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TWO very strong prices, one in Edinburgh and one in London have underlined the status of the Zeigler as the most fashionable of late 19th century carpets. And the £110,000 and £130,000 bid for Zeigler & Co. carpets at Lyon & Turnbull on March 31 (Antiques Trade Gazette 1636, April 24) and Sotheby’s on April 28 (Antiques Trade Gazette 1641, May 29) had one thing in common – both were made with cream grounds.

A FEW weeks ago, The Guardian published a sensible and responsible feature concerning the current malaise of the antiques trade.

AN airheaded and insubstantial vice it might be, but plainly vanity has lasting appeal at auction, judging by the success of the coromandel veneered lady’s box, top right, and the gentleman’s hide toilet case, bottom right, offered at Amersham Auctions Rooms (15% buyer's premium) on June 6.

A FEW weeks ago, The Guardian published a sensible and responsible feature concerning the current malaise of the antiques trade.

THE 19th century European Paintings sales at Sotheby’s are divided into a number of regionally-themed sections which are enjoying varying degrees of health. Although they continue to have their occasional moments, the formerly booming markets for Orientalist, German and Scandinavian pictures continue to be pale reflections of their former selves.

BACK in July 1984, Christie’s took £75,000 (£81,000 with premium) for Thomas Rowlandson’s (1756-1827) pièce de résistance watercolour of Box-lobby loungers.

FEW fair organisers are bolder than Caroline Penman who, for decades, has been putting together such respected and traditional fixtures as the Chelsea and West London Antique Fairs. Not every Penman endeavour succeeds, but Caroline keeps coming up with new ideas and venues and, from September 3 to 5, she moves to East Anglia to launch the Bury St. Edmunds Antiques Fair at The Athenaeum in the Suffolk town’s Angel Square.