Latest News Articles by Jonathan Franks
Anker sketch with Renaissance undertones
24 April 2023Works by Albert Anker (1881-1910) are as popular with today’s Swiss collectors as they were in the late 19th century
Lion hunt painting proves a real catch in Zürich auction
24 April 2023The biggest surprise at a sale held by Schuler (23/20/16% buyer’s premium) came when the dramatic depiction of The Lion Hunt was offered for SFr3000
The high priest of German Orientalism
24 April 2023During the second half of the 19th and the early part of the 20th century, the German artist Ferdinand Keller (1842-1922) had a highly successful career as a painter of historical motifs, some imagined, some of a more documentary manner
Guillaumin captivated by the Mediterranean light
27 March 2023On numerous occasions in the early part of the 20th century, Armand Guillaumin visited the picturesque medieval seaside village of Le Brusc.
Bavarian connoisseur clocks collection comes up for auction
27 March 2023For three decades, from the 1950s-80s, a Bavarian connoisseur amassed a collection of clocks, some of which are being sold by Nagel in Stuttgart.
Artist rated as the first exponent of modern Turkish painting
27 March 2023The Franco-Turkish painter Osman Hamdi Bey bridged the gap between Orient and Occident and is regarded as the first exponent of modern Turkish painting
End of the world viewed by Haring
20 March 2023Much has been made of the fact that in 1988 Keith Haring produced a series of 10 signed and dated serigraphs with texts by the veteran writer William Burroughs with the title 'Apocalypse'.
Märklin central station just the ticket among railway toys
20 March 2023Some serious bidding action took place in the room when Lankes (25% buyer’s premium) sold tinplate toys in the small Bavarian town of Döhlau.
Second-heaviest coin in classical numismatics sells at Berlin auction
20 March 2023One would hardly call a 13in x 2ft 1in (34 x 63cm) copper block, weighing more than 32 pounds (14.6kg), a convenient method of payment, but in the mid-17th century such plates were indeed issued in Sweden under King Charles X Gustav.
Postcard sends a €4000 Bauhaus message
20 March 2023Director Gropius invited promising student Helm to promote an exhibition
Celebrity lawyer collection brings fame and fortune
20 March 2023The new season got off to an encouraging start for Cologne auction house Lempertz (26% buyer’s premium) when it held an African and Oceanic art sale on February 1 in Brussels
Historic Pathé Frères films reeled in at auction
02 January 2023A treasure trove for film aficionados was one of the highlights at Auction Team Breker (24.8% buyer’s premium) on November 5.
Famous canine Nipper finds his voice
02 January 2023In these days of music-streaming, the once ubiquitous image of the mongrel Nipper listening to a gramophone is no longer such a familiar sight.
Bellotto by royal appointment
02 January 2023One of four works as commission for the Polish king is the star lot of an Austrian collection
Code machine not all it was cracked up to be
02 January 2023A chance find proved to be very fortuitous for one of the consignors of the auction held by Schreiber (22% buyer’s premium) on November 5.
Hans Coper on the hour
02 January 2023Long before the auction in Krefeld began, it was clear that the price for a vase by Hans Coper would be way higher than the estimate of €8000.
Chadwick proved his mettle
21 November 2022A welding course was to have a lasting effect on the artistic development of the British sculptor Lynn Chadwick (1914-2003).
Augsburg and Meissen mix help fuel demand for cutlery set at Metz auction
14 November 2022The combination of Meissen porcelain and Augsburg silver proved to be a winning formula at a sale held by Metz (25% buyer’s premium) in Heidelberg.
Bixie could bring power and position if third time lucky
14 November 2022A multitude of fabulous creatures are an integral part of traditional Chinese mythology. Among them is the Bixie, whose name translates as ‘to ward off evil spirits’.