designed by Charles Noke, was the star of a 1000-lot collectables sale at John Nicholson’s (24% buyer’s premium) at Haslemere on September 7.
There’s always time for Cartier
25 September 2017To make any money these days, ladies’ gold pendant watches do need an extra selling point – such as the Cartier name and plenty of Art Deco style.
Designs on wider market reach as auctioneers realise potential of 'branded' sales
18 September 2017The field encompassed by ‘Design’ sales is being diligently tilled by many UK auctioneers aware of the potential of a market appealing to younger buyers wary of traditional antiques.
Silver linings and more in uniform treasure trove
18 September 2017Two aspects of soldiering – a touch of glamour and life at the deadly sharp end – were illustrated in two lots at a Tennants (18.5% buyer’s premium) antiques and militaria sale at Leyburn.
Slipware dish is auction bloomer at Mitchells
18 September 2017Catalogued as early English, this slipware dish above had all the qualities of the combed decoration earthenware baking, or loaf, dishes produced in the late 18th to early 19th century and took the top price at Mitchells (20% buyers premium) of Cockermouth.
Falcon poster flies among film relics
18 September 2017Best of 193 lots of film posters which made up a specialist sale at Burstow Hewett (15% buyer’s premium) at Battle was this variation for the classic movie The Maltese Falcon.
Bidders focus on naval binoculars
18 September 2017Enhancing a growing reputation at Edinburgh auction house Thomson Roddick (17.5% buyer’s premium) for optical instruments, a recent sale included 18 lots of binoculars and the like.
Brownfield sight develops sale demand
18 September 2017Found by a dog walker in a roadside skip, this remarkably intact Victorian majolica teapot found the ideal bidder at Brighton General Auctions (15% buyer’s premium).
Silver candlesticks relight the auction fire
11 September 2017Although much less fashionable than they were, a set of silver candlesticks can nonetheless prove solid sellers as did these four, above, at Mallams’ (20% buyer’s premium) sale in Oxford on August 23.
Elegant shuttles are sew far away from the satanic mills
11 September 2017Called shuttles, but a world away from Blake’s dark satanic mills, the two sewing tools illustrated here were hand tools used by elegant ladies doing polite tatting work. The use of luxury materials was designed to reflect their status.
Bidders stretch to top estimate
11 September 2017Breathing quality, this 22ct gold, pocket watch, below, was by an apparently unrecorded maker but nevertheless pitched at a positive £3000-3200 at Tamlyns’ (18% buyer’s premium) sale at Bridgwater on August 30.
Japanese screen reveals demand
11 September 2017The slow, but observable, return of competition for fine Japanese works of art was evident at Hannam’s (20% buyer’s premium) of Selborne on August 23 in the form of this large Meiji ivory scholar’s table screen, below.
Indian summer at new saleroom
11 September 2017By serendipity rather than design, Dawson’s (20% buyer’s premium) August 26 sale in Maidenhead, Berkshire, included several fine Indian works of art. Just the type of entries appealing to a broad and informed audience that can help put a fledgling saleroom on the map (Dawson’s held its first sale this January).
Not a krazy amount for a toy but spot-on
11 September 2017Topping the 175 toys at David Lay’s (15% buyer’s premium) sale at Penzance on August 22, was this 1930s clockwork tinplate Krazy Kar marked By Permission Walt Disney – Mickey Mouse Ltd to the rear and Made in England to the left-hand side.
Edinburgh auction offering a range of Scottish lots is good test of specific market strengths
04 September 2017So much more successful than their 18th century forebears, today’s Jacobites go from strength to strength.
Cartier and Deco: Essex sale’s winning combinations
04 September 2017A 1920s-30s 18ct gold Cartier cigarette lighter-cum-watch with black enamel dial was offered at Boningtons (17.5% buyer’s premium) at Epping on August 21.
The buy of the needle
04 September 2017Shown here is the central medallion of a patchwork and appliqué quilt believed to have been produced by some patriotic sewer to mark the 1815 marriage of Princess Charlotte, the Prince Regent’s daughter, to Prince Leopold of Saxe- Coburg-Gotha.