Letters to the Editor

MADAM – I read with interest the recent article by Milton Silverman discussing a bidding contest in Europe (A lawyer writes, ATG No 2327).

MADAM – While John Trory is correct to state that “there are no ‘lanes’ in North Laine”, he is wrong about “South Laine” (ATG No 2327).

Given the Antique Plate Committee (APC) is undertaking a “crackdown” (ATG No 2328), there are a couple of current issues I would like to highlight.

MADAM – Re: the article ‘So what is museum quality?’ (Letters, ATG No 2328).

It is mandatory for all members of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers (SOFAA) to have a separate client account or to use an alternative method of protecting client funds that has been approved by SOFAA’s committee, rather than ‘strongly advising’ all members to do so, as written in ATG No 2327. ATG apologises for this error.

MADAM – I’ve been reading ATG’s coverage of Mossgreen’s issues with interest, not least regarding client accounts, or lack of (ATG No 2327).

MADAM – You may call me a pedant but in Brighton there is no such place as the North Lanes.

MADAM – Here’s an insight into my week. Tuesday: I receive my copy of Antiques Trade Gazette. I read it fairly thoroughly, often starting with Bid Barometer. Then with trepidation I move onto Letters, this week almost entirely devoted to ivory.

MADAM – I thought your readers might like to know that grant funding is available for anyone doing research that includes printing on British ceramics.

MADAM – Re: the British Art Market Federation (BAMF) proposal for exempting ‘museum-quality ivory’ from any ban (ATG No 2324), where does that leave us?

MADAM – This week I listened in utter disbelief as actress and wildlife campaigner Virginia McKenna spoke on Radio 4’s Today programme calling for the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow to no longer show any items which contain ivory elements.

MADAM – It is not clear from all the correspondence and articles in ATG as to whether the ivory ban will be limited to elephant and marine ivory and, if so, leaving one free to trade in items made from mammoth, warthog and hippo ivory.

MADAM – May I bring this sad news to your readers’ attention please?

MADAM – My husband and I are private collectors of antiques and we made a submission to Defra’s ivory consultation.

MADAM – In the first issue of the New Year (ATG No 2323) you report on page 7 that your readers “are vexed by fakes more than Brexit”.

MADAM – I have just seen Roland Arkell’s article on the discovery of a John Bartlam teapot (ATG No 2323). You may be interested to know that I used to own two of the previously recorded pieces of Bartlam porcelain which were originally believed to be Isleworth.

Can any of your readers help with research into the obscure 17th century clockmaker William Banks?

Copy of a letter to the proposed ivory ban consultation (which is now closed):

MADAM – The entirety of the antiques trade, past, present and especially future, should express considerable gratitude to Paul Moss, Philip Mould, Martin Levy and the rest who strove to counter the ignorance of, not only the general public, but of our law-makers in speaking to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the issue of the proposed blanket ban on the sale of elephant ivory within the UK (ATG No 2319).

MADAM – In your report last week (ATG No 2321) about the forthcoming (December 21) debate in the House of Lords concerning the proposed ivory ban, you refer to “the late Lord Carrington, former chairman of Christie’s”.