Latest News Articles by Anne Crane
Antiquities lots turn heads in salerooms
25 September 2023This carved marble portrait head of a youth shown here is Roman and comes from a tightly dated period of the 2nd century.
Presentation sword cuts through complaints of bad conduct
25 September 2023John Eamer was a wholesale grocer who dealt in sugar imported from the West Indies. His success led to him becoming Sheriff of London in 1794.
Pick of the week: Sceptre recalls story of a tragic emperor
18 September 2023This intricate gold filigree and gemset sceptre was presented to Charlotte, Empress of Mexico, by the Mexican city of San Juan del Rio.
Still-lifes and landscapes reflect the Dutch Golden Age
18 September 2023Golden Age Dutch works in the form of still-lifes and landscapes will be on offer at Koller in Zurich in an auction of Old Masters on September 22.
Fragonard makes a sacrificial offering
18 September 2023An oil on canvas by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) estimated at €4m-6m is billed as a highlight of the sale of Old Master and 19th century art to be held by Artcurial in Paris in November.
Small cabinet full of decorative appeal
11 September 2023A highly decorative example of Japanese lacquer provided one of the highlights of Tennants’ (24/20% buyer’s premium) July 15 summer sale.
Capron creates tile-topped table
11 September 2023Tajan is holding a sale of Modern and Contemporary Ceramics in Paris on September 19 timed to be on view during Paris Design Week which runs from September 7-16.
Hiroshige hauled out of a cupboard
11 September 2023Discovered in a cupboard in a house in the Cévennes wrapped in newspaper dated 1937 were two albums containing a series of Japanese prints by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), one of the most sought-after Japanese woodblock print artists.
Charles II casket could do with a bit of love
11 September 2023Lawrences’ (30% buyer’s premium) summer sales series in Crewkerne included a Charles II period stumpwork casket.
Summer series of Riviera sales sees Zrzavy works shine in Cannes
11 September 2023Paintings by the prominent 20th century Czech artist Jan Zrzavy (1890-1977) were among the highlights during a recent sales series in the French Riviera.
Gustave Alaux has a ball in Saint-Domingue
11 September 2023Gustave Alaux (1887-1965) was a French marine artist with a particular interest in historical naval scenes and vessels, often depicted in exotic settings such as the French colonies. He was appointed official painter to the navy in 1926.
Battle for lowly-estimated Empire period Sèvres plates
11 September 2023A group of nine Empire period Sèvres porcelain plates were the object of keen interest when they came up for sale at Lockdales in Ipswich on August 31.
Silver groups ride into salerooms
04 September 2023Three equestrian silver groups made by different London firms over the space of a century took centre stage in three separate sales in July.
Carry off a smaller clock by maker of Big Ben fame
04 September 2023Dent and Co is one of the bestknown names in English horology with a long history of precision clock and watch making.
Raise your Jacobite drinking glass to toast the Old and Young Pretenders
28 August 2023A group of just over 20 lots of Jacobite drinking glasses from the 18th century featured in a sale of Scottish Works of Art and Whisky held in Edinburgh.
Claret jug on an Odyssey
28 August 2023This elegant Victorian clear glass claret jug of neoclassical design featured in the July 27 sale at Kinghams (25/18/15% buyer’s premium).
Classic goblet takes £4000
28 August 2023Included in Mellors & Kirk’s (24% buyer’s premium) July 18-20 sale in Nottingham was this classic baluster goblet dated to the 18th century.
Wine bottle pays tribute to a Wedgwood
28 August 2023An 18th century wine bottle honouring Thomas Wedgwood, a key figure in the history of the Wedgwood factory, comes for sale in Derbyshire this autumn.
Dutch lot bowls over bidders
28 August 2023This 12in (30.5cm) diameter Dutch delft bowl was a high-flyer at Rob Michiels (30% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Bruges.
Young dealers given chance to shine at the Parcours des Mondes
28 August 2023Latest edition of the tribal art event in Paris now includes a special showcase for six new faces