Europe

A French Old Master drawing, a 20th century work by a specialist animal painter and an American Abstract Expressionist work were among the pictures that have performed strongly in auctions across the German regions and in Austria recently.

A 50 ducat medal commemorating the end of the Russo-Persian war was worth far more than its weight in gold at Künker (23% buyer’s premium) in Osnabruck in the March 13-17 sale.

Daniel Quare (1648-1724) is primarily known as a clock and watchmaker. He was, however, also an accomplished maker of portable barometers, one of which came up for sale at Dorotheum (25/22/15% buyer’s premium) in Vienna on March 29.

With this year marking the centenary of the sculptor’s death, Auguste Rodin is much in the news. While the Grand Palais in Paris is marking the event with a major exhibition, Fraysse et Associés sold a 2ft 1in (64cm) high lifetime cast bronze figural group for €1.55m (£1.35m) at Drouot on March 22.

Technology has replicated the Dutch master’s work in a move the artist might have welcomed.

The Flemish Baroque painter Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) studied the works, and particularly the mythological scenes, of the Italian masters.

The way Droit de Suite is applied in France was affirmed by a French court ruling last month.

Filling much of a full-page advertisement in ATG No 2284 for the Pierre Bergé/Sotheby’s (24/20.5/17% buyer’s premium) sale in Paris on April 26 of books and manuscripts from the library of Jean A Bonna was the star turn – a stunning copy of Galileo’s Discorsi et Dimostrazioni matematiche of 1638.

For many centuries the German city of Nuremberg was a major centre for glass decoration.

Rudolf Neumeister, one of Germany’s longest serving auctioneers, passed away on February 23 at the age of 91.

From minimalist lamp to starry chandelier

Paris art and design fair PAD has lost its vetting committee following concerns about the brief time allowed to view stands.

Included in the April 10 sale of Old Masters, antique furniture, ceramics and works of art that is part of Babuino’s sale series in Rome this month is this small painting by the early 17th century Flemish artist Roelant Savery.

Contemporary African art is currently much in vogue in the French capital.

Christophe Richème likes to mix periods and styles: a Napoleonic bridal vase sits alongside a 1970s shop display cabinet in his shop Pele-Mele Antiquités in Montmorot Lons-Le-Saunier in the Jura region.

Evelyne and Paul Khormaian are shown in front of their stand, which was packed with French kitchenalia and, in particular, domestic antique and vintage irons and clothes-pressing items.

This 17th century Hispano Filipino sculpture of the dying Christ will feature in the next auction at Anteo Subastas in San Sebastián in Spain on April 25.

Established dealers are calling for a “shake up” at the venerable TEFAF Maastricht in the wake of its 30th showing last month. Proposals include moving the fair to Amsterdam, making it shorter and including fewer exhibitors.

Shown standing in front of a tall 18th century oak encoignure priced at €10,000 in his ‘stage-set’ stand is Philippe Renard.