SOFAA

Auctions, shops and centres under the new coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England will be able to continue to trade online.

A government department has confirmed to ATG that auction houses in England will be able to open to the public in June and conduct home valuations, as long as social distancing and the latest government guidelines are met.

The art market must now comply with the latest anti-money laundering law – despite a lack of clarity around some elements of the regulation.

Industry trade bodies are today launching a survey that will attempt to measure the financial impact of the Ivory Act (2018) which comes into force later this year. Collectors, dealers and auctioneers of antique ivory are being encouraged to take part.

An idea that began life in 2015 with a Tory government manifesto pledge for a total ban on the UK trade in ivory has finally taken shape, though not as draconian as originally pitched and not yet set in legislative stone.

The government has unveiled a dedicated advice line to help small and micro businesses such as auction houses and dealerships to prepare for new data protection laws coming into force in May 2018.

A new CITES report stating that elephant poaching in Africa declined in 2016 for the fifth year in a row has been welcomed by antiques industry trade body representatives.

The Conservative's 2017 manifesto launched this morning was dominated by Brexit, social care, education and cyber security but was without the party's intentions on controlling the UK ivory trade. This is in contrast to the 2015 version, which pledged an outright ban on trade in ivory.

The Society of Fine Arts Auctioneers (SOFAA) and the RICS are holding a seminar in Crewkerne on February 18 aimed at those starting out on their auctioneering career.

In response to the new Consumer Rights Act, the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers have produced two different versions of their model terms and conditions – one for bricks and mortar ‘onsite’ auctions and another for online-only sales.

Commenting on the wider marketplace in her capacity as chairman of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers, Helen Carless, chairman and managing director of Lawrences of Crewkerne, gave ATG this brief summary of the feedback received from various SOFAA members.

The chairman of one of the UK’s most successful provincial auction houses has joined the condemnation of Christie’s new 2% success fee, saying he is appalled by it.

At the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers biennial dinner at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge Paul Viney of Woolley & Wallis officially handed over the chairmanship of the association to Helen Carless, managing director of Lawrences Crewkerne.