Latest News Articles by Jonathan Franks
Nautilus but nice
05 June 2026Many of the Austrian designer Gustav Gurschner’s works of art were driven by the new possibilities provided by electricity.
Bidders battle it out for a marvellous Miklosch watch
15 May 2026A seemingly never-ending bidding match ensued at Cortrie in Hamburg on May 9 for a tourbillon-watch by the German watchmaker Richard Miklosch (1939-2014) .
Hondius extras make a world of difference to Mercator maps
15 May 2026Jodocus Hondius’ additions for his edition of Gerhard Mercator’s pioneering 'Atlas Sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura' made the work one of the most accomplished collections of maps from the early 17th century.
How bible translations in China spread the word
15 May 2026One of two translated versions that appeared almost simultaneously emerges in German saleroom
Letters from French and Scottish queens who shared tragic fates
15 May 2026The sales at Stargardt (20% buyer’s premium) in Berlin are an important rendezvous for autograph dealers and collectors.
Roman torso and ‘Cycladic’ figure stand out for bidders
08 May 2026The modest reserve of €2500 for the 13in (34cm) Roman marble torso of a seated man from the 1st or 2nd century left the bidders at Dr Eder (25% buyer’s premium) in Cologne with plenty of upward scope.
Sixteenth century Old Master sleepers awake in Switzerland
08 May 2026In recent sales at Artcurial, Bailly, Beurret and Widner (25% buyer’s premium) in Basel, works of art from the renowned collection of Lotar Neumann in Gingins have been consigned by his descendants and achieved notable results.
Cracking price for rare crackled Primavera glass
08 May 2026Vases and other vessels employing the Primavera technique belong to the rarest types of glass produced in Murano.
Actor star value pushes up prices
08 May 2026Collection of popular and well-respected Austrian figure puts in a notable performance at auction
Naturalist got into a flap after his pigeons book was hijacked
01 May 2026While many people have a decided aversion to pigeons, this did not apply to the bidders at Kiefer (25% buyer’s premium) in Pforzheim, Germany.
Munich auction house Neumeister to close
27 April 2026German auction market in shock after news that Neumeister will close.
More celebrations for de Caullery
17 April 2026There was plenty of interest at a sale held by Van Ham (27% buyer’s premium) in Cologne for a painting of a Medieval scene with jousting tournament.
Three Old Masters come to auction with a direct link to Augustus the Strong
17 April 2026Three Old Master paintings being sold by Van Ham on May 22 in Cologne have a direct connection to the collection of Augustus the Strong.
Cypher machine takes more than eight-times estimate at German auction
17 April 2026With only one key, the Diskret, which was offered at a recent sale at Auction Team Breker (21.8% buyer’s premium), did not conform to the conventional layout of a typewriter.
Davy medal emerges in German sale
17 April 2026In 1869, under the terms of the will of John Davy, brother of the celebrated chemist Humphry Davy, the Davy Medal was established in his name.
'Prismatic Cubism' painting by Romanian artist to be offered in Germany
17 April 2026The Romanian artist Arthur Segal spent much of his career in Germany among the avant garde.
Strong contest for Arita vase Augustus admired
17 April 2026Augustus the Strong, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, was known as a monumental collector.
German industrialist's collection of bronzes shine at auction
17 April 2026Thuringian auction house enjoys more success with collection of local industrialist
Arms of Prussia Chinese export tureen emerges at Lempertz sale
17 April 2026Founded in 1751 at the behest of the Prussian king Frederick the Great, ‘The Royal Prussian Asiatic Company in Emden to Canton and China’ aimed to profit from the trade between Europe and China.
Criticism of father of Art Nouveau taken with pinch of salt
17 April 2026The Flemish designer Henry van de Velde excelled in many fields, working as a painter and architect, before he devoted himself to creating a multitude of designs, from cutlery to furniture, from wallpaper to porcelain.