Latest News Articles by Terence Ryle
Mouseman’s homely charm provides comfort
15 April 2019More homely than the material being produced in Scandinavia and France, the adzed oak furniture first made by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson in the 1920s-30s was, nevertheless, a distinctive genre.
Stourbridge record for Pulcini Venetian glass birds
15 April 2019Based in one of the great centres of English glass, Fieldings (20% buyer’s premium) of Stourbridge has been building its reputation for glass sales over the past 15 years and today “nobody sells more glass than we do”, says specialist Will Farmer.
Fine Finnish furniture brings East Anglian contest
15 April 2019Some time in the early 1930s, the burghers of Norwich City Council appear to have been sufficiently cutting-edge as to purchase furniture by the designer destined to become one of the major names of 20th century design, Alvar Aalto (1898-1976).
Ski resort chairs slide into saleroom
15 April 2019When it comes to 20th century furniture female designers are a rarity. Some folk still think ‘Ray’ Eames – real name Bernice – was a man.
Caterpillar and cat sum up modern living
15 April 2019The recent Modern Living sale at Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) was dominated by ‘Mouseman’ furniture, something of a speciality at the Leyburn rooms.
Furniture highlights in the regions
01 April 2019Among the best furniture lots in the regions so far this year was the small early 19th century centre table attributed to George Bullock (1777-1818) offered by Stride & Son (18% buyer’s premium) on March 8.
Buoyant market targets the best quality
01 April 2019Prices high despite lack of good-quality stock as buyers aim for top standards.
Silver charger runs up impressive price
01 April 2019Bearing later Georgian or Victorian embossed decoration, this 13¾in (35cm) diameter, 22oz silver charger, below, was a much earlier work.
Cricket scene bowls over bidders
01 April 2019Providing a stern test of the resolve of cricket enthusiasts, a Victorian loving cup was the unexpected star of Michael J Bowman’s (17.5% buyer’s premium) sale at Chudleigh.
Pedestal steps up to new level
25 March 2019Dealer’s collection makes up first single-owner sale run by former Christie’s expert.
Silver with rare Marks
25 March 2019Having produced only 700-800 works in his short-lived career, Gilbert Marks (1861-1905) is not among the best-known silversmiths of his generation but was considered one of the foremost craftsmen of his day.
A superb selection of sentimental samplers
25 March 2019Among the most desirable of all needlework samplers are those associated with pupils at the Ackworth School, founded as a co-educational boarding school in 1779 by the Quaker physician John Fothergill and still thriving today.
Glass and ceramics greats star in saleroom
25 March 2019Iconic names in the worlds of glass and ceramics starred in Kingham & Orme’s (20% buyer’s premium) wide-ranging March 1 sale at Evesham.
Pub slot machine finds new home
25 March 2019Having stood in the George IV pub in Workington since the 19th century, a mahogany penny slot machine made its last public appearance at Cumbrian auction house Mitchells (20% buyer’s premium).
Bidders with lots of bottle tops
25 March 2019Whatever it may be, someone, somewhere will be avidly collecting it.
Elizabethan beaker is rare survivor of war meltdown
11 March 2019Silver across five centuries caught the eye at provincial sales in February.
Howard furniture keeps on a high at auction
11 March 2019Never wholly out of demand since top Victorian upholsterer Howard & Sons began producing furniture from its Soho premises, these built-for-comfort sofas and armchairs continue to excel whenever offered at auction.
Wealth of East India Company evident at auction
11 March 2019The wealth of material brought back to Britain from the days of the East India Company was illustrated at John Nicholson’s (24% buyer’s premium) sale when four Indo-Portuguese or Anglo-Indian tortoiseshell and ivory works were consigned by different vendors.
Basic quality shines through in Ely
11 March 2019This early 18th century walnut chest of drawers offered at Rowley’s (22.5% buyer’s premium) Ely rooms on February 16 had plenty going for it including small size at 2ft 8in (81cm) wide, a crossbanded top and a brushing slide.
Indo-Portuguese table cabinet in Edinburgh auction underlines market demand
11 March 2019Underlined by a £65,000 bid for a table cabinet, the attraction of Indo-Portuguese furniture – that combines familiar European forms with the exotic lure of the East – is as strong today as it was in centuries past.