News

UK: POLICE have announced that they won’t be launching a full investigation into Stonegate Antiques Centre owner Anthony Gilberthorpe. Following their preliminary inquiries, Detective Constable Clive Rich, of North Yorkshire Police, said the force would not be conducting further investigations into either Mr Gilberthorpe or the centre in York.

“Stunning” was how auctioneer Ian Wright of Sheffield Railwayana Auctions (no buyer’s premium) described his December 7 sale. Taking £555,703 over the 550-lots, of which only six were left unsold, the sale showed how this buoyant market just keeps getting stronger and stronger.

The Tribal Arts of Africa by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, published by Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0500282315 £18.95pb

Peter Waldron, senior silver expert and senior director of Sotheby’s Europe, retired at the end of last year after a 36-year career with the company and 29 years at the rostrum.

Monet at Vétheuil 1878-1883 by David Joel, published by the Antique Collectors Club. ISBN 1851494235 £25hb

John Ruskin, by Tim Hilton, published by Yale University Press. ISBN 0300090994 £14.99pb

THE future of the Trading Art Group Ltd, a company set up to hold sales of remaindered art, is in the balance after creditors complained about unpaid bills. The principals of the TAG venture, Michael Roosen and Greg Ward, were unavailable for comment last week. Mr Roosen held a TAG sale in 2000, a venture which failed and had angry dealers attempting in vain to get recompense for damaged stock.