Collectables

Among the more extraordinary forms of French furniture is the ‘machine pneumatique’ – a device used in the Age of Enlightenment to demonstrate the mysterious properties of the vacuum or ‘the energy of the nothingness’.

I was very sorry to read about the death of ATG's antiquarian books columnist Ian McKay (Obituary, ATG No 2689). He was a good guy and occasional visitor here.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book sales

Oxfam discoveries from a pile of donations include Chinese religious rarity, Communist manifesto and Dickens

Books dealership Peter Harrington’s latest catalogue explores how technology has shaped, controlled, and empowered the voiceless, while fuelling the flow of information and culture.

The pages of ATG have included many antiques stalls over the years but not many that measure just over 2ft long.

Ian McKay (November 22, 1945-February 19, 2025) was born on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, to Scottish father David McKay and English mother Alice Harland, who met while serving in the RAF during the Second World War. He went to school in Kent.

Paul Nash, looking back at the 1924-25 period when he taught design at the Royal College of Art, said: “I was fortunate in being there during an outbreak of talent and can remember at least eight men and women who have made names for themselves since then in a variety of different directions.”

Our selection of lots from seven upcoming auctions

Ian McKay's colleagues Mark Bridge, Ivan Macquisten and Anne Crane remember the late columnist

A fine example of early 18th century Ottoman metalwork sold for many times its estimate at Stockholms Auktionsverk (20% buyer’s premium) on February 20.

Book was published by champion of Swiss Calvinism four years before he became a Protestant martyr