Print Edition

Despite the disparity in numbers, the market for Chinese and Japanese works of art are increasingly aligned.

A welcome addition to the November 21 Asian Works of Art sale at Matthew Barton (24% buyer’s premium) of 25 Blythe Road in west London were 79 netsuke from the collection belonging to Edmund de Waal, author of the bestselling memoir 'The Hare with Amber Eyes'. London Japanese art dealer Max Rutherston helped organise the sale and took this section of the auction.

The influx of Asian art buyers that accompanies the Asian Art in London initiative also encourages activity across the Irish Sea. Both Adam’s (20% buyer’s premium) in Dublin, for the first time, and Sheppards (20% buyer’s premium) in Durrow held designated sales on November 3 and November 11 respectively.

MADAM – Once again we have an auctioneer defending an increased charge with various excuses given for the necessity (‘Auctioneer to charge for condition reports’, ATG No 2369).

Included in the sale at Lawrences (22% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne on October 11 was a brick from the Great Wall of China. It probably dated from the Ming period when Great Wall sections were widely built with fired clay bricks, adhered with lime mortar and sticky rice.

Nudity and sensuality are themes running through London gallery’s look at eroticism

MADAM – The first edition 1815 map of St Helena shown on Previews page 44 (ATG No 2367) is indeed very interesting.

In a specialist maritime and scientific instruments auction there were only three furniture lots at Charles Miller (24% buyer’s premium), but one of them led the day.

Among the most coveted of all the standard Chinese export porcelain designs is the so-called ‘Rockefeller’ pattern or Palace ware.

A new destination for antiques shopping in Arundel has opened at Merchants Hall.

Anna Wakerley of Oriel Fine Art specialises in pre- and post-war Modern British painting.

A trip to France before Christmas to buy unusual gifts is always a good plan. Here are three antiques and vintage brocantes to visit: two well-known weeklies in Paris and a biannual event in Bordeaux.

MADAM – We have been watching 'Make me a Dealer' since it started (ATG Letters passim).

MADAM – Here is a medal whose origin I can’t figure out (above). It was found in northern Norway.

A rare photographic postcard sold via thesaleroom.com at a surprise £850 (estimate £30-50) at Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Washington, West Sussex on October 30.

Large-scale 18th century map of the capital joins a wider global outlook at auction...

December is one of two key periods in the French calendar when the auction houses concentrate their sales of Asian art. Pictured here is a selection of highlights and unusual pieces coming up for sale this month in the Paris rooms.

Jean Lurçat’s 'Sun Dancer', c.1955, is from a range of vibrant ceramics that the French artist produced during the 1950s, many of which are now on offer in Whitford Fine Art’s exhibition Poetry in Motion.

Cary Whitley has been running her biannual Love Vintage brocantes in June and December in Wanstead, east London, for eight years, with the next on Saturday, December 8.

MADAM – Re: letters in ATG about sticky labels.