News

AUCTIONEERS Sotheby’s (20/15/10% buyer’s premium) combined with New York dealers Stacks to auction the Dallas Bank collection of United States coins on October 29-30.

Alexander Knox, edited by Dr Stephen A Martin, published by ArtMedia Press Ltd ISBN 1902889029 £55hb

Art and Outrage (ISBN 074531354X) £15.99 and Art in the Age of Mass Media by John A Walker (ISBN 0745317448) £14.99, both pb and published by Pluto Press

‘Little mesters’ were the sub-contractors of the Sheffield cutlery industry – self-employed artisans who hired space in large factories to forge, grind and haft their blades, the factory owner receiving a substantial cut from their sale.

Design & The Decorative Arts in Britain 1500-1900 by Michael Snodin and John Styles, published by V&A Publications. ISBN 185177338X £45hb

As fresh, quality private consignments become ever scarcer, the competition for such works must make it difficult for auctioneers nationwide to put sales together. Although Bonhams’ (15/10 buyer’s premium) 400-lot Fine Asian Art sale on November 12 had fewer top quality works to tempt buyers than at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, the modestly estimated and fresh-to-the-market tea dust-glazed moonflask, Qianlong seal mark and period, saw buyers jostling for ownership.

Vermeer’s Camera: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Masterpieces by Philip Steadman, published by the Oxford University Press. ISBN 019215967 £17.99hb