Art and antiques news from 2005

THE unexpected success of the pair of library chairs discussed above led the way at the Wisborough Green saleroom, but there was keen action, mainly in the three-figure range, across the three days when 1800 lots were offered.

Long before J.R.R. Tolkien settled down to write The Hobbit, he had acquired a postcard reproduction of the ink, watercolour and gouache painting Der Berggeist (The Mountain Spirit).

TWO lots stood out among the 600 lots offered at Hampshire. One was an 18th century matched pair of brass barrelled flintlock pistols signed Burnford, London, which, because of a missing ramrod and broken trigger mechanism were catalogued a/f but sold to a collector at a quadruple estimate £1600.

Sotheby’s are to link up with the Steinmetz Diamond Group to expand their current activities in the retail jewellery market.

Longcases sell well after prices hit plateauTHE 530 lots offered at Dreweatt Neate’s Bristol rooms in June covered most areas of the antiques trade with the exception of ceramics, but the sale was always going to be dominated by the strong 44-lot clocks section.

Two very good stick barometers, in the popular 1820s form with bowfront and ebony-inlaid mahogany cases, were among the highlights at Grantham.

THINGS are looking up according to the latest survey from the Society of London Art Dealers.

WHETHER you’re in Holland Park, Marylebone or Covent Garden in August, you may spot something unusual in the shop window at Cath Kidston, the popular design company specialising in fabrics, jewellery, china and accessories.

To collectors of the so-called castle-top card cases, subject matter is everything. Pictured here is a great rarity.

SOTHEBY’s are to launch a sale in January that will openly rely entirely upon dealers’ stock for its content.

Two pieces of Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain smashed coveted auction records in the UK salerooms last week.

A SINGLE vendor has been trying to sell very convincing fake silver smallwork through auction rooms in central and southwest England.

RICS agree to credit new courseKINGSTON University have announced plans to introduce an MA in Arts Market Appraisal in September.

Surrey auctioneers Ewbank are now offering a live online bidding service and held their first such sale on July 7.

Invaluable, the provider of electronic art market intelligence, say it is business as usual despite news that the company is up for sale.

Medieval French silver is not a plentiful commodity. Much of it did not escape the great post-Revolutionary meltdown, but one piece that got away was the late Gothic reliquary casket that featured in Sotheby’s works of art auction in London on June 8.

DECOREX, the UK’s most important exhibition for the interior design industry, has invited the Antiques & Audacity antiques fair to contribute to the next staging from September 25 to 28.

Few will be unaware that 2005 is the bicentenary of Nelson’s death at the Battle of Trafalgar, given the number of celebrations and exhibitions commemorating the event.

DOUBTLESS unique, but in its way typical of the sort of success enjoyed at Robert Finan’s sale, was this Russian 18th century emerald, ruby and diamond cross, right, mounted in silver and gold.

NO issue has caused more reader complaints to ATG in the past decade than scam guides targeting the trade. Now there is a chance to put a stop to them by signing up to a Europe-wide campaign.