Oxfordshire

The art and antiques trade is mourning the loss of prints dealer Justin Skrebowski, who was murdered in what appears to have been a random knife attack in Abingdon.

Many who viewed a Barkentin and Krall chalice at JS Auctions in Bodicote, Oxfordshire will have hoped to win it close to its £300-500 estimate.

Staff at The Swan at Tetsworth say it is ‘business as usual’ despite the dramatic ram-raid at the Oxfordshire antiques centre last weekend.

Following the success of last year’s Oxford conference for art and antiques professionals, Jeremy Lamond of Halls and Rupert Toovey of Toovey’s have announced the 2015 event will be held on Friday and Saturday, September 11-12.

The 2015 NAVA Auctioneer of the Year competition takes place on September 23 at the Oxford Belfry.

In the 1984 book ‘The Late Paintings and Drawings of John Constable’ by Graham Reynolds, a pencil drawing of the back and shoulders of the artist’s wife Mrs Maria Constable (nee Bicknell) is described as ‘whereabouts unknown’.

Bonhams are to close their Oxfordshire salerooms and move more merchandise to London as part of a further review of their regional operations.

Holloway’s of Banbury, founded in the early 1970s by the late Tim Holloway and owned since 2001 by Nick Williams, is to join Charles Ross Auctioneers, owned by Russell Beard.

When Ann Ullmann, the daughter of Eric Ravilious (1903-42), visited J.S. Auctions’ newly refurbished salerooms in Banbury in August, she declared herself delighted to see this previously unknown 16 x 20in (41 x 52cm) watercolour, above, by her father for the first time.

With the new auction season kicking off in September, plenty of pictures will be going under the hammer over the next few weeks and, naturally, there are a few stars that have come to light across the regions.

This postcard sketch by the Chapman Brothers is one of a large number created by well-known figures in art, sport, music TV and film to raise money for Action Against Cancer and the Brain Tumor Charity Silas Pullen Fund.

The second Oxford Conference for auctioneers on September 13-14 saw the launch of a new template for valuations devised by Rupert Toovey and Paul Britton.

The two-day House & Garden Sale at Mallams in Abingdon, Oxfordshire saw this near pair of early 20th century Louis Vuitton ‘malle armoire secretaires’ sell for £24,000.

All spaces taken at antiques centre in Oxfordshire town within two weeks of opening

Jim Dine, Roy Lichtenstein and Erró are just some of the artists whose works are included in the collection of the late film producer Hercules Bellville to be offered on March 5 at Holloway’s of Banbury.

Antiques traders in the Oxfordshire area are being urged to be on their guard after a theft at Burford Antiques Centre.

The Bodleian Library has been given a £1.2m boost in its bid to raise £2.2m by the end of February to buy an important slice of photographic history.

Oxfordshire saleroom Jones & Jacob of Watlington sold this Nathaniel Mills silver presentation snuff box for £16,600 at their latest sale.

This Nathaniel Mills presentation snuff box was given to Isambard K. Brunel and will be included in Jones & Jacob’s sale on December 5 in Watlington, Oxfordshire.

A pair of Queen Victoria’s silk black stockings complete with royal monograms is up for sale at Holloway’s of Banbury on December 4.