1) Fake or Fortune? art sleuths investigate whether Sir Thomas Lawrence or Maria Cosway painted mystery portrait
Art programme Fake or Fortune? is returning for the second episode of its eighth series with a mystery portrait that art dealer Philip Mould believes could be by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830).
The portrait of Peniston Lamb by Maria Cosway (1760-1838) in the home of owners Hugh and Mirabel Cecil. Image credit: BBC.
2) Rare watercolour of Venice brought into charity shop sells for £2400 at Somerset auction
One consequence of the growing prevalence of charity shops on the high street is that auctioneers are receiving more and more items that these organisations want to check in case they are valuable.
‘Figures on the Piazzetta, Venice’ by William Wyld – £2400 at Lawrences.
3) Chinese vase sleeper awakens with £200,000 bid at Felixstowe auction
There was high drama at the small Suffolk saleroom of Diamond Mills when a Chinese vase estimated at just £100-150 sold in the room at £200,000.
The base to the £200,000 vase includes an honorific Ming six-character mark and polychrome decoration designed to hide a firing crack.
4) Scrap gold rises close to all-time high in UK
Helped by the weakening pound, the price of gold in the UK has hit a seven-year high.
5) Yongzheng perfection sets house record in Bath
Aldridges of Bath smashed its house record last week with the sale of a Yongzheng mark and period bowl for £220,000. It had come for sale following a routine house call.
Yongzheng celadon ‘flowers and fruit’ bowl – £220,000 at Aldridges of Bath.
This list is based on unique users for individual news stories over the period Aug 1-7, 2019.
