Furniture

Maltese furniture commands a premium – and not simply because it appeals to a committed group of island collectors.

“Many think that the fashion for older mahogany furniture has died a death. However, the prices achieved at this sale go to show that these items are still incredibly desirable.”

Dealers in English furniture are putting their weight behind events in 2018 marking the life of Britain’s most famous furniture maker, designer and entrepreneur, Thomas Chippendale (1718-79).

Tapering cabinets or yuanjiaogui were valued by the Ming and Qing for their practical use, as the primary place of storage for clothes and linen, and also paintings and books.

A heavily carved and silvered wood ‘console table’, offered with an estimate of £1500-2500 at Lacy Scott & Knight’s (20% buyer’s premium) September 9 sale came with a somewhat exotic story.

It is modest both in size and venue but the annual Nottingham Tile Fair organised by the Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society has an important place in the diary for collectors in this specialised field.

Christie’s is repackaging its global decorative arts sales calendar, adopting a more selective approach to the lots it sells while seeking to broaden the appeal of English and European furniture and chattels.

Shortly after the catalogue for Bellmans’ recent sale in Wisborough Green, Sussex had gone to press, a printed paper label was noticed to the underside of this burr-veneered occasional table. It read 'L Pearson, Cabinet Maker & Upholsterer, 3 Elizabeth Street, Hobart Town'.

Dealers celebrated early successes at the 20/21 British Art Fair and LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair last week.

Two rare early pieces of furniture by the famous architect and designer Finn Juhl are among the highlights in Bruun Rasmussen’s Design sale to be held in Copenhagen on September 27-28.

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.

Originally considered just another 20th century burr oak tallboy among a stack of material from a house clearance brought into the Hazel Grove rooms of Maxwells (15% buyer’s premium), opinions changed when a carved mouse was noticed on the lower left leg.

This focus on furniture kicks off with a royal link and three more cheers at summer sales for the furniture market which a number of auctioneers are saying shows modest signs of recovery.