Latest News Articles by Jonathan Franks
‘Ornamental genius’ Peche proves popular 100 years after his death
09 October 2023Wiener Werkstätte designer died aged just 36 but still produced an extensive range in various materials
Go into reverse gear to collect
09 October 2023For many decades, Wolfgang Steiner and his wife Gisela have devoted their collecting passion towards verre églomisé, the art of reverse-painting on glass.
Platter taken to 11 times estimate at German auction
24 July 2023The sale at Düsseldorfer Auktionshaus (25% buyer’s premium) on May 12 included this 22in (57cm) diameter Russian carved wood ‘bread and salt’ dish.
Derain design stretches to ceramics
24 July 2023Rare works on offer in Swiss saleroom were by artist most familiar for his Fauvist fine art creations
Peter, Pietro or Pieter makes his name
24 July 2023An early 17th century pen and ink drawing of Euterpe, the muse of lyrical music, caused the biggest surprise at Karl & Faber (27% buyer’s premium).
Asian buyers battle at auction for relics of their regions
24 July 2023Recent sales of Asian art achieved some memorable prices, paid not surprisingly by Asian buyers.
Romantic view of the sky – seen from behind bars in a prison
24 July 2023A canvas by the Romantic painter Carl Gustav Carus (1789-1869) went for many times the guide at Kinsky (28% buyer’s premium) in Vienna.
Albert Birkle disturbs and delights at Lempertz
17 July 2023In the 1920s, the German painter Albert Birkle (1900-86) combined 'Neue Sachlichkeit' (New Objectivity) with his version of magic realism to produce sometimes disturbing results.
Big expression of interest as overseas buyers compete at German auctions
17 July 2023International collectors invested considerable sums in the Expressionist paintings on offer at German sales over the last few weeks.
Time to consider pocket watches as a collecting option
19 June 2023Recent auction results in Germany and Switzerland give a snapshot of the market beyond wristwatches
Beckmann's depiction of friend’s family comes to Munich auction
29 May 2023Known for his countless self-portraits, second only in number to Rembrandt, and a distinctive style often with somewhat sinister undertones, Max Beckmann also created some surprising works.
German artist Scholz's 'scandalous' picture takes six-figure sum at auction
29 May 2023Berlin is obviously a good place to sell paintings by the German artist Georg Scholz (1890-1945), one of the leading representatives of Neue Sachlichkeit (new objectivity).
Hungary's Munkácsy bid to more than three times estimate at Swiss auction
29 May 2023Like many of his colleagues, the Hungarian painter Mihály Munkácsy (1844-1900) visited the major art centres of his day, such as Munich and Düsseldorf, before finally settling in Paris in 1871.
Wooden netsuke achieve top prices at Viennese auction house
29 May 2023Wooden examples of the art of netsuke are now the focus of collectors following ivory restrictions.
Member of French clockmaking dynasty to feature in German auction
29 May 2023The signature Fortin à Paris on the dial of this 21in (53cm) high marble and gilt bronze clock shows that it was made by a member of one of the most prominent Parisian clockmaker dynasties of the 18th century.
Franco-Turkish artist Hamdi Bey's 'fashionable' picture takes €1m at auction
29 May 2023Top lot of Dorotheum’s (25/20.84% buyer’s premium) Viennese sale of 19th century paintings on May 2 lived up to its expectations.
Expressionists emerge together
29 May 2023Van Ham of Cologne is offering a work by the German Expressionist Otto Mueller on the occasion of its 500th sale: the painting Frau und Knabe (Woman and Boy) from 1922.
Galizia heads a selection of ‘Old Mistresses’ on offer at Vienna auction
29 May 2023A previously undocumented painting, bought from an English dealer by a European collector in 1995, shines at Vienna sale.
Maltese bidders write on cue
01 May 2023Maltese furniture rarely makes it to the international auction market, so it was something of a sensation when a finely decorated, mid-18th century writing cabinet came up for sale at Metz (28% buyer’s premium) in Heidelberg.
Coral from the coast of Sicily
01 May 2023Since the 12th century the Sicilian town of Trapani has been closely connected to the art of coral carving. Thanks to the invention of a particular tool, ideally suited to the material, in the 16th century, the industry thrived.