Europe

The sale of Fine Jewellery & Ladies Watches at Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dublin on May 13 included an impressive retro sapphire and diamond ‘tank’ ring, c.1940, that came for sale from the ‘private collection of a Continental lady’.

A rare preparatory study by Henri de Toulouse- Lautrec (1864-1901) for one of his famous lithographic posters proved to be the highlight of the 20/21 Century Art evening sale at Christie’s (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) in Paris.

A finely crafted Louis XIV period mirror frame attributed to the skilled royal cabinetmaker Jean Armand was one of the star performers in the Classics sale held in Paris by Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium).

French firm holds auctions relating to earlier monarchy and Napoleon

Having been a senior EEC official specialising in customs matters before becoming an antiques dealer, I am well versed in customs charges relating to the import of antiques.

In 1948, Finnish designer Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) undertook one of the most ambitious projects of his career.

The first part of an auction series offering a remarkable array of coins buried in Europe for over 50 years to prevent them from being looted during Nazi invasion kicked off with a focus on British and colonial milled coins from Charles II to George V.

A legend in the world of antiques left this mortal coil on the May 10. George Stacpoole was one of the founders in 1964 and long-term president of the Irish Antiques Dealers Association (IADA).

New regulations on importing cultural goods are looming and could mean significant challenges for the trade

International museum and institutional interest is always a feature of the Salon du Dessin but this year it was even more marked with nearly 500 curators attending.

Although cautiously catalogued, the Library Collection sale at Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dublin on April 29 included three pieces of Roman statuary that had been in an Irish private collection since around 1940.

The toy manufacturer Märklin did not just produce models for private use.

Sheet of various figures and body parts in red and white chalk set an auction record for Primaticcio

Silverware with connections to key figures from the famous French firm of Puiforcat proved to be a major component in a sale of items from a Parisian family collection held by Beaussant Lefèvre (28% buyer’s premium).

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including the acquisition of Adams Blackrock by Ross's Auctioneers