Features

A round-up of recent auction highlights from Anglo-Saxon treasure to a magnificent man in his flying machine.

In May 1789, as the political and financial situation in France grew ever bleaker, Louis XVI was forced to summon the three estates – the clergy, nobility and commoners – who had the power to levy taxes and implement reform.

A selection of stand-out lots from auctions in west London, Mayfair and Gloucestershire.

Twelve items of jewellery belonging to Lady Ottoline Morrell (1873-1938) – the woman who inspired the DH Lawrence character Lady Chatterley – contributed more than £15,000 to the sale conducted by Woolley & Wallis on October 26.

The first Rolex Submariner was introduced to the public in 1954 at the Basel Watch Fair but it was Ian Fleming’s fictional spy, James Bond, who in 1962 transformed a reliable and rugged dive watch to a status symbol embodying suave masculinity and a sense of adventure.

Tips on staying ahead when it comes to chargebacks...

The Consumer Credit Act provisions enable an aggrieved consumer buyer to make a claim against the credit card company for any breach of contract or misrepresentation by the retailer or trader.

The card providers contacted by ATG were reticent on the subject of chargebacks, although we did receive this statement from Mastercard UK:

The rise of payment using debit and credit cards for art and antiques comes with the challenge of chargebacks. Andrew Saunders reports on how these can be tackled

Chargebacks exist as a means of satisfying the extensive consumer protections provided by UK law – largely the Consumer Rights Act of 2015 and the Consumer Credit Acts of 1974 and 2006.

Tips on avoiding and dealing with fraudulent chargebacks...

The Asian Art in London festival of exhibitions and auctions runs for the 20th time from November 2-11. Here, Kate Quill and Roland Arkell look back at how it all began and what this year's event involves.

There are 10 auction house participants in AAL this year, the number swollen by an increased international presence. ATG provides a selection of auction preview highlights.

We present the candidates for the 2017 AAL Awards, co-sponsored by ATG. Two honours are given for outstanding works of art: to a dealer and an auction house. Also, awards judge Anne Crane of ATG gives a personal insight.

A dozen years since the first designated Asian art sale in the UK regions, the calendar throngs with specialist events.

Dealers in Mayfair, St James’s and Kensington Church Street use Asian Art in London as a chance to bring out their showstoppers in exhibitions at their home or temporary spaces. Here, ATG picks out some of those events in more detail.

Tapering cabinets or yuanjiaogui were valued by the Ming and Qing for their practical use, as the primary place of storage for clothes and linen, and also paintings and books.

Paul Moss chose an unorthodox route to move the family firm into its second century. Here he discusses his passion for ‘great’ Asian art, the ebbs and flows of the market and succession planning.

This rare 17 x 2ft 8in (43 x 82cm) Korean cinerary chest dates from the Koryo period. This kingdom effectively united the Later Three Kingdoms in AD936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until the Koryo dynasty was removed by the founder of the Choson in 1392.

Traditional tastes and newer trends were in evidence at auctions in London, the regions and overseas during the past 12 months. Here ATG selects its hammer highlights...