London

This enigmatic, 7in (18cm) high, early 18th century delftware plaque featured in Sotheby’s November 21 sale at Bond Street where it fetched a mid-estimate £26,000, selling to London dealer Jonathan Horne.

THE Metropolitan Police have defended their decision to cut funding to the art and antiques unit by 50 per cent.

As recent London sales have demonstrated, demand for top-class Italian maiolica is on something of a roll. There is an international roster of collectors who are attracted to this colourful ceramic version of Italian Old Master painting.

NEW Bond Street dealers Partridge have announced that HRH Princess Michael of Kent has joined them as president of the firm.

19th century furniture may not be the height of fashion, but this wine table is one of only a handful known to carry the label of Anton Seuffert, New Zealand’s premier cabinetmaker and inlayer. Many of the timbers seen to the 23in (58cm) diameter top are timbers native to New Zealand.

The Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race runs for four and a half miles along the River Thames, starting at The Old Swan Inn at London Bridge, finishing at The Old Swan at Chelsea, and passing under 11 bridges en route.

Sotheby’s are to sell the stock of Bourdon House, the historic Georgian townhouse in Mayfair recently sold by London dealers Mallett.

SIGN up now for the joint RICS/SOFAA Auction Law Conference which will take place in London on Monday, January 22.

AT £420m, the deal would have brought St James Capital a 70 per cent profit on the £245m they paid for the complex just two and a half years ago. But it appears that last week’s London Evening Standard scoop on the sale of Earls Court and Olympia was, at the very least, a little premature.

The Museum in Docklands have acquired a rare and significant archive of 18th century papers highlighting London’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.

THE Christmas lights are now on in Camden Passage, but for some dealers this will be their last festive period in the London antiques thoroughfare.

On November 28 Spink officially opened the new showroom at their existing headquarters at 69 Southampton Row.

The highlight of this year’s Old Master picture series in London was a pair of Roman vedute by Bernardo Bellotto (Venice 1721-1780 Warsaw).

Christie’s are to increase the number of European salerooms offering the Christie’s Live online bidding feature.

THIS year’s ATG-sponsored Charity Football Match between the Dealers and Auctioneers has raised more than £10,000 for Breast Cancer Haven.

The 21st century equivalent of an unknown masterpiece brought in to the front counter of a saleroom must be the treasure that surfaces on an auctioneer’s computer via a routine email.

ROBERT Dodd is the director and auctioneer at Greenwich Auctions Partnership, in the Old Woolwich Road, just a cough away from the River Thames.

On November 27, the Guild of Arts Scholars, Dealers and Collectors took another important step in its development with the installation of the Master, Wardens and Court of Assistants. The Guild represents all those with a commercial interest in the world of historic arts as well as collectors and curators. It was registered by the City of London in September.

ANITA Bott of Vintage Fashion Fairs is adding another venue to her bimonthly vintage fashion fairs at Battersea Arts Centre, events now firmly on the fashionistas circuit.

Son of Sir James Thornhill, brother-in-law to William Hogarth and serjeant painter to the King, John Thornhill was also a founder member of the Whig Beefsteak Club.