Frieze opens Cork Street gallery
Magazine publisher and fair organiser Frieze is to open a gallery on Cork Street in Mayfair. The Pollen Estate runs the collection of newly developed buildings on the street known as Cork Street Galleries. Julian Stocks, property director at The Pollen Estate, said: “Frieze is the final Cork Street Galleries letting and joins Sadie Coles and Lisson Gallery who opened in the autumn. Since the start of the pandemic, the Pollen Estate has given rent-free periods where needed to help businesses through these unprecedented times.”
Cork Street Galleries is also hosting a late night for London galleries on December 15. Participants are Goodman Gallery, Lisson, Sadie Coles, Waddington Custot, The Mayor Gallery, Saatchi Yates, Flowers Gallery, Messums, Browse & Darby, Holtermann Fine Art and Nahmad Projects.
Dealer auctions stock in London
Items to be offered at the Apter- Fredericks: 75 Years of Important English Furniture auction at Christie’s on January 19.
London dealership Apter- Fredericks will sell some of its stock at a live sale in Christie’s King Street on January 19. The 140 lots feature important 18th and 19th century furniture and works of art from English houses including Spencer House, Langley Park and Cliveden. Makers include Chippendale, Ince & Mayhew, Linnell, Gomm, Lock, Cobb, Bullock and Gillows. There will also be a selection of Chinese works of art.
Harry and Guy Apter said: “For 75 years Apter-Fredericks have enjoyed dealing in the finest furniture, welcoming clients, old and new, to our Chelsea showroom.
“After 40 years in the business, a new world and a new way of working has developed and it has become clear to us both that we no longer want or need a showroom in central London to continue to thrive and do business successfully. We see a future where we hold less stock and are able to spend more time both in the pursuit of masterpieces and visiting our clients.”
Stele seized on way to fair is returned
A 2600-year-old Egyptian limestone stele valued at around $180,000 has been returned to Egypt after Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit seized the piece last year from French dealership Cybele Gallery on its way to TEFAF New York.
The DA’s office said: “Once the gallery was made aware of the evidence, they cooperated fully.”
The Antiquities Trafficking Unit, led by Matthew Bogdanos, worked with Homeland Security Investigations and believes the stele had been stolen with a number of other items including a sarcophagus seized by the US authorities and returned last year. The US authorities believe these items were looted during the Arab Spring in 2011.
Cybele Gallery, which had bought the stele at auction in France in 2017, is pursuing the auction house and vendor of the stele through the French courts.
Peter Wilson goes for a rebrand
Peter Wilson Fine Art Auctioneers is to rebrand and end its general household sales. It will instead focus on specialist sales.
The firm’s new name is Wilson55.com, taking inspiration from its founding date of 1955. Its trading name will change from December 18.
Downing joins memorabilia team
Natalie Downing of Ewbank’s.
Natalie Downing has joined Surrey auction house Ewbank’s as a memorabilia valuer. The auction house said its memorabilia department has grown in recent years to become its largest department. She will work with head of department Alastair McCrea.
Downing started her career in 2011 after gaining experience at Christie’s and Bloomsbury Auctions. She has also previously worked at a contemporary art gallery.
The Pedestal moves to Henley base
Auction house The Pedestal has permanently moved to The Dairy on the Stonor Park Estate, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. It has held two sales at the site this year and has now relocated from Rickmansworth.
Founded in 2016 by furniture specialists Guy Savill and Sally Stratton, The Pedestal plans to host pre-auction previews, auctions, valuation days and exhibitions at its new home.
The next scheduled auction, Fine Interiors, will be held on February 9, 2021, and its new auction format Design For Living sale is scheduled for spring 2021.
It has also created The Pedestal Shop, retailing antique and contemporary furniture, objects, works of art and paintings online.
Most read
The most viewed stories for week December 3-9 on antiquestradegazette.com
1 Top-selling Chinese bowls star in our pick of five auction highlights sold this week
2 Collection from James and Sophie Perkins’ country home Aynhoe Park comes to auction at Dreweatts
3 Covid-19 has “turbo-charged the online art market” latest report reveals
4 King’s Road attracts new design and antiques shops
5 The latest hires at The Fine Art Society, Phillips, Ewbank’s and BADA – appointments across the art and antiques sector
In Numbers
1,100,000
The amount of sales in dollars taken during The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America’s recent Boston virtual antiquarian book fair, which ran from November 12-14.
