Print Edition

Organisers’ first Woking Leisure Centre event attracts trade buyers well before opening

On Friday, February 18, Michael Bloomstein of Brighton was paying the following for bulk scrap against a gold fix of: $1886.95 / €1660.61 / £1386.15

ATG asked dealers who work in the interiors trade about their recent experience. They reported burgeoning business despite – or, indeed, because of – lockdowns over the past two years.

Consumer journalist and broadcaster Harry Wallop, 47, and his wife decorated their Art Deco holiday home Endymion House in Cumbria with 1930s pieces befitting the property’s ‘Poirot glamour’.

Aubrey Beardsley and John Batten add the illustrative attractions in North Yorks sale

Our special focus on the online marketplaces now available to support business

You can always find stylish pieces at 20th century design sales held by Italian auction houses. Here are some highlights from recent sales at Wannenes in Genoa on December 15-16 and Colasanti in Rome on October 7-8.

The big number in a London sale of music books, manuscripts, etc, was a collection of early pieces for guitar described as the most significant manuscript of its kind seen at auction in over 20 years.

Two letters in the hand of Benjamin Franklin, dating from 1782 and 1784 and both relating to the terms of the peace agreement between the newly independent USA and Britain that were being worked out during negotiations in Paris, provided the highest bids at Bonhams New York (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) on December 15.

ATG’s pick of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com, featuring both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

Keeping multiple sites up to date can be crucial for sales, but also very time consuming. Companies such as Ronati help dealers keep their online presence up to date.

Nine previews of items on offer from dealers

LAPADA members Rebecca and Jonny Ralfe founded Ralfes Yard five years ago in south Somerset.

The near-total ban on the trade in antique ivory in the UK promised three years ago is just a matter of weeks away from enforcement.

A rare opportunity to gauge the market for a major Newlyn School painting came at David Lay’s latest auction in Penzance when a lively and clamorous scene by Stanhope Forbes (1857-1947) was offered with a £120,000-180,000 estimate.

Graham Budd Auctions is under new ownership, with its founder becoming chairman.

Among the top sales at the winter edition of The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair last month was this 1963 Arne Jacobsen leather egg chair and ottoman.

The search for doomed explorer John Franklin grips collectors almost as much as expeditions of discovery themselves.