Letters to the Editor

Antiques trade bodies are stepping up their plans for a judicial review of the Ivory Act that will come into law later this year.

MADAM – I write regarding charging for condition reports for lower-value lots.

MADAM – F Segolini makes some interesting and valid points about the failure of alcohol prohibition in the US (Letters, ATG No 2373).

MADAM – Re: ivory ban. I would very much like to add my tuppence worth to this ongoing issue.

MADAM – Have we lost the plot? Recently the ATG letters page has been taken over by debating whether one television show about antiques is better than the others available.

MADAM – As someone who has been dealing in early furniture for over 50 years and who has served on vetting committees for the Grosvenor House and BADA fairs as well as having been a consultant for Sotheby’s, I find TEFAF’s decision to exclude dealers from their vetting is frankly bizarre.

MADAM – Re: condition report charges at Moore Allen & Innocent for lower-value items.

MADAM – Now that sticky labels have raised ire in the art world (Letters, ATG passim), your readers might like to know that they are the bookseller’s equivalent of Post-It notes in books.

MADAM – I appreciate I had my turn the other day (Letters, ATG No 2369), but a quick note covering two points if I may.

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).

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

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.

MADAM – Re: letters in ATG about sticky labels.

MADAM – Michael Roberts of PFK should not concern himself too much over a bit of “auction house bashing” (ATG No 2368).

MADAM – I write this letter with three separate hats on but, in all three cases, addressed for the attention or our many auction houses.

MADAM – On the recommendation of a friend I watched a few of the new Make Me a Dealer programmes presented by Paul Martin (ATGs passim).

The TEFAF decision to remove dealers from vetting at their shows has caused debate (ATG Nos 2367 & 2368). Here, silver dealer Alastair Dickenson writes to ATG giving his view, while we canvass opinion from four more experts.

In a letter to ATG, auctioneer Michael Roberts of PFK Penrith defends auction house commissions saying “the majority of regional firms offer a good service, fairly priced”.

MADAM – Re: ‘Sticky Problem’ letter in ATG No 2367.