Letters to the Editor

Your article on the various early experiences of an auctioneer by Toby Cleave is most intriguing (‘The auctioneer’s tale: moving from cattle to chattel’, ATG No 2566).

Re: Bid Barometer, ATG No 2565. As the successful purchaser of the fishing reel sold by Mitchells of Cockermouth on October 14 which was illustrated within Bid Barometer I feel I must drop you a line regarding this.

As a collector and frequent buyer at auctions, not local to where I live, it was uplifting to read Clare Durham’s letter ‘Provider of professional opinion should stand by it or admit fault’ (ATG No 2564).

I was pleased to see Zoffany’s portrait of Mr Townsend featuring on the front page of ATG (No 2563).

At ATG we always enjoy hearing about younger members of the trade making progress in their careers.

I feel for the author of the letter who appears to have stumped up part of their sale proceeds to cover a mistake made by the auction house acting on their behalf (‘Auction refunds: I’m confused about who is or isn’t responsible’, ATG No 2563).

I note in ATG No 2560 David Penney’s letter regarding eBay’s import duty charges on antique items.

I’m writing in the hope that readers might give me a view on whether a recent experience of mine is or is not common practice among regional auction houses.

Auctioneers and their guests headed to the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers’ (SOFAA) dinner held recently at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge.

Another lovely depiction of the tough farming days came with your report on the fine Sheila Fell painting (Art Market, ATG No 2559).

I am a lifelong Henry Scott Tuke historian and the buyer of the chalice featured in ATG No 2558.

Regarding your request for memories of HM The Queen, I wanted to bring to your attention this photo published on the front page of ATG in March 1988.

I write concerning eBay’s practice of charging the incorrect import duty of 20% on some items that are over 100 years old; UK law is 5%.

I wondered whether any of your readers would be able to identify a designer or maker of this table?

I think I am correct in stating that the Wedgwood Arts & Crafts charger featured on the front page of last week’s issue (ATG No 2559) was painted by Alfred, not Louise, Powell.

I thought this picture may interest your readers as we remember the life and work of Elizabeth II. Here she is presenting me with the Queen’s award for Enterprise for my PR Consultancy (Gong Muse) in July 2014.

I was interested to read the article about smaller auction houses having to close client accounts due to some banks tightening their rules (ATG No 2555 ‘Banks close down client accounts’) despite it being a fundamental requirement of their membership of NAVA and SOFAA designed to protect buyers and vendors at auction.

A pleasure to see the IACF Alexandra Palace Antiques & Collectors Fair back in action on September 4. A fair well above standard – not quite at the Olympia or Battersea level – and geared for people in the mid-price range.

I was fascinated by Roland Arkell’s article on sealed glass bottles that appeared in ATG No 2553. It was of particular interest as many years ago I was given the top of a green bottle with a roundel that included my family coat of arms.

Recently I rang the accounts department of a well-established saleroom that I’ve dealt with for over 20 years. It just happened that I was going to have to collect in person so was checking I could come up and pay while the second day of the sale was still going on.