A miniature of the Resurrection of Christ by the Master of the Birago Hours which had an asking price of $35,000 on the stand of Dr Jörn Günther Rare Books.
Sales at the recent launch of Frieze Seoul (September 2-5) included a miniature of the Resurrection of Christ by the Master of the Birago Hours (c.1460-70), which had an asking price of $35,000. It was one of several miniatures to go to private collectors from the stand of Dr Jörn Günther Rare Books. The Swiss firm was one of 18 exhibitors in the Frieze Masters section of the fair.
The gallery’s Erin Donovan said there was lively interest from the Korean public, with many visitors to the stand younger than those at their typical European fairs.
She added: “We had literally thousands of people through our stand over the four days, sometimes hundreds at one time, including the Mayor of Seoul.”
Fellow exhibitor Sandra Hindman, founder of Les Enluminures which specialises in medieval manuscripts and jewellery, had a positive impression of the event too.
She said: “We feel confident that there is a market for ‘unusual’ Western European material in Korea and a genuine ‘hunger’ for it. But, since it is so new and so different from what the Korean public is used to, it will take time.”
Both galleries said they intend to return to the fair next year.
This c.1760 century Georgian oak dresser base is offered by S&S Timms for £5500.
Among the highlights coming up at the Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair, which runs from October 4-9 in Battersea, is this c.1760 century Georgian oak dresser base. Featuring three drawers, it retains its original brass swan neck handles and crossbanded decoration, and it is raised on cabriole legs terminating in pad feet. It is offered by S&S Timms for £5500.
The firm is a long-term exhibitor at the fair, but recently Robbie Timms has found the ticketing system frustrating. Paid for, pre-booked tickets were re-introduced last year, as many fairs altered their ticketing systems in light of rising costs and Covid restrictions. However, for the next edition, entry is free after 4pm and Timms says dealers have been allocated a certain number of tickets to distribute to their clients. Is he pleased?
“Yes, there appears to have been a little progress”, he tells ATG, but adds that he is holding out celebrating until he can send tickets to all his clients.
The Winter Art & Antiques Fair Olympia runs from November 1-6 this year and showcases some newcomers such as Messum’s, David Stanley and Santos London. A full preview will follow in ATG.
An autograph and typescript letters from Neal Cassady, the model for Dean Moriarty in On the Road. It is offered for £125,000.
Peter Harrington launched Only Connect recently, a catalogue which celebrates letters and presentations between authors and their friends and associates.
Among the highlights is an archive of autograph and typescript letters (left) from Neal Cassady, the model for Dean Moriarty in On the Road. It is offered for £125,000.
Rehs Galleries has launched an update to its online catalogue raisonné on Emile Munier (1840-95). The New York gallery’s research on the artist started in 2003 and is part of its drive to offer extensive digital information about artists.
“Over the past few years, we have worked to develop a new programme for our catalogue raisonnés, giving us more flexibility with data entry and images”, dealer Howard Rehs says. “Alyssa Rehs and Lance Rehs were responsible for the website’s final, more contemporary look.”
The gallery also hosts sites on Julien Dupre and Antoine Blanchard.
► rehs.com
Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller by Oliver Darkshire.
A book revealing what it is like working at a rare book shop is being published. Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller has been written by Oliver Darkshire, 28, who works at Henry Sotheran on Sackville Street in Mayfair.
Darkshire runs the firm’s Twitter account (@Sotherans) which has attracted more than 41,000 followers “largely because of his very entertaining tweets”.
Oliver Darkshire works at Henry Sotheran. Image: Joshua Williams.
According to the publicity material, Darkshire “intended to stay for a year before launching into some less dusty, better remunerated career. Unfortunately for him, the alluring smell of old books and the temptation of a management-approved afternoon nap proved irresistible… Soon he was balancing teetering stacks of first editions, fending off nonagenarian widows with a ten-foot pole and trying not to upset the store’s resident ghost (the late Mr Sotheran had unfinished business when he was hit by that tram).”
The book, published by Bantam Penguin Random House, launches on October 6.
A statue in cast silver of the late Queen Elizabeth II commissioned earlier this year for the Jubilee year. It is offered for £150,000, while an edition of 12 examples in bronze are available at £75,000 each.
Bowman Sculpture is offering a statue in cast silver of the late Queen Elizabeth II commissioned earlier this year for the Jubilee year.
It is the work of Amy Goodman and Vivien Mallock as a tribute to 70 years of service and bears the jubilee stamp as part of the hallmark. The statue shows the monarch on her favourite horse, Burmese, which she rode for 18 consecutive years for Trooping the Colour.
It is offered for £150,000, while an edition of 12 examples in bronze are available at £75,000 each.
Christie’s auction Provenance Revealed: Galerie Steinitz on September 21 marked the first time all results for a ‘Classic Art’ sale were recorded on Blockchain. The total for the London sale was £6,299,640.
Benjamin Steinitz, a specialist in 18th and 19th century furniture and sculpture, partnered with the auction house and the results were posted through Artory. Leading the sale was a pair of Empire white marble demi-lune console tables, c.1805, which sold for £730,800.
