Letters to the Editor

As the UK brought into force the EU’s fifth Money Laundering Directive in early 2020, it was believed that the art market had plenty of time to register and comply.

The firing glass featured in Auction Reports, ATG No 2553, that is inscribed 'IM 1779' was in all probability used by the Installed Master for that year.

I was thrilled to see the portrait of Lady Northcliffe by Philip de László (1869-1937) featured in your publication (Art Market, ATG No 2552).

With reference to the rediscovery of the painting In a Ligurian Garden by British Impressionist Henry Herbert La Thangue (News, ATG No 2553), I thought your readers may interested to know where it would have hung when it was purchased by textile tycoon Prince Smith.

I am currently writing a supplement to my book 'The patterns and shapes of the Pinxton china factory 1796-1813', published in 1996.

I was enjoying reading the article on the queen’s brooch, which sold recently (ATG No 2550), when I was surprised to come across the name of Ray Lindwall, the scourge of English cricket in the 1950s.

Referring to the UK’s near-total ban on selling antique ivory objects, would the beautiful Vizagatapam, India, c.1830-50, ivory chess set in the collection of Mr Holger Langer (Collector Interview, ATG No 2550) be classed as museum quality?

You reported on the front page of the ATG (No 2550) that Bonhams has added another auction house to its expanding stable.

Viewing the superb image, captured on video (ATG No 2550), one can almost hear Tom Holland shout, “Yesss!”, in abandoned ecstasy, on securing for £3500 his dinosaur – specifically, a Psittacosaurus skeleton – sold at Woolley & Wallis last month.

We were concerned to read the letter ‘Salerooms should get on board with in-house shipping’ (ATG No 2548).

I thought that you would be interested to see this photo.

You may take a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. In January 2020 my wife and I lent two modest paintings to the exhibition, 'Ulysses: Art and Legend', mounted by the Musei San Domenico in Forlí.

The wholesale switchover by some auction houses to mainly online bidding and information is no doubt beneficial on a financial basis but, in my view, for the serious collector it is a serious backward step.

I was amused to read that our Queen was left in charge of Whittons’ Jubilee auction during the lunch break (ATG 2548 letters page).

In many ways the advance of online auction platforms has been good all round, and most auction houses have stepped up to the mark with good liaison with regard to condition reports, efficient billing, and shipping purchases at realistic prices. I factor such in-house shipping costs into my bidding.

As a dealer with a number of antique ivory works of art for sale, I am now having to involve myself in conforming to the new legislation.

Can anyone help, please, or point me in the direction of someone who can?

I am hoping that someone may be able to solve a chair ‘mystery’. It was most recently from the collection of Bernard Nevill at Philip Webb’s ‘West House’ (designed and built for artist George Price Boyce in 1868-69), also known as being the set for ‘Uncle Monty’s House’ in the 1987 film Withnail and I.

Portrait miniature on ivory are among the exemptions provided in the new Ivory Act [coming into force on June 6 – see front page of this issue].

Congratulations to both Portobello and Admiral Vernon for restarting after the pandemic.