Features

Rolex made the reference 6150 Oyster Perpetual Explorer for around two years after the 1953 Everest expedition. It is believed that Tensing Norgay wore a prototype of the watch, the first Explorer model to have the Mercedes hands, while completing the ascent.

Auction houses are getting back to normal for this latest staging of the New York Asian art spotlight, although new import taxes are having an effect.

At the peak of his fame in the 1969, the Anglo-Italian jewellery designer Andrew Grima was invited by Omega to create what would become the About Time collection.

With classic watches usually priced in five or six figures, it is worth discovering the less well-known brands and especially those from the 1980s, says newly appointed Lyon & Turnbull specialist Sarah Fergusson

Introduced in 1960, the Bulova Accutron 214 was among the first commercially successful electronic watch.

The Oysterdate Monte Carlo series were the first chronographs produced by Tudor.

A recent Sotheby’s New York (26% buyer’s premium) sale included this rare ‘Red Racing Dial’ Speedmaster consigned by the original owner.

This rare 1940s Longines British military issue is appropriately nicknamed the ‘tuna can.’

Unrestored models selling for top results

When Freya Simms presented at a European art market conference in late January, forecasting what dealers should expect in 2021, the LAPADA chief executive illustrated her slides with an image of someone dragging a ball of red tape up the hill.

Brexit, CITES, new ivory act on the way… it can be hard for the UK art and antiques trade to keep up with the many regulations. However, the good news is that much of CITES has not changed fundamentally, as this update from expert Kim McDonald of The Taxidermy Law Company reveals

Approved by parliament on December 30, 2020, the long-awaited trade accord between the EU and the UK is an unwieldly 1300 pages long.

One of the pleasures of Daniel Crouch’s work life has been buying trips to the Continent – for the serendipity of making contacts as well as the chance to handle the goods.

Butchoff Antiques sells fine quality English and Continental furniture, mirrors and objects from its 3000 sq ft Kensington Church Street showroom and increasingly online.

An increasing number of salerooms are now holding specialist sales dedicated to Post-war and Contemporary art with demand at primary market level driving auction opportunities

A group of works from the estate of West Country artist Michael Morgan (1928-2014) drew bidding at a recent sale at Atkins Auctions (15% buyer’s premium) of Axminster, Devon.

Back in 2004-6, a boom occurred in the prices for Jack Vettriano (b.1951) and a host of works made six-figure sums at auction. These included his most famous work 'The Singing Butler', which sold for a staggering £660,000 at Sotheby’s in April 2004, still a Vettriano auction record.

The Madoura pottery founded by Suzanne and Georges Ramié in Vallauris, a village in the south of France renowned for pottery production, was a popular place for many artists in the post-war years. From 1948-55 Pablo Picasso lived in Vallauris and divided his time between painting and creating ceramics at Madoura.

An abstract painting by Aubrey Williams (1926-90) offered at Grand Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) in Folkestone at the end of last year set another auction high for the Guyanese artist.

On March 30 Christie’s France is offering a selection of around 70 Modern and Post-war works from an unnamed Parisian collector that have been assembled over four decades.