Obituaries

Arnold Pash (1928-2018), veteran silver dealer of A Pash & Son, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2018, at home surrounded by his family after battling cancer and ill health.

Following the death of American comic book writer, editor, and publisher Stan Lee on November 12, Malcolm Phillips of Comic Book Auctions has written toATGwith a personal tribute:

Mary Pearson, who died peacefully on September 5, was a well-known and highly knowledgeable dealer, trading at various London markets as well as running her own antiques shop.

Brian Thompson boarded a boat in Sydney and set sail for the UK at the age of 17. He was unhappy that his country of birth was taking part in the Vietnam War.

Anthony Woodburn, who has just died after a long and very brave struggle against myelodysplasia, was the leading dealer in English period antique clocks for the last 40 years.

Tributes have been paid to Islamic art’s ‘most influential’ dealer Oliver Hoare who has died aged 73 after a battle with cancer.

Two obituaries from the art and antiques trade.

A prominent figure in the early furniture trade, Peter Bontoft of William H Stokes Antiques, died suddenly of a heart attack, on July 29. He was 73.

Craig was in the trade for nearly 30 years. He was an expert on jewellery and had a passion for natural history and all manner of curiosities. Dealers and auctioneers would often ask for advice when faced with a mystery object and he had an uncanny ability to come up with the answer.

Tributes have been paid to the late Paul Whitfield by Christie’s and Bonhams.

“She was the only fair organiser I’ve ever met from whom I didn’t mind getting a ticking off,” said one of the many tributes paid to Bunny on her death (Andrew Sim).

Lord John Kerr, one of the true doyens of the antiquarian book world, died peacefully at his home in Oxfordshire aged 90 on May 3.

Brian Page passed away on Monday, May 14, after a short illness.

The Hon Sir William McAlpine, avid collector and conservationist, died on March 4 after a three-month battle with sepsis. News of his death will have depressed a great many dealers, not just because he was an incredibly nice, fun, generous man, but because he was a voracious collector.

Betty Mendes, who has died peacefully aged 90, was one of the leading lights in the field of antique lace and textiles.

When, where, how – ie when was it made? Where was it made? How was it made? And how much is it worth? These are the four fundamental questions which every reputable antique dealer has to ask when he/she looks at an object.

David R Russell, a colossus among collectors of antique woodworking tools, has died aged 82.

Commander John Morton Lee OBE RN (retd.), who had a long career in the Royal Navy before turning his passion for watercolours into a dealer business, died peacefully on February 26 after a brief illness, aged 88.

Fighter pilot, antiques dealer, and lifelong bon vivant, Peter Foyle Hunwick (1934-2018) grew up in Foyle’s, a Sussex manor in Herstmonceaux, before attending RAF Cranwell.

“There is nothing wrong in saying I don’t know. You can just give possibilities 1,2,3…”