Chiswick to expand its auctions HQ
Chiswick Auctions is to expand its saleroom and headquarters in west London after purchasing the next-door office complex.
The firm, which has more than 20 specialist departments, will use the new space on Colville Road for larger viewing galleries and staff facilities. It was purchased for £1.3m.
Leigh Osborne, managing director of Chiswick Auctions, said: “The building will help us to further develop the business, enabling us to take on more specialists and departments.
“It will also provide us with more gallery viewing space and longer viewing times for clients, as well as allowing us to have multiple sales on view at the same time.”
Becker sale will go ahead in summer
The on-off auction of sporting memorabilia seized from bankrupt tennis star Boris Becker will be going ahead this summer, says the firm charged with the sale.
The 82-lot timed auction of medals, awards, trophies, rackets, watches and photographs will open to online bidders on June 24 and close on July 11.
The announcement represents the latest development in a saga that began when the three-times Wimbledon champion was declared bankrupt in June 2017.
Memorabilia was set to be sold ‘on behalf of the trustees in bankruptcy of the estate of Boris Becker’ in a sale conducted by business asset valuer and auctioneer Wyles Hardy. A lengthy legal battle followed, with Becker able to get the sale postponed in the wake of his claim of diplomatic immunity as a sports attaché for an African state.
After Becker formally withdrew his claim, a court has since ordered that the sale could proceed.
Peake rejoins Bonhams’ team
Ceramics and glass specialist Dr Jim Peake has joined Bonhams in Knightsbridge.
Peake, holds a PhD in archaeology and an MSc and BSc in conservation. He had previously worked for Chiswick Auctions and prior to this at Bonhams Bond Street.
The appointment of Peake follows the news of the retirement of John Sandon, after 44 years as a specialist, as reported in ATG No 2391. Sandon will continue as a Bonhams consultant and adviser to long-standing customers and appear as an expert on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.
DNW appointment
Meanwhile, fellow London auction house Dix Noonan Webb has hired Nigel Mills as an antiquities expert working alongside its coin and jewellery departments.
His focus will be on artefacts, ancient and British hammered coins, ancient jewellery and antiquities discovered by metal detectorists.
Suffragette archive sold in Somerset
Two portcullis brooches awarded by the Women’s Social and Political Union to a militant Suffragette added significantly to the value of a ‘hunger strike’ medal sold at Lawrences of Crewkerne.
The medal, marked with the date of February 10, 1914, sold for £22,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) on May 16 is the latest in a string of strong results for these honours.
The brooches, in the form of a silver portcullis representing parliament with a ‘government property’ arrow enamelled in green, white and purple were first awarded to former Suffragette prisoners at a mass demonstration at the Albert Hall on April 29, 1909.
Suffragette medal and two portcullis brooches awarded to Anna Lewis – £22,000 at Lawrences of Crewkerne.
These, together with photographs, badges and ephemera, were owned by Anna Lewis.
Little is known about her. Living until the age of 87, she set up a home to care for other women activists who had suffered for their beliefs. She never quite recovered from the damage to her throat from being force fed.
Colnaghi show in Venetian abbey
The Abbazia di San Gregorio in Venice where Colnaghi has opened a selling exhibition with an interior designer.
Old Master dealer Colnaghi has opened a selling exhibition with interior designer Chahan Minassian at a 9th century Benedictine abbey in Venice.
They have decorated the abbey as the home of a ‘21st-century traveller’ or modern-day Grand Tourist incorporating Old Master paintings, vintage and modern furniture and design. The abbey, Abbazia di San Gregorio in Venice, on the Grand Canal was restored in the early 20th century and includes architectural and decorative features spanning more than 1000 years.
The exhibition opened in May to coincide with La Biennale di Venezia and will remain open by appointment until November 24.
Most read
The most viewed stories for week May 16-22 on antiquestradegazette.com
1 Police appeal for help to catch ram-raiders of Petworth fair
2 Boris Becker memorabilia auction to go ahead after tennis star withdraws injunction
3 Judge dismisses appeal against Simon de Pury in court case over ‘gentleman’s agreement’
4 ATG letter: salerooms are short-sighted when refusing to accept credit cards
5 Beatles ‘Butcher’ album cover sold for a record in Liverpool memorabilia sale
In Numbers
52
The number of years Caroline Penman has been involved in organising antiques fairs around the UK – more than 500 events in 48 different venues. For more, see page 28.
