Print Edition

It is with great sadness that I announce the sudden death of my father and mentor, John Gewirtz, aged 81.

MADAM – I would like to express my appreciation to the editorial and other colleagues that have provided us with a copy of the ATG every week during this extraordinary time.

MADAM – Re: your report on the sycee sold at auction in Germany (International, ATG No 2438).

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period April 16-22, 2020. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

Appearing in 1937, a couple of years after the locomotive itself was launched, the LMS Princess Elizabeth was the biggest and best locomotive that Hornby ever made.

The auction calendar has been much changed by Covid-19 restrictions. However, as indicated by these lots offered for sale in April, some UK auction houses continue to transact behind closed doors holding ‘live online’ sales with bids taken via bidding platforms such as thesaleroom.com or over the phone.

Bertoia Auctions’ large spring sale of antique toys, trains and banks in Vineland, New Jersey, takes place on May 7-8.

The timed sale of Oriental ceramics and works of art to be held by Hotlotz Singapore running until May 3 features a selection of items from the descendants of Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, KStJ, who was governor-general of Ceylon from 1954-62.

On Friday, April 24, Michael Bloomstein of Brighton was paying the following for bulk scrap against a gold fix of: $1733.30 /€1606.81 / £1404.80

'Calyx (Blue)', a 1951 textile by Lucienne Day (1917-2010), sprouts with Modernist forms. Its colourful, flower-like shapes hint at the mobiles of Alexander Calder or the biomorphs of Joan Miro.

The last few weeks of lockdown may have left you wishing you could do more to fight coronavirus. Or they may have left you feeling like that blank stretch of wall in the living room could really do with brightening up.

MADAM – In your recent report on the Toovey’s book sale (ATG No 2437) you mention the purchase of the Pear Tree Press publication 'Ten designs for Two Gentlemen of Verona'.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including Bonhams Australia planning its first live online-only auction on May 13 which focuses on Asian art.

Dealer Timothy Millett, a specialist in historical medals and associated works of art, has launched a website to sell greeting cards based on images of some of his favourite objects.

The sale at garden statuary specialist Summers Place Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Billingshurst on March 24 (the day after lockdown) was among the first conducted under new government restrictions on social distancing.

My father, Roger Lloyd Tonkinson, trained and worked as an architect until 1997 when he and my mother Anne moved to St Ives, Cornwall.

Essay warns about considerable perils of the ‘indecent custom’ of burials in churchyards

The three magazines shown here were all produced by students of the Royal College of Art in the years 1925-27 and sold online for £1000 in a sale at Mellors & Kirk (24% buyer’s premium) of Nottingham.

The Penal Laws weigh heavily on the history of Ireland. Before they were largely repealed in the period 1778-93, the series of statutes were imposed in an attempt to force Irish Catholics (and Protestant dissenters) to accept the established Church of Ireland.

The photograph seen at bottom right is a group of Chinese men convicted of spying and awaiting “…execution by Imperialists”.