Print Edition

Dealers, fair organisers and antiques centre managers are preparing to return to business with a mixture of enthusiasm and caution.

Auction houses in London have announced they are restarting live auctions in June.

A black chalk drawing of a skeleton drew an extraordinary competition at a German auction house Lempertz at the end of last month. Estimated at €3000-3500, it attracted at least 15 bidders and was eventually knocked down at €420,000 (£381,820) to a French dealer.

Among the best-performing lots at the latest mammoth sale held by TimeLine in Harwich, Essex was this 1st-2nd century hollow-formed bronze foot.

It was a case of interesting artist, distinctive painting and intriguing subject that sparked a strong bidding competition at a Glasgow sale.

On Friday, June 5, Michael Bloomstein of Brighton was paying the following for bulk scrap against a gold fix of: $1709.55 / €1516.24 / £1353.79

Keeping cool was just one of the many uses of the Georgian and Victorian fan.

Three works by Ipswich painter perform well in rescheduled East Anglian-themed auction

Literary lots in a recent Irish sale included one of a thousand signed copies of the 1922, limited-edition issue of 'The Trembling of the Veil', one of William Butler Yeats’ autobiographical works.

A recent sale at Lempertz (25/20% buyer’s premium) was held in Berlin dedicated to works of art from Prussia. The outstanding favourite was a gold and enamel presentation box, a gift from the German Emperor Wilhelm II.

Under the changed regulations in Germany it would have been possible for Dr Andreas Sturies (20% buyer’s premium) in Düsseldorf to hold the spring auction in front of an audience.

Estimated at just £50-70, this Chinese porcelain saucer dish sold online for £7850 at Edinburgh saleroom Franklin Browns (15% buyer’s premium).

Long run of the comics includes very first issue introducing The Hulk, Iron Man et al

Our regular listing of books and works on paper auctions the UK and Ireland.

As lockdown kicked in, Edward Whitton of Whittons auction house in Honiton conducted online-only auctions outside in the fresh air (the first was held on April 2). Internet buyers reported hearing birdsong as they placed bids.

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a George Armfield hunting scene.

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period May 28-June 3, 2020. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

Most surviving 17th century brown salt glaze vessels were made in Germany, typically in Frechen, close to the city of Cologne.

Shortly before the UK lockdown, Cumbrian saleroom Thomson Roddick (17.5% buyer’s premium inc VAT) offered works from the collection of The Shorthorn Society, a body that promotes the famous breed of cattle in the UK and Ireland.

MADAM – I was interested to see the details of ‘grand reopenings’ on front and p4 of ATG No 2445.