Print Edition

Staffordshire blue and white ware, figures and Leeds creamware will be among a selection of English ceramics featured in Maison Jules’ large mixed-discipline auction of art, antiques and vintage items to be held online over three days from May 16-18 in Gent, Belgium.

Freeman’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) of Philadelphia opened its latest Design sale with a Meissen Whiplash dinner service designed in 1903-4 by Henry Van de Velde, the Belgian Art Nouveau architect and designer.

Jeffrey S Evans’ spring sale of 18th and 19th century glassware and lighting takes place in Mount Crawford, Virginia. It includes a collection of more than 100 18th and 19th century English drinking glasses, to be offered unreserved on May 20.

One of the side-effects for the art market of being in a lockdown is that people have more time to discover works that they might have otherwise missed or overlooked.

Works by the prolific John Bellany (1942-2013) appear regularly at auction, with small drawings often available for hundreds of pounds, but the larger and vigorously coloured figurative oils generally make many thousands.

After a month’s hiatus, a number of top-tier regional auction houses are returning to the rostrum to conduct ‘live online’ sales.

Of all the sensational jewellery displayed by Tiffany at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle the most memorable was a group of 24 enamelled orchid brooches.

A silver penny of the boy king Edward the Martyr – the teenager who ruled Saxon Britain in the 10th century and was later venerated as a saint – has sold to a UK collector for £9000 at Dix Noonan Webb (24% buyer’s premium).

Following the success of the dedicated online sale of works from the collection of Old Masters dealer Rafael Valls, which more than tripled the high estimate to gross £1.6m (see Art Market in this issue), Sotheby’s will conduct its mid-season sale of Old Masters as an online event.

Our selection of 30 objects to view and buy from dealers online.

The London auction house holds its first online-only sale dedicated to a single dealer

Ken tanto, distinguished by double-edged blades, are one of the rarer styles of Japanese sword. Most were made as Buddhist ritual implements rather than weapons and are decorated accordingly.

Unlike in other parts of Europe where portraits of children were a rare phenomenon, the Dutch Republic experienced a rapid increase in this genre of painting between 1500-1700.

A childhood scrapbook including tales of valour written and illustrated by double Victoria Cross winner Noel Chavasse and his twin brother has been bought by their old school in Oxford. It was sold by Herefordshire militaria dealer War & Son to Magdalen College School.

HMRC has warned the art market to be on alert for money laundering attempts during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is with great sadness that I announce the sudden death of my father and mentor, John Gewirtz, aged 81.

MADAM – I would like to express my appreciation to the editorial and other colleagues that have provided us with a copy of the ATG every week during this extraordinary time.

MADAM – Re: your report on the sycee sold at auction in Germany (International, ATG No 2438).

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period April 16-22, 2020. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.