Front Page and News

There were two in the room when British Bespoke Auctions held a four-and-a half hour sale last week. On the rostrum on April 1, in an office rather than the saleroom (which is closed), was Nicholas Granger. Behind him was Bella, a blue-and-gold macaw who has been by his side for 20 years.

Although often overshadowed by her famous father William, May Morris (1862-1938) was herself an important figure in the British Arts & Crafts movement.

A number of industrial and commercial-focused businesses have operated online-only and timed auctions for some time and have systems in place that allow for very little contact between individuals.

In these days of self-isolation, social media is awash with home workout routines. Last week Charles Ross launched his own version online for those auctioneers not selling during lockdown.

The first 20 lots of the recent football memorabilia sale at Stacey’s in Rayleigh, Essex came from the family of the Edwardian player Benjamin Warren (1879-1917).

The UK art and antiques trade is hastening its efforts to provide a sense of business as usual during unusual times after the UK government requested all ‘non-essential’ firms to close their premises to the public.

In this issue we feature 40 fabulous objects available to buy on dealers’ websites.

The Edinburgh and London auction house Lyon & Turnbull is to press ahead with its two April sales as ‘live online only’ events.

Objects relating to the rich history of Malta are perennial favourites at auction. This large early 18th century oil on canvas depicting a map of islands in the Maltese archipelago proved particularly popular in a sale of 15th to 19th century pictures held by Lempertz in Cologne.

An early coastal scene of Australia sold for more than five times its top estimate to an online buyer from New South Wales at Ewbank’s anniversary sale.

Fellows’ jewellery auction on March 26 was hosted in the Shropshire home of the Whittaker family.

Two versions of a rare mezzotint self-portrait by the Irish artist James Barry (1741-1806) excelled when offered for sale at Forum Auctions. Both plates, one an unrecorded proof impression, the other possibly inscribed by the artist, took multi-estimate sums from online bidders.

A superb collection of 61 pocket watches drew strong demand at a Surrey auction last week as remote bidders, using the phone and online platforms, competed for some outstanding 17th, 18th and 19th century examples.

Fair organisers were forced into making dramatic changes to their schedule as almost every event in the UK and Ireland was either cancelled or postponed last week, while many dealers were left facing the most challenging conditions for trading in living memory.

There’s an age-old adage that wherever there’s a willing buyer and a willing seller, the two cannot be separated. But the current outbreak of the coronavirus has had more effect in creating distance between these two than anything experienced in modern times.

Sim Fine Art has sold a 28-work collection of pictures by Second World War artist Paul Drury (1903-87) to the Science Museum in London.