Auctioneers

UK: A contemporary reviewer described a multi-volume study of The American Woods by Romeyn Beck Hough as “one of the most marvellous and instructive books ever made”, but this accolade seems something of an understatement when one considers that this work and a spin-off (or should that be sawn-off) companion work on ...Commercial Woods were illustrated with actual specimens of over 300 species!

THE FUTURE shape of Phillips following the sudden retirement of former owner Christopher Weston became clearer last week.

SOTHEBY'S is to create a committee of non-executive directors, supported by independent lawyers, to hold a full internal review of the firm's code of conduct.

Christie’s evening sale of Impressionist and Modern Art in London was led by Claude Monet's Iris Mauves as two telephone bidders battled it out over the £6m-9m estimate until the hammer fell at £9.6m.

Sotheby’s evening sale of Contemporary art in New York on November 13 achieved the highest total for any auction in the company’s history.

Sotheby’s chief executive Bill Ruprecht has also become chairman of the company with immediate effect following Michael I. Sovern’s decision to step down after 13 years.