Ingles & Hayday (October 30)
Specialist musical instrument auction house Ingles & Hayday holds its next Fine Instruments sale at Sotheby’s New Bond Street on October 30. The auction features a number of violins and bows as well as vintage photographs featuring famous musicians and a variety of antiquarian books. One highlight is a violin from the early 1700s which belonged to the English court musician and alleged spy William Corbett. He travelled widely is thought to have gathered intelligence about James Stuart while the ‘Old Pretender’ was living in Italy under papal protection. This violin was made by Girolamo Amati and is recorded in Corbett’s will. It has an estimate of £200,000-300,000.
Criterion Auctioneers (October 29)
Next Tuesday the Islington firm holds three sales: its monthly specialist auction, Interiors and Objets d’Art, followed by its weekly Classic Antiques & Interiors and finally Fine Wine. The first of these features a number of rugs and carpets including a Persian silk rug with a tree of life design. Measuring 7ft 1in (2.15m) long, it features a ruby border with repeated vines and palmettes. It has an estimate of £1000-2000.
Camden Passage Antiques Market (October 31, November 3)
Every Wednesday and Saturday, Camden Passage in Islington plays host to antique markets offering anything from vintage fashions to Asian art. Its history stretches back to the 1960s. Though the fairs have decreased in size, the 18th century alleyway still has a number of permanent dealers’ shops and four different market areas.
Winter Art & Antiques Fair Olympia (October 30-November 4)
More than 20,000 antiques and works of art are on offer at this year’s Winter Olympia. The antiques fair takes place alongside the Spirit of Christmas Fair – or, more accurately, above it on the gallery level of the exhibition centre’s National Hall. Expect to find a variety of objects, some suitable for buyers with lower budgets, as well as top-flight collector’s items. This Italian 17th century ebony and ivory inlaid table cabinet, for example, is offered by Hansord for £20,000. It opens to reveal an architectural interior with marble, tortoiseshell and ormolu.
Chiswick Auctions (October 31)
An oil on canvas of a young shepherd with his flock attributed to Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp (1594-1652) is expected to be the top lot at Chiswick Auctions’ Old Masters sale this week. Cuyp was a Dutch portraitist and specialised in pastoral landscapes. The picture in question measures 2ft 10in x 4ft 7in (86cm x 1.41m) and has an estimate of £10,000-15,000.
London Coin Fairs (November 3)
The last of four annual coin fairs taking place at the Coram Street Holiday Inn near Russell Square, the London Coin Fairs features around 75 British and international dealers. Expect to find ancient and modern coins, paper money, medals and tokens as well as books and other antiques.
