News

Irish auctioneers Mealy’s have a 36-year history of collaborating with Christie’s to sell major collections and, although the crème de la crème may have been offered in London in May, their recent sale of the treasures at Mount Congreve, Co Waterford was far from a matter of crumbs from a rich man’s table.

This image shows artist Fred Cuming (b.1936) viewing one of his own paintings depicting his studio in Hythe. It was a work he had not seen for 42 years until it turned up for an auction taking place on September 19.

Later this year, Sotheby’s will be offering three valuable works of art from the Devonshire collection at Chatsworth House including one of the best Raphael drawings remaining in private hands.

A portrait of Princess Elizabeth by Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970) completed just a few years before she became Queen is to go under the hammer at Bloomsbury Auctions in London on September 12.

Decorated by William Burges (1827-1881), this silver mounted Chinese carved celadon jade bowl it to be offered at Dreweatts in Donnington Priory, Newbury on September 12.

There is growing evidence that financial institutions are looking much more seriously at art as an asset for investment and loan guarantees.

The Chinese market may have slowed down a bit in the last six months, but this sector nevertheless remains of great importance to UK provincial auctioneers.