News

NOBLE Investments, the parent company of coin and medal specialists Baldwins, have acquired the stock, reference library and client database of Sussex-based stamp dealers Leo Baresch Limited for an undisclosed sum.

THE association of art and antiques dealers LAPADA has appointed Lord Chadlington, founder of PR giant Shandwick, as their new chairman.

AFTER years of TV programmes that have approached antiques using the controversial gameshow format, we finally have a proper champion in the shape of Kirstie Allsopp – and it’s not even an antiques show.

It could be less than a month until the date is named when antiquities dealer Malcolm Hay will be extradited to serve a four-year jail sentence in Greece – on the strength of no credible evidence.

HELPED by the boom in Chinese works of art, UK regional salerooms continue to rewrite the record books. Following the £43m vase at Bainbridges of Ruislip, Salisbury auctioneers Woolley & Wallis posted two more seven-figure sums for jades.

DEALERS are being warned that they could be targeted by credit card fraud after a noticeable increase in cloned American Express cards.

SOTHEBY’S set a new auction record for a jewel in Geneva when a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond sold to London jeweller Laurence Graff at SFr40.5m (£25.6m) plus premium.