London

Lure of top-end art proves too tempting

Trade reaction to the extension of London’s congestion charge zone ranges from serious concern to mild resignation.

Exhibitors find a fortnight in London too costly to bear

Council commission points to more sympathetic position

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.

THERE’S post-festive joy in Camden Passage, as Mike Weedon, spokesman for the Camden Passage Association, reports that many of the dealers who’ve been trading there for 30 years had their best Christmas on record.

Auction series takes art sales to new level

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.

Pictured here is a prime example of the work of the as-yet unmasked Rowlandson faker who has been very active over the last two or three years, placing his forgeries in several high-profile country auction rooms.

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.

THE Metropolitan Police have defended their decision to cut funding to the art and antiques unit by 50 per cent.

As recent London sales have demonstrated, demand for top-class Italian maiolica is on something of a roll. There is an international roster of collectors who are attracted to this colourful ceramic version of Italian Old Master painting.

NEW Bond Street dealers Partridge have announced that HRH Princess Michael of Kent has joined them as president of the firm.

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.

The Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race runs for four and a half miles along the River Thames, starting at The Old Swan Inn at London Bridge, finishing at The Old Swan at Chelsea, and passing under 11 bridges en route.

Sotheby’s are to sell the stock of Bourdon House, the historic Georgian townhouse in Mayfair recently sold by London dealers Mallett.

SIGN up now for the joint RICS/SOFAA Auction Law Conference which will take place in London on Monday, January 22.

AT £420m, the deal would have brought St James Capital a 70 per cent profit on the £245m they paid for the complex just two and a half years ago. But it appears that last week’s London Evening Standard scoop on the sale of Earls Court and Olympia was, at the very least, a little premature.

The Museum in Docklands have acquired a rare and significant archive of 18th century papers highlighting London’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.

THE Christmas lights are now on in Camden Passage, but for some dealers this will be their last festive period in the London antiques thoroughfare.