UK

Landmarks along the Christie’s South Kensington memory lane...

The well-known Manchester art dealer, Michael Fulda, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 3.

Dreamy landscapes, fairies and classical female nudes fill many of today’s best-known canvases by the Victorian artist Edward Robert Hughes (1851-1914). But it was his skills as a portraitist that impressed critics most while he lived.

August is traditionally the month when most of the auction world takes a breather. But in Scotland, where well-heeled holiday-makers tread, there is no let-up.

With the disappearance of Christie’s South Kensington the London market is in a state of flux. ATG looks to the future and considers the opportunities for the firms that seek to take its place.

Despite their function, stirrup cups in the form of equine heads are a little harder to find than those of dogs and foxes.

Possibly the largest quantity of watercolours by the Second World War artist Thomas Hennell (1903-45) to come to auction in one sitting was on offer at Mallams (20% buyer’s premium) on July 5

In the lead-up to Masterpiece, the organisers suggested that, despite the high-quality offered, the fair offers more than just the astronomically expensive.

The summer fairs and markets scene is cranking into high gear, so here is a short selection over the next two weekends.

South London auctioneer seizes chance to hire specialists as it looks to plug gaps in its offer...

Purchased at the Great Exhibition of 1851, the ‘Industrial Exhibition of All Nations’ jigsaw type game shown here sold for £1350 at Lawrences (22% buyer’s premium) on June 16.

ATG’s weekly selection of items on sale at auctions and dealerships.

Claire Schonhut launched Beya Fontenay with her husband Jack two years ago. The company saves relics from the past which would otherwise be scrapped. They “aren’t on the lookout for anything specific, but are attracted to anything which inspires”.

At just after 10am on July 19, William Porter – the first of four carefully chosen auctioneers – climbed the rostrum to a ripple of applause from an audience of two dozen staff and a dozen or so buyers. “Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Christie’s South Kensington and welcome to the Interiors sale.” Long pause. “For the last time,” he said. “Boo,” heckled a voice from the front.

Bookings are going well for the collaborative venture between B2B Events and Bentleys Fairs at the beginning of August.

This work above by the popular cartoonist Max Beerbohm (1872-1956) was a highlight of Mallams’ library sale on June 21.

ATG’s weekly selection of items on sale at auctions and dealerships.

Possibly made for a member of the French monarchy, this post-medieval gold ring combines the heraldic fleur-de-lis motif with blue kite-shaped sapphires.

The two galleries in Wales that fall under the umbrella of Martin Tinney celebrate local art in their summer shows.

Auctioneers and dealers will have to decide whether to absorb the cost of credit card transactions or pass them on to buyers in another form when a ban on all such fees comes into force in January 2018.