UK

A historically significant portrait of Nicholas Sprimont (1716-71) is set to stay in the UK after dealer Errol Manners sold it for the second time in his career – this time to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Sunbury Antiques Market holding a Sunday staging at Kempton, Love Fairs’ launch of an annual antiques festival in Tunbridge Wells and a fresh location for Flea London are among the latest new events this summer.

The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) has teamed up with interior designer Rita Konig for its annual event BADA Week.

Works by John Bellany (1942-2013) abound at auction, with at least 2000 pictures sold in the last 10 years.

This near-life size 19th century cold painted bronze of the Three Graces sold at the Buxton Antiques Fair last month.

Plans to drastically reduce the carbon emissions of the art and antiques sector by cutting air freight have been put forward by a group of art market businesses.

In May 2019 Spink (20% buyer’s premium) medal specialist Marcus Budgen was entrusted to catalogue the medals of Gunner A Howard, ‘N’ Battery, 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery, one of just four members of the RA present at the defence of Rorke’s Drift in the Zulu War.

Horror and fantasy novelist went from buying comic art to modern European purchases.

Long before Mirandinha, Faustino Asprilla and Nolberto Solano graced the hallowed turf of Newcastle United’s St James’ Park, two brothers paved the way for South American footballers to play professionally in England.

A late Victorian oil on canvas depicting steam ships on the Thames at Wapping drew a protracted bidding battle at Ramsay Cornish’s (20% buyer’s premium) recent Homes & Interiors auction in Edinburgh.

Ceramics selection coming up at auction this summer.

A private medal collection rated by Ipswich saleroom Lockdales (18% buyer’s premium) as “magnificent” was offered on May 20-22.

A selection of Second World War ephemera with a distinctly Polish flavour estimated at £60-100 sold instead for £7600 at a Devon auction.

Two volumes of poetry offered in London auction were published by the Marvell Press.

Prestigious Chelsea fair Masterpiece can even boast an official champagne partner.

Another artist for whom a plentiful supply of works is available is Northern painter Arthur Delaney (1927-87).

Three albums containing in all some 410 wood engravings by Gwen Raverat (1885-1957), compiled by the artist as a personal record of her work and sold by a descendant, made a total of £34,500 at Dominic Winter (20% buyer’s premium) on May 11.

Flight Lieutenant Maurice ‘Mark’ Mounsdon was one of only four remaining members of Sir Winston Churchill’s ‘The Few’ when he died in 2019 aged 101.

The summer Art & Antiques Fair is now running in Olympia Grand, the largest of the halls.