Organisations

THIS year’s Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors conference will be a two-day event running on Thursday and Friday, October 16 and 17, in south west London.

The second quarterly survey conducted by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors made gloomy reading for those engaged in the trade of traditional art and antiques.

AT their Council meeting last week the British Antique Dealers Association decided on no further action regarding complaints by some members that well-known Kent dealer and fellow member Lennox Cato was fitted with a microphone while carrying out vetting duties at last month's Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair.

LAPADA are have recently introduced a new benefit to members in the form of a personalised currency-exchange service offering more favourable rates and transaction charges than are generally available through banks.

EBAY Australia have decided to drop the case for PayPal exclusivity ahead of a decision on the matter fro the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

EBAY have vowed to fight a new French court ruling that effectively makes them responsible for what is sold on their site. In effect, the ruling could mean them having to vet items before they are offered, rather than removing offending objects once they have been alerted to them.

AUCTIONEERS at the latest Society of Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers (SOFAA) seminar were visibly shocked as they learnt how easy it is to become an unwitting party to a bribe.

LAPADA, the Art and Antique Dealers Association, have announced a new forum with the West of England Antique Dealers Association (WEADA) – their sixth such arrangement.

EBAY’S latest bid to tackle fraud – by insisting UK sellers accept payment via PayPal – has come under attack. Due to come into force on July 9, the online giant says it will help block fraudulent transactions and data theft.

Elaine Dean, Secretary General of The British Antique Dealers’ Association for the past 25 years, will step down on July 10. She will be succeeded by her current deputy Mark Dodgson who already has 18 years experience with the BADA.

A FRENCH court has ruled for the first time that eBay are directly responsible for what is sold on their website.

BRITISH pottery dealer Jonathan Horne has been appointed Master of the Guild of Arts Scholars, Dealers and Collectors.

At their annual conference in Warwickshire on May 16 the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneeers (NAVA) announced the launch of a new foundation degree in valuation and auctioneering which has just been validated by the University of Wolverhampton.

A RADICAL shake-up in the overall organisation, marketing and direction of Palm Beach | America's International Fine Art & Antiques Fair is underway. It will guarantee the future security of the event as a premier American fixture for the next five years and bring in a number of top dealers as part of the organisation.

A rare intervention by the London Assay Office has resulted in the wholesale withdrawal of a 124-lot collection of silver bosun’s calls scheduled to be sold in London last week.

AFTER suspending the membership of London dealer John Hobbs following allegations made against him in the press in early April, the British Antique Dealers’ Association have announced that Mr Hobbs has resigned from the association.

The art and antiques business received some welcome positive publicity last week as a raft of national newspapers picked up on the headline findings of the first RICS Art & Antiques Market Survey.

In a move that will impact hundreds of auctioneers worldwide, eBay are to discontinue their Live Auctions business by the end of this year.

The British Antique Dealers’ Association have suspended the membership of John Hobbs pending an inquiry into the allegations made against the Pimlico Road dealer in a national newspaper.

The Art Loss Register (ALR) have defended their decision to mislead Kent dealer Michael Marks in the Souza paintings case after members of the trade expressed strong concern at the agency’s actions.