News

THE National Maritime Museum are asking for help in tracking down two missing paintings by William Hodges. The works The Effects of Peace and The Consequences of War were last seen at a European Museum sale at Christie’s in 1813.

SPEAKING after a combined-operation sale at Edinburgh on June 10-11 which offered jewellery, silver and furniture, Bonhams’ (17.5/10% buyer's premium) specialist Bruce Anderson said: “Ultimately trade buying underpins a sale so if the trade is finding business tricky this affects us.

WITH London hosting Asia week, Olympia and Grosvenor House in June, there was always going to be a trade battle for a Chinese vase which proved the sleeper of Charterhouse's (15% buyer's premium) 870-lot May 21 auction.

FLORIDA-based organisers International Fine Art Expositions have surprised the international antiques world by announcing a change of name for their flagship fair in West Palm Beach. From its next staging in February 2005 it will be renamed Palm Beach! America’s International Fine Art & Antique Fair and the organisers are emphasising that this event is now an alternative to the great, long-established European fairs.

CONTINUING the recent spate of sophisticated country house thefts, valuable antiques were stolen from two homes in the south east of England in the space of a week last month.

COMBINE the perennial appeal of the Fabergé name with the current demand for all things Russian and it has been no surprise to see soaring prices for pieces by this famous firm in recent seasons.

THE Antiques Trade Gazette has learnt that Brightwells Fine Art are planning to launch a scheme where newly-married couples can use wedding gifts from their guests to bid at auction.