How Grima set Jermyn Street swinging in the Sixties

11 September 2017

Something shocking happened on Jermyn Street in 1966. Among the more conservative of London shopping districts – the place for a badger-hair shaving brush or a decent pair of sheepskin slippers – at a stroke it became cool. The charismatic Italian émigré Andrew Grima (1921-2007) had opened a jewellery emporium.

Sworders offers Bakelite bangles

11 September 2017

Jewellery designers of the 1930s and '40s were attracted to Bakelite, a plastic resin developed in 1907 for industrial purposes, as it was both hard enough to cut and polish and available in a wide range of colours.

Pendant marks start of the French Revolution

11 September 2017

In May 1789, as the political and financial situation in France grew ever bleaker, Louis XVI was forced to summon the three estates – the clergy, nobility and commoners – who had the power to levy taxes and implement reform.

Buccellati jewelley on offer with aristocratic provenanace

11 September 2017

Jewels by Buccellati, all from European aristocratic collections, feature in the jewellery auction at Dorotheum in Vienna on October 19.

Skinner brings a touch of colour

11 September 2017

The coloured stones market remains strong, so Skinner can expect strong international competition for an antique sapphire pendant brooch (below) in Boston on September 19.

Butterflies on a high in Birmingham auction

11 September 2017

The sale at Fellows (23/15% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham on July 31 included this Arts & Crafts pendant designed by Charles Robert Ashbee (1862-1942).

Pomander petal power at Woolley & Wallis

11 September 2017

This 19th century gold, turquoise and peridot pomander is exceptional both in terms of size and quality.

Turkey's Stargazer claim sets ‘disastrous precedent’ says Christie’s

04 September 2017

Christie’s has said Turkey’s claim to own an ancient Anatolian idol that has been on American soil for over half a century sets “a disastrous precedent for collectors, museums and the art market”.

All eBay final value fees now subject to VAT

04 September 2017

For the first time eBay is applying VAT to the fees of its business sellers.

Pick of the Week: Doulton figure is big sale catch

04 September 2017

It is well-known that the market for Royal Doulton HN series figures is at something of a low ebb. However, the exception to the general rule of bargain-basement prices comes for the small number of very rare figures that appeal to a core collecting base. Many end up in North America.

From the Coromandel Coast to the Wrexham exhibition

04 September 2017

A group of six Indo-European solid ebony chairs (sold for £26,000 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) at Dawson’s of Maidenhead on August 26. The buyer bidding online via thesaleroom.com was from the London trade.

Sotheby’s tears up online-only pricing model

28 August 2017

Sotheby’s has upped the ante in the digital auction space by scrapping buyer’s premium for online-only sales.

Scam listings guides resurface

28 August 2017

Dealers and auctioneers are again being targeted by scam guides that seek to extort large sums of money in return for inclusion in worthless trade listings.

Medieval brooch is much loved by bidders at Hansons auction

28 August 2017

Seven phone bidders competed for this 15th century gold heart-shaped brooch, a medieval gift of love from the time of the Wars of the Roses, at Hansons in Derbyshire.

Pick of the Week: Chinese bustle and calm in one view

28 August 2017

Large-scale paintings of intimate domestic scenes are unusual in Chinese art. The Chinese export reverse-painted glass painting of a young mother nursing her infant son offered at Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, earlier this month is thought to be one of only a handful of full-size versions painted of this once popular image.

Marchant holds sale during New York Asia Week

21 August 2017

London dealership Marchant is to sell Chinese artworks at a dedicated auction in New York.