Auctioneers

THE imminent smoking ban and the government’s attempts to tackle binge drinking wouldn’t have gone down too well with the Reffley Brethren.

This Chinese turquoise ground ewer, standing just 73/4in (19.7cm) high, belongs to a group of ritual wares specially commissioned by the Qing Court for placement on Buddhist altars. Their function was for ceremonial use in palaces and temples either within the Forbidden Palace or Bishushanzhuang in Chengde.

CHRISTIE’S International have raised the stakes in the frantically competitive post-War and Contemporary art markets by acquiring leading dealership Haunch of Venison.

SOTHEBY’s are attempting to gain a lead over their competitors in the crucial area of client services by announcing major enhancements to their website. It follows the decision by rivals Christie’s to bring in new online features such as live bidding last year.

THE changing tastes of collectors and the great 21st century art boom have been widely reported in recent times. And a timely case in point arrives with the news that the Belgian collector and food magnate Baron Guy Ullens has chosen to sell his collection of 14 Turner watercolours to focus his collecting energies and resources on Chinese Contemporary art.

Bonhams have changed their buyer’s premium rates globally to match Sotheby’s and Christie’s with immediate effect.

Sotheby’s may be some distance away from holding sales in the Gulf – as Christie’s have now done three times – but they have taken measures to firm up their presence in the region by appointing a director for the Middle East and Gulf.

CHRISTIE’S have announced that they are raising their 20 per cent buyer’s premium threshold from £100,000 ($200,000) to £250,000 ($500,000). The move matches that made by Sotheby’s in mid January.

The pair of seven-light brass candlestands pictured here proved to be the highlight of a special themed sale held at Bonhams’ on January 29 titled The Gentleman’s Library Sale.

Among the highlights of Sotheby’s New York’s $96.9m Important Old Master Paintings sale on January 25 was Portrait of Captain Robert Shore Milnes painted in 1771-72 by Joseph Wright of Derby.

This enigmatic, 7in (18cm) high, early 18th century delftware plaque featured in Sotheby’s November 21 sale at Bond Street where it fetched a mid-estimate £26,000, selling to London dealer Jonathan Horne.

Snowfall may be sparse across the Alps this season, but it didn’t stop the storm of buyers at the tenth annual ski poster sale at Christie’s South Kensington on January 18 from raising their paddles.

THE untimely death on January 16 of Robert Noortman, the charismatic Dutch picture dealer who co-founded of the TEFAF Maastricht art fair, inevitably raises questions about the controversial relationship between Noortman Master Paintings and its owners Sotheby’s.

Wessex Auction Rooms, a new purpose-designed saleoom, has just opened on the outskirts of the Wiltshire market town of Chippenham.

Dramatic rise in threshold points to battle royal for top end of market

Helped by their stunning November series of New York art sales, Christie’s announced 2006 sales of £2.51bn including auction premiums. The figure – that includes more than £137m in private sales – is the highest in art auction history.

19th century furniture may not be the height of fashion, but this wine table is one of only a handful known to carry the label of Anton Seuffert, New Zealand’s premier cabinetmaker and inlayer. Many of the timbers seen to the 23in (58cm) diameter top are timbers native to New Zealand.

Bonhams have announced the opening of a new office in Hong Kong and three sales slated for May at Asia World Expo, the new exhibition centre there.

Christie’s confirmed their Paris dominance in 2006 by posting sales of €200.8m (£135m), up 74 per cent on the previous year.

Charterhouse Auctioneers and Valuers have expanded their operations in Sherborne with the addition of an extra saleroom, and new heating and air conditioning in their main saleroom.