Front Page and News

A miners‘ lamp lit up bidding at a Cotswold saleroom to set a record for a George Stephenson model.

A pair of 12in (30cm) high Sèvres hard paste vases painted with elaborate chinoiserie sea battles by Jean-Jacques Dieu, proved the highlight of Bonhams’ June 14 sale of European ceramics.

As part of a five-year plan to grow its interest in the coin collecting market, The Royal Mint has taken a share in Mayfair numismatic dealership Sovereign Rarities.

An enticingly estimated drawing by the 17th century English court portraitist Sir Peter Lely offered for sale in a French provincial auction drew a flurry of attention from English trade and private bidders last week. It was propelled to over 20-times its estimate.

The art and antiques trade associations are preparing to “forge new relationships” with Michael Gove, who has replaced Andrea Leadsom as environment minister in charge of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The New York-based art shipping firm Arta is in the process of raising its second round of funding – this time to help it expand in the UK and Europe.

The London Assay Office has spoken out against moves to allow UK hallmarks to be stamped overseas.

A group of five 8in (20cm) William de Morgan (1839-1917) tiles drew lively competitive bids at Cuttlestones in Wolverhampton on June 8.

The new president of The National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) has called for all auctioneers to be qualified and regulated.

Among the pieces of Fabergé bringing competition at last week’s Russian art sales in London was this c.1909-13 silver vodka cup offered at Sotheby’s.

Lots Road Auctions is to relocate to a purpose-built new saleroom as part of a property development on the Chelsea street.

Surrey auctioneers Ewbank’s is to sell the stock-in-trade of furniture restorers Arlington Conservation on June 23.

A major work by French academy painter Edouard Joseph Dantan (1846-97), unseen for over a century, has emerged at an auction in Colchester.

Victoria Borwick, president of the British Antiques Dealers’ Association, lost her Kensington seat following two recounts in the constituency at last week's General Election.

Criterion Auctioneers has opened a valuation office in South Kensington in the hope of snaring some of the business left by the closure of Christie’s in the area.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days.

The British Antiques Dealers Association (BADA) will launch a new collectors’ show this autumn bringing together 20 dealers for a “curated collectors’ event”.

The valuation of an Anglo- Saxon jewellery hoard discovered in Yorkshire is being disputed by the finder.

Estimated at £15,000-25,000, a still-life by Dora Carrington (1893-1932) sold for £72,000 at Mallams in Oxford on May 26.

Earlier this year Woolley & Wallis decorative arts specialist Michael Jeffery received a call out of the blue from the family of a recently deceased collector in the south of England.