Letters to the Editor

MADAM – What a refreshing letter from James Dillon at The Visage Gallery, being enquiring, intelligent and delivered in a professional manner (ATG No 2301). Thought goes into writing a letter, unlike a knee-jerk social media comment.

MADAM – I am proud to admit that I am successfully even more old fashioned than James Dillon (Letters, ATG No 2301), who does not make online payments for purchases.

MADAM – I’m writing regarding two of your most recent Soapbox opinion columns.

MADAM – Further to my letter earlier this year, despite several interesting subsequent observations on the subject that you very kindly published, nothing apparently seems to be happening.

MADAM – I enclose a picture of a mid-18th century brass candelabra (see below).

MADAM – Payments to auctioneers, be it for objects or postage and packing, seem to be mired in mystery and confusion.

MADAM – All of us who have been involved in the trade for a number of years, perhaps even decades, will know the feeling of pleasure at unexpectedly seeing an image of an ‘old friend’ in the pages of the ATG.

MADAM – Your most recent 'Soapbox' debated an interesting topic that’s currently generating letters, namely should auctioneers be qualified and presumably a member of a trade organisation or not (ATG No 2298).

MADAM – May we add our voice to the letters in ATG Nos 2296 and 2297 on the subject of fair sizes?

MADAM – Your Soapbox discussion between Mary Claire Boyd of Olympia fairs and Marco Forgione, chief executive of BADA, concerning the merits of large or small fairs, provided valid arguments for both (ATG No 2296).

MADAM – The Antique Metalware Society, whose members specialise in objects made from base metals, has launched a new website which it hopes will be a source of information on, and stimulate interest in, antique items made from brass, copper, bronze, paktong, zinc, iron, steel and various types of metal plating.

MADAM – I’m late with my response to Terence Pike’s letter in ATG No 2261 in October 2016, asking about shell engraver CH Wood. Better late than never, I hope.

MADAM – I find your letters page the most interesting part of ATG.

MADAM – I wondered whether it might be possible to appeal to ATG’s sharp-eyed readers to help trace the provenance of a portrait I have recently discovered?

MADAM – I feel the BBC should be given a tactful kick up the bot as the summer schedule of sport means erratic scheduling of Flog It! and Antiques Roadshow.

MADAM – I read, as I always do, Ian McKay’s Books and Works on Paper reports in ATG No 2293.

MADAM - I would like to offer an alternative point of view to that of Jenny Fisher, head of modern and contemporary art at Dreweatts, which recently sold a sculpture by my father, John Skeaping.

MADAM – Laura Chester’s article ‘Rising to the Portobello challenge’ (ATG No 2295) accurately describes how the antiques section has been, and still is, the backbone of Portobello Market.

MADAM – Following your recent article about Bill Neal’s Chinese mother of pearl gaming counter made for Queen Charlotte, I was touched to read Elizabeth Cannon’s letter in response and tribute to my late husband, David Howard (Letters, ATG Nos 2291 and 2293).

MADAM – My compliments on an excellent round table debating the issues facing the trade (ATG No 2291), to which I would very much like to add my views.