Front Page and News

A project led by the British Museum (BM) to combat the trade in looted antiquities from Egypt and Sudan has launched an online database where objects with ‘provenance issues’ can be brought to the attention of museum specialists and academics.

Sworders is launching a new calendar of online-only and timed online auctions to satisfy demand from clients for sales next month.

Following the raft of recent Covid-19 cancellations, The Antique Dealers’ Association of America (ADA) is seeking to help its members with an online antiques exhibition.

Trudpert Schneider (1804-99), a Freiburg carpenter whose first brush with photography was to repair a broken box camera, is today deemed one of Germany’s most important daguerreotypists. The photographic firm he founded in 1847 continued under the management of his sons Heinrich and Wilhelm until 1921.

A luxurious watch with a British royal connection went under the hammer last month at Cortrie (20% buyer’s premium) in Hamburg.

The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) Council is giving members who exhibited at the curtailed The Open Art Fair (TOAF) sums equivalent to 20% of their stand rental charges.

A switch to online-only sales for auction houses has led to a rise in marathon sessions.

Among the highlights of Antony Cribb’s Spring Virtual Arms and Armour sale was a collection of presentation swords.

La Biennale Paris has proposed that potential exhibitors may spread payment of their participation fees out over four months after the event.

The Comerford collection of portrait miniatures, offered for sale by Chiswick Auctions last month, was acquired almost in its entirety by a single bidder.

Auction houses across the country are grappling with the practicalities of staging auctions safely as the UK enters its third week of the government-sanctioned shutdown.

Given the government’s strict guidelines on social distancing, what delivery options can art and antiques buyers use during the lockdown period?

There were two in the room when British Bespoke Auctions held a four-and-a half hour sale last week. On the rostrum on April 1, in an office rather than the saleroom (which is closed), was Nicholas Granger. Behind him was Bella, a blue-and-gold macaw who has been by his side for 20 years.

Although often overshadowed by her famous father William, May Morris (1862-1938) was herself an important figure in the British Arts & Crafts movement.

A number of industrial and commercial-focused businesses have operated online-only and timed auctions for some time and have systems in place that allow for very little contact between individuals.

In these days of self-isolation, social media is awash with home workout routines. Last week Charles Ross launched his own version online for those auctioneers not selling during lockdown.

The first 20 lots of the recent football memorabilia sale at Stacey’s in Rayleigh, Essex came from the family of the Edwardian player Benjamin Warren (1879-1917).

The UK art and antiques trade is hastening its efforts to provide a sense of business as usual during unusual times after the UK government requested all ‘non-essential’ firms to close their premises to the public.

In this issue we feature 40 fabulous objects available to buy on dealers’ websites.