Letters to the Editor

MADAM – I wonder if any of your readers could help with information about ‘missing’ Ambrose Heal chests.

MADAM – This week while reading my ATG (No 2481) I stopped for a moment to look again at two paintings, one of them by Appel which prompted me to remember a painting my grandaughter did some 15 years ago at the age of seven.

MADAM – Re: ‘What’s really needed is a broader antiques council’ Letters, ATG No 2482).

MADAM – This might be the moment to attempt to cap Martin Levy’s saleroom reminiscences of times past (Letters, ATG No 2480).

MADAM – Martin Levy’s and Christopher Howe’s letters reminded me of my early days in Sotheby’s press office (ATGs 2478 & 2480).

MADAM – Your article ‘A great connoisseur of art‘ (News, ATG No 2479) recording the death of the impressive American dealer/collector Richard Feigen, and the obituary in the same edition (right), while rightly lauding the range of his connoisseurship from early Italian art through to Contemporary artists, didn’t mention his passion, and exceptional eye, for British artists such as Richard Wilson, JMW Turner, David Wilkie, RP Bonington and Samuel Palmer.

MADAM – I am intrigued by the ongoing debate surrounding Christie’s interpretation of the current Covid-19 restrictions in relation to the viewing of auction lots – in particular the Apter- Fredericks sale of January 26 (front page, ATG No 2481).

MADAM – Martin Levy’s letter (ATG No 2480) brought back happy memories of my time as a porter at Phillips Oxford in the early 80s.

MADAM – Recent events (Brexit, the removal of the exemption for antique ivory, Covid) have all highlighted the need for a clear single ‘Antiques Trade’ voice to speak to Government and the wider world.

MADAM – We are concerned about the imminent imposition of restrictions to limit the trade of ivory works of art within the European Union (front page, ATG No 2480).

MADAM – With nearly 30 years in the horological trade, I am a member of several specialist bodies and have occasionally considered joining BADA or LAPADA.

MADAM – I am writing in response to the article regarding the EU ban on import and export of antique ivory outside of the EU (front page, ATG No 2480).

MADAM – Further to your piece on Beryl Cook at auction (Art Market, ATG No 2480), Plymouth put on a magnificent retrospective exhibition at the Council House in 2017 which was co-curated by Beryl Cook’s family [Our Beryl: Beryl Cook at Home].

MADAM – At the risk of boring your readers with yet another letter from me, I would like to endorse Kay Michie’s very sensible suggestion that one organisation representing the antiques trade would be better than two (Letters, ATG No 2479).

Essex auction house Sworders is asking ATG readers to help identify the manor house, also in Essex, featured in this Edward Bawden (1903-89) watercolour.

MADAM – Christopher Howe’s reminiscences and observations (‘Auction Giants Sotheby’s and Christie’s have turned this multicolour business into beige’, Letters, ATG No 2478) bring back happy memories.

MADAM – After a lifetime as an antiques dealer, one continuous theme I have noticed is that all my fellow traders have thousands of stories of there esoteric life. Some true and some enhanced for effect, but a real insight into our bizarre way of life.

MADAM – Having been dealing with European auction houses and art dealers for over 50 years, including the period before the introduction of ARR (Artist’s Resale Right), it is tragic to discover the only excuse that the negotiators can present for the continuation of this imposition is a ‘level playing field’ (News, ATG No 2476).

MADAM - Re ‘Magna Carta Shines in Silver’, Auction Reports, ATG No 2476.

MADAM – It will come as no surprise that I, for one, wholeheartedly support the proposal from Kaye Michie (see Letters & Opinion, ATG No 2479) that the two antiques dealer associations, BADA and LAPADA, should be merged.