Latest News Articles by Terence Ryle
Travelling? Keep an eye on the Cartier time
06 November 2023Outstanding among a number of famous names at Ewbank’s (25% buyer’s premium) quarterly Jewellery and Watch sale was that of Cartier.
Gatehouse panels greeted visitors to earl’s new country seat
06 November 2023Hugely decorative, impeccably provenanced and selling at an impressive sum, a pair of moulded relief panels were another of autumn’s Coade stone stars
Sundial displays Coade stone qualities
06 November 2023Figure dating from 1792 demonstrates the advantages of the influential artificial stone used
Moorcroft offers multiple charms for collectors
21 August 2023With its long and varied production lines Moorcroft remains a stalwart of Design auctions.
Snuff mull rams in at more than 30 times top estimate
21 August 2023The best of nine snuff mulls consigned by a titled long-standing client to Minster Auctions (16% buyer’s premium) was a treen example carved as a ram’s head with glass eyes.
Unusual styles at the sharp end: needlework pictures and paper cuts
07 August 2023Do embroidery and cut-paper pictures count as art? Bidders certainly appreciate their expertise
Monk has a beer – no wonder he’s merry
07 August 2023Stand-out original among the 76 pieces from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson’s workshops offered at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) 20th Century Design auction was a carved oak monk sold with its working drawing.
Royal Worcester by renowned designer George Owen doubles up at auction
10 July 2023Classic examples of distinctive porcelain take four-figure sums in Gloucestershire
Very desirable, very Moorish
10 July 2023Furniture attributable to Gillows demonstrates demand for desirable pieces
Persian bowl tempts two bidders into sale day battle
10 July 2023Catalogued as ‘possibly 17th century Safavid’, a Persian copper pedestal bowl offered at Tennants (22% buyer’s premium) was undoubtedly a fine example of the great dynasty (1501-1736) as far as specialist bidders were concerned.
You shouldn’t lose your marbles – they could be worth thousands
03 July 2023Vendor finds glass marbles are worth more than expected as they make surprise four-figure sums in Bury St Edmunds
Royal Worcester artist Baldwyn goes green
03 July 2023Painted by one of Royal Worcester’s finest artists and one of only three green examples known to the knowledgeable buyer, this vase and cover was the focus and prize of Cromwells’ (20% buyer’s premium) sale.
Cumbrian house packed full of Mouseman
22 May 2023The 33 pieces of ‘Mouseman’ furniture on offer at Carlisle auction house Thomson Roddick (20% buyer’s premium) all came from a Cumbrian Georgian country house where they had been since at least before 1950.
Vesta micromosaic panel lights up a sale
22 May 2023Popular since they were first bought by Grand Tourists visiting Italy, this early 19th century micromosaic panel was a particularly fine example.
Snake cup buyer takes a £4000 bite
22 May 2023While some of the gloss has been taken off the market, the best pre-revolutionary Russian craftsmanship remains attractive to international collectors.
Lawrence of Arabia replies to lucky Archie
22 May 2023The standout signature to an autograph album compiled by a boy scout in 1919 was that of Lawrence of Arabia.
Casts of garden urns designed for Versailles offered in Oxfordshire
22 May 2023In a style admired in the gardens at Versailles and at a House & Garden sale in Abingdon, a pair of urns after those created for Louis XIV’s great project led the field at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium).
Gratitude for ‘zeal and intredipity’ in attacking women and children
15 May 2023A hero to the establishment in 1819 but a villain to the common man then and to everyone today, William Scholes Withington was back in favour at Cambridge.
Detective work sheds some light on a £75,000 chandelier
08 May 2023Investigation by saleroom specialist pays off as Castle Howard connection helps a chandelier to impress
Rare banknote was worth a bit more than fifty quid
06 March 2023Early example note from Sir Christopher Wren issue takes group lot to high four figure price