News

As BBC cameras rolled for live television, Duke’s of Dorchester sold three pieces of purportedly ancient gold for a total of £56,000 on June 5. The consignment, rejected by at least one major London auction house before Duke’s accepted them, has been the source of much opinion since their sale was announced in late May.

A FRENCH court has ruled for the first time that eBay are directly responsible for what is sold on their website.

Hedge funds operating in the art market are shifting their investments from the medium to the short term. That is the view of Randall Willette, managing director of Fine Art Wealth Management Ltd, who was a keynote speaker at the 2008 Art Investment Conference at the London Business School.

THE owners of The Mall in Camden Passage have appealed against the council’s decision to reject their proposals to redevelop the North London antiques centre.

François Nicole, the Geneva-based pioneer of the musical box, is thought to have made around 440 boxes during his working life, but only 60 are known today. Make that 61: courtesy of a local vendor another turned up at Cirencester auctioneer Moore Allen & Innocent on May 30.

DESPITE the latest news concerning the property company and auction firm Humberts, the Cotswolds fine art operation will continue as before.

AWARDS for best stands were presented on June 5, the preview day of the Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair, which closes on June 15.