Features

In March UK’s art market reclaimed its second position in the global league table, while new discoveries of Constable sketches and a number of auction houses opening new businesses or locations in London were among the developments.

A new ABA president was appointed and a BADA president resigned in April, while fresh EU cultural goods rules and a prolific pensioner art thief sentenced to jail were among the other events making the news.

The headlines in May included a ram raid at the Petworth fair, John Sandon calling it a day after 43 years as the director of British ceramics at Bonhams and two auction house relaunches.

Sotheby's going into private ownership was a big bit of news in June, while book and map fairs teaming up to run across four days and the 'Toulouse Caravaggio' also caught the attention.

Hot topics in July included the 'furniture deal of the year', the Antiquities Dealers’ Association warning that dealers and auctioneers should stand up to “the politicisation of the antiquities trade” and a saleroom shutting down.

While gold prices hitting an all-time high and an art adviser being sentenced to 12 years for fraud were big moments in August, another notable bit of news was Woolley & Wallis chairman Paul Viney stepping down.

In a rollercoaster year for the British Antique Dealers’ Association, September brought news that the BADA fair had been sold, while other headlines included Bonhams holding sales in Oxford once again and Jeremy Lamond leaving Halls of Shrewsbury after 23 years at the firm.

The UK ‘regional’ salerooms enjoyed a vintage autumn season with exceptional Chinese works of art spread across half a dozen auction houses, while other November headlines included the Metropolitan Police’s Art and Antiques Unit marking its milestone of turning 50 this year.

Two rare panels created by a Sienese artist featuring St Clare caught the eye when they sold at a December auction, while a sale offering items from a name synonymous with British studio pottery was also a stand-out.

Cutting up examples for new artworks can be controversial – but here is a case for the defence

For more than 25 years a regular contributor to BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, John Benjamin recalls his early days in the trade – while reviewing a recent jewellery auction. Additional reporting by Roland Arkell.

This unassuming Grana military issue c.1945 shown below forms part of the so-called Dirty Dozen wristwatches made by 12 Swiss manufacturers for the British army.

The November 18 sale titled California Jewelry held by Doyle New York on the West Coast includes a group of French Art Nouveau pieces described as ‘Property from an Important Jewel Collector’. Several display the plique-à-jour (‘letting in daylight’) enamelling technique revived in the late 19th century.

The Watch Sale at Fellows in Birmingham on November 26 includes this Ref 105.002-62 Omega Speedmaster chronograph.

Musket that fired the first shot in 1775 American revolution battle appears in US saleroom.

A letter accompanying this gold, diamond and fire opal brooch, formed as a columbine, below, confirms it was part of the International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery held at The Goldsmiths Hall, London, in 1961.

The 1961 International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery, organised jointly by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and the Victoria and Albert Museum, was the world’s first international display of contemporary jewellery.

John Benjamin began his career as a 17-year-old assistant working at Cameo Corner, the Bloomsbury antique jewellery shop founded by Moshe Oved in 1914. “In those far-off days of the early 1970s goods were abundant and prices infinitely affordable. Museum Street was the ideal location for a keen young man to learn all about the antique jewellery business and I absorbed it like a sponge.”

Out of favour for a generation, grand tour and ancient intaglios and cameos are enjoying a return to form.

It was not catalogued as such, but this silver ring modelled as a standing lion with a gold-coloured mane is designed by Moshe Oved (1885-1958), the owner of celebrated Bloomsbury antique shop Cameo Corner where jewellery expert John Benjamin first learnt his trade.