Features

Forum Auctions’ Rupert Powell celebrates the easing of lockdown – and the firm’s fifth anniversary

London gallery devotes catalogue to items from the era to mark bicentenary of his death

How the livre d’artiste can combine words and images beautifully – and be highly desirable

How letters related to wars bring a connection that history books cannot match

After a long and illustrious naval career, it is a pity that Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell is best known for the circumstances of his death.

A selection of upcoming books, maps and prints at auctions around the UK and overseas.

ATG interviews the new Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association president Pom Harrington

A brief history of maps designed to communicate ideas over geographical accuracy

Most prints are closely connected with an artist’s wider oeuvre. A few good Welsh examples were on offer at Rogers Jones (22% buyer’s premium) in Cardiff on April 17.

Convoys to protect merchant vessels have a long history in naval conflict. A letter sold at Kent saleroom C&T (22% buyer’s premium) in a timed Military Books, Ephemera & Photographs Auction reveals Royal Navy ships in action back in 1808.

This calendar lists a selection of forthcoming specialist fairs and markets around the world.

Lyon & Turnbull’s May 14 sale in London includes this flambe glazed pear-shaped bottle vase that carries a Qianlong mark and may be of the period.

This late Ming (17th century) jade water pot in the form of a chimera will be offered by Dreweatts on May 19.

A number of Paris salerooms will be holding dedicated auctions of Asian Arts in June.

This large, 3ft (92cm), high imperial gilt bronze figure of Varjrabhairava features in the Asian art sale at Nagel in Stuttgart on June 23-25.

Bonhams conducts a general sale of Asian art in Knightsbridge on May 10.

A highlight of the Asian Art sale at Tajan will be this still-life of a pot of primroses, apples and porcelain by Chinese artist Pan Yu Liang (1895-1977).

The May 11-14 auction at Adam Partridge will feature the last 40 lots of Meiji period Satsuma from a noted Worcestershire collection.

Schedules for all sorts of auction series have been shaken up by pandemic restrictions, and the Asian art sales reflect this – but plenty is still on offer at the upcoming series

On May 18 Paris auction firm Tessier Sarrou is selling the first part of a collection of Japanese swords.