Letters to the Editor

The wholesale switchover by some auction houses to mainly online bidding and information is no doubt beneficial on a financial basis but, in my view, for the serious collector it is a serious backward step.

I thought that you would be interested to see this photo.

I was amused to read that our Queen was left in charge of Whittons’ Jubilee auction during the lunch break (ATG 2548 letters page).

You may take a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. In January 2020 my wife and I lent two modest paintings to the exhibition, 'Ulysses: Art and Legend', mounted by the Musei San Domenico in Forlí.

In many ways the advance of online auction platforms has been good all round, and most auction houses have stepped up to the mark with good liaison with regard to condition reports, efficient billing, and shipping purchases at realistic prices. I factor such in-house shipping costs into my bidding.

As a dealer with a number of antique ivory works of art for sale, I am now having to involve myself in conforming to the new legislation.

Can anyone help, please, or point me in the direction of someone who can?

I am hoping that someone may be able to solve a chair ‘mystery’. It was most recently from the collection of Bernard Nevill at Philip Webb’s ‘West House’ (designed and built for artist George Price Boyce in 1868-69), also known as being the set for ‘Uncle Monty’s House’ in the 1987 film Withnail and I.

Portrait miniature on ivory are among the exemptions provided in the new Ivory Act [coming into force on June 6 – see front page of this issue].

Woolley & Wallis should be heartily congratulated for launching their internship scheme which will give one lucky candidate the opportunity of gaining invaluable experience and training in a range of subjects at one of our leading auction houses (News, ATG No 2542).

Congratulations to both Portobello and Admiral Vernon for restarting after the pandemic.

Peter Cannon-Brookes’ (Letters, ATG No 2541) memories of shipping exhibitions by sea bring to mind two dissimilar experiences which might amuse.

I read with interest your news highlighting the decisions being taken by several fair organisers to make changes to their admissions policy.

As a dealer for 35 years I feel I must reply to the private collector who feels hard done by because some fairs have a trade day.

The Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (also known as the ‘Nicosia’ Convention) entered into force on April 1.

Recently my son Phil Swift (Antique Laces – stall 1 Portobello Road) sold a piece of antique lace via the internet to a lady who lived in Kyiv (Ukraine).

I went to the Chelsea book fair [The ABA Chelsea Rare Book Fair] at Chelsea Town Hall on Saturday, April 30. What a delightful fair, set in a wonderful building, with a wonderful atmosphere and books on proper bookshelves.

I have been greatly heartened by the news that Christie’s is to trial shipping by sea freight with a view to reducing the environmental impact of existing systems of packing and transport (front page, ATG No 2539).

Being a collector and ‘auctionroomholic’, it grieves me at the way digital advancement plus the pandemic has given auctioneers a way to reduce the service they provide and yet continue with high commission fees.

I was saddened to read that Cindy Mainwaring has passed away (Obituary, ATG No 2539). She was a jolly and positive woman and I shall always have very fond memories of her.