Art and antiques news from 2007

Early works of art might be seen as something of a Cinderella area of the market, somewhat left behind when compared to contemporary and Asian art or even some other traditional fields.

Woolley & Wallis still hold the record for any item sold at auction in the UK outside London. Now it looks like their chairman, Paul Viney, could also hold the record for the top price raised for a single lot at a charity auction.

Kent auctioneers Hobbs Parker are to close in the New Year. After more than 50 years selling antiques and fine art in Ashford, the parent company have chosen to close the division in the face of rising rent and external competition.

It was a headline writer’s dream: an 80-year-old William Crawford & Sons biscuit tin still with its original contents intact sold at auction for a massive £13,000 (plus 20 per cent buyer’s premium). Crumbs! Cookie tin brings a lot of dough (Reuters) was just one of a number of groaning puns.

South West auctioneers Chilcotts are to open a second saleroom in Honiton.

LAPADA have appointed Emma Kendrick-White, to be fair organiser for their London showcase Objects of Desire: The LAPADA London Fair, the third of which will be held at the Royal Academy, Burlington Gardens from May 8 to 11 next year.

Gagosian’s bid gives Sotheby’s new heart

Bonhams have announced the appointment of a new managing director of Scotland and confirmed that new premises have been found in Edinburgh.

Bonhams chairman Robert Brooks has issued a public statement taking a strong stand against the guarantee system following the November art sales in New York and London.

THE latest development in imaging technology means that it may soon become much simpler and cheaper to analyse the paint layers of works of art.

Stella Show Management have said that Antiques at the Armory, the January 18-20 antiques show at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City, will go ahead as planned.

A gang of thieves are targeting dealers in Hatton Garden, using diversionary tactics to grab briefcases and bags.

OLYMPIA’s Winter Fine Art & Antiques Fair, which closed on November 18 is the premier pre-Christmas fixture in London. This 15th annual staging proved no exception and, as usual, it got off to a strong start.

As one dealer put it: “The How name is a little insurance policy for the future.”

Aggressive estimates rather than a fallout from credit-market losses were responsible for the first ‘wobble’ in the international art market, say Sotheby’s.

Lawrence B. Salander, the embattled Manhattan art dealer, has filed for Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy protection citing debts of between $50m and $100m.

THE Gilbert Collection is to move from Somerset House on London’s Embankment to the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington next year.

FOUR men have been bailed until Ferbruary 25 next year following the police investigation into the theft of five L.S. Lowry paintings.

There were winners all round as Asian Art In London celebrated its tenth anniversary with a gala party in the Hotung Gallery of the British Museum last Tuesday.

THE National Museum of Scotland have announced that they are to host the largest exhibition of Scottish silver ever seen.