Obituaries

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…”

Dorothy McEwan (1925-2017), who died in December, was the founder of The McEwan Gallery in Scotland. She was not your typical art dealer – if such a one exists.

We regret to announce the death of dealer and picture specialist Dorothy McEwan.

John Newton (January 22, 1947-December 14, 2017), the well-known ceramics specialist who exhibited at fairs across the country for many years, has died after a long battle with cancer.

David Armour died on November 10 at the age of 87. An art teacher by trade – at Edinburgh Art College he had met many great artists and painted a young aspiring actor called Sean Connery – it was on retirement that his passion for the antique world blossomed.

Here we look back at some of the notable people the trade lost in the past 12 months...

Born in Vienna in 1932, Peter was forced to flee from Hitler’s invading Anschluss of Austria. He spent most of the war years in hiding in France, eventually escaping to Switzerland with the help of the French Resistance.

Elizabeth Bowman, née Palmer, who established Bowman Antiques Fairs in 1973, passed away peacefully on Monday November 13 in Leeds General Infirmary.

Obituaries for Harold Black and Brian Flaxman.

Last year art dealer Manya Igel described herself as “a bl**dy miracle, considering the life I lead”. Life did indeed throw much sadness and drama her way, but her fighting spirit always seemed to overcome the most traumatic events.

We regret to announce the death of Aurea Carter aged 79 on September 18 after a brave fight against pancreatic cancer.

We regret to announce the passing of Russell Timms, who has died peacefully aged 69.

Leonard started his antiques career in 1968, working in a small shop in Westbourne Grove, London, for Patricia Harvey.