The Antique Marks Blog

The desk where Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations and the final correspondence he produced hours before his death fetched £433,250 ($894,000) at a Christies auction on Wednesday, 4th June 2008.

The lot which went for about seven times its pre-sale estimate was bought by an Irish busnessman and the sale proceeds went to Great Ormond Street childrens hospital in London.

The Irish buyer thought the desk was a bargain and had expected to pay up to £5,000,000 for it.

The writing desk and chair from the study of Charles Dickens Gads Hill residence near Rochester in Kent, was inherited by Christopher Charles Dickens and his wife Jeanne-Marie Dickens. Who then donated them to Great Ormond Street hospital. An organisation that enjoyed a close association with Charles Dickens.

According to Christies, Dickens wrote Great Expectations and a number of other novels and short stories at the mahogany writing desk and the auctioneer quotes the memoirs of Dickens’s eldest daughter Mamie Dickens saying that, ‘on the evening of June 8, 1870, Dickens wrote letters and arranged some trifling business matters in the library where the desk stood.’

He then went for dinner and collapsed, suffering a stroke and dying the following day, aged just 58.

For the first time eBay have been held responsible for the items sold on its websites.

A FRENCH court has ruled that eBay are directly responsible for what is sold on their website and has ordered ebay to pay $30,000 to luxury goods designer Hermes for the their role in the sale of three counterfeit handbags.

The French judge found eBay directly accountable for the sale of counterfeit items by one of its customers. eBay maintains that it removes listings found to be fraudulent and argues that the liability for those listings is on the seller.

“By selling Hermes bags and branded accessories on the eBay.fr site, and by failing to act within their powers to prevent reprehensible use of the site,” the seller and eBay “committed acts of counterfeiting and imitation of French brand names … to the detriment of Hermes international,” the ruling said.

eBay has said that its Verified Rights Owner Program (VeRO) is in place to make it easy for intellectual property owners to report abuse. The company has stated that the “court ruling relates to past issues of seller verification.”

“The court acknowledged that eBay has closed these loopholes referencing the anti-counterfeiting measures spearheaded by the VeRO scheme which brings rights owners and eBay together to tackle the menace of counterfeit goods.”

eBay was ordered to pay the fine jointly with the seller who put the bags up for sale. eBay was also ordered to post the ruling on its French homepage for three months. Other designer brands have cases pending against eBay for sales of counterfeit goods including Louis Vuitton, Dior Couture, and L’Oreal.

The Court ruling supports the luxury goods firms and will challenge the framework on which eBay have built a multi-billion pound business. Legal decisions forcing eBay to vet goods prior to being uploaded could prove a serious threat to their operation, which process millions of items for sale each day.

We come across a large amount of cloisonne ware at the antiques auctions we visit. We’ve even bought and sold some, but, it’s probably the most handled and least understood item potential buyers show interest in.

You overhear a large number of buyers speak of it as though its ceramic and a lot more pick it up and state categorically, ‘modern’ and put it straight back on the table.

Cloisonné was first developed in the Near East. It spread to the Byzantine Empire and from there along the Silk Road to China.

Chinese cloisonné is probably the most well known and is sometimes confused with Canton enamel, a similar type of enamel work that is painted, freehand, and doesn’t use partitions to separate the colors.

This (47cm) high Qianlong treasure was found standing in a fireside, being used as a container for fire irons.

Sold recently by UK auctioneers Potbury’s it was initially catalogued as 19th century, but specialists who viewed it eventually recognised it as a rare survivor from the reign of the emperor Qianlong (1735-1795).

During the auction fierce bidding between a London dealer, in the room, and one of seven bidders on the phone ended with the London Asian specialist winning the bidding contest at £31,000 plus 14% premium.

However, Chinese Cloisonne ware isn’t the only collectable or desirable form of cloisonne. Russian cloisonné from the Tsarist era is also highly prized by collectors.

This unusual Russian silver & shaded enamel tazza by Ivan Saltykov, was manufactured in Moscow before 1896. It measures just 5″ (12.75 cm) across and is approximately 4″ (10.2 cm) tall.

The top surface is decorated in scrolling enamel floral patterns against gilt grounds, bordered with turquoise pellets.

The outer lip shows reticulated openwork decorated with similar shaded enamel work. 

It bears relevant marks to the underside, weighs 8.14 oz (231 grams) and is currently being offered for sale at $14.000.

So, although cloisonne is still being made and there are loads of modern pieces around, if you take the time to learn to recognise the antique from the modern, then there are excellent pieces out there for you to discover.

Cloisonne popularity is growing but it is still a profitable niche for collectors.

A fine copy of the most important work from the Kelmscott Press, and arguably the greatest of all Private Press books is offered for auction on 15th May 2008 by Bloomsbury Auctions

Chaucer (Geoffrey) The Works, one of 425 copies on paper, edited by F.S.Ellis, printed in red and black in Chaucer and Troy types, woodcut title, borders and initials by C.E.Keates, W.H.Hooper and W.Spielmeyer after William Morris, 87 woodcut illustrations by W.H.Hooper after Sir Edward Burne-Jones, later blue crushed morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, gilt roll-tool on covers, border and spine compartments within raised bands with gilt rules and fleurons, g.e., spine slightly sunned, preserved in matching morocco-tipped blue cloth slip-case, [Franklin, The Private Press p.192; Sparling 40; Tomkinson p.117 no.40; PMM 367 note], folio [ff. 420 x 280 mm], Kelmscott Press, 1896.

Morris began discussing the project in 1891 and finally in June 1896 issued the book to subscribers a few weeks before his death…. read more on William Morris.

Also, in the same sale is the stunning Nuremberg Chronicle  (Liber Chronicarum ) printed by Anton Koberger, depicting a history of the world from Creation to contemporary times and including a number of blank leaves onto which the books owner can continue the history.

A work remarkable for its illustrations, its design, woodcuts and descriptions of cities.

The woodcut illustrations include events from the Bible, pictures of human monstrosities, portraits of Kings, Queens, saints and martyrs, and allegorical pictures of miracles.

The auction estimate for Chaucer (Geofrey) The Works is £30000 – £40000 and for Liber Chronicarum is £90000 – £110000……. Auction Cataloque

The sale is also listed on eBay’s Live Auctions …. eBay Cataloque

After their anouncement on 15th April of the death of eBay live auctions, no high street auction house will be able to offer their catalogues to eBays 200-million plus audience after December 31 2008.

For several years, eBay have worked with a small number of independent auction providers including Artfact, icollector and LiveAuctioneers who then work with traditional auction houses to supply goods for eBay Live Auctions. eBay also allowed companies such as GoAntiques to run virtual auctions with no auction room sales associated with them.

But, unlike those that buy into the ebay audience, there are many auction houses that use the internet in there own way, to attract interest from around the world.

Take Bellmans of Billingshurst, West Sussex who held an antiques sale on March 26-28.

“The sale was viewed on our website by nearly 9000 people in 45 different countries around the world, with bids from India, China and New Zealand.”

The highest price in the auction was paid for a pair of late 19th century Scottish satinwood cabinets – which belonged to the family of Sir Donald Currie, the famous founder of the Union-Castle Shipping Line and MP for Perthshire. They fetched £6,900*

So, unlike those auctioneers and businesses who spent the last five years building ebay’s equity and who built a dependence on ebay’s good will; the traditional auctioneers who moved with the times and invested in their own web presence are seeing good returns on that investment.

For those that have yet to do so they would do well to read how you can build a web presence that works

Oh! and Bellmans next sale will take place on April 23, 24 and 25 – for further information, call 01403 700858, or visit www.bellmans.co.uk.

Tennants Auctioneers of North Yorkshire, UK, have secured an entire Mouseman commission for sale in July 2008.

Tennants Summer Catalogue sale (July 17-18), includes the complete fixtures and fittings of the Senior Library at Leeds Girls High School, which was completed by the Kilburn workshop and bears Thompson’s famous carved mouse signature motif.

The Leeds school moving and no preservation order was ever placed on the Mouseman interior. It includes 16 tables and 87 chairs, freestanding and fitted bookcases, an alcove seat, radiator covers and wall panelling.

The schools main door and frame will also be offered for sale, inscribed

The gift of a friend for the benefactor who paid Thompson £1222 for his work in 1934.

Robert Thompson was born in 1876 and dedicated his life to the craft of carving and joinery in English Oak.

He taught himself how to use the traditional tools of the trade and by 1919 he was experimenting with his own ideas and producing furniture based on the English styles of the 17th Century.

The famous mouse symbol, found on every item crafted by Robert Thompson has an uncertain history and the story told by Robert Thompson himself is that one of his craftsmen remarked that,

“We’re all as poor as church mice”

Thompson then immediately carved a mouse on the church screen he was working on.

The ‘mousemans’ creations continually prove popular at auction houses everywhere and the Tennants sale is predicted to raise upwards of £100,000.

Get your bids in early……. Current Tennants Sales

A rare August Bohm goblet set a house record of £64,000 at Wottons auction rooms in the UK Cotswolds.

The glass goblet described as a companion work to an August Bohm masterpiece, was consigned to Wottons by a a local Stroud family and as Wottons researched the glass goblet it emerged that they had a second version of the 19th century Bohemian glass engravers 23in (58cm) goblet currently on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The goblet at Wottons varies slightly in outline and detail but is the same size and featured a panel of a similarly fine engraved battle scene depicting Alexander the Great defeating the Persians. It also carried the same French inscription, La Vertu Surmonte Toute Obstacle, as the V&A’s goblet and Bohm’s engraved signature Gravirt V A Bohm aus Meistersdorf I Bohem im Jahre 1845, indicating that it was produced five years later.

The vendor stated the vase had been in their family since the inter-War period and before offering it for sale it had stood, filled with ping-pong balls, on a sideboard.

Wottons Auction Rooms catalogue entry stating :

A very fine quality 19th century Bohemian glass vase and cover with central relief engraved panels of a battle scene after Lebrun’s painting depicting Alexander The Great defeating the Persians, with etched inscription “La Vertu Surmonte Tout Obstacle ” to reverse and with further inscription below panel “Gravirt V A Bohm aus Meistersdorf I Bohmen im Jahre 1845, 58cm total height (the vase believed to be a version of the example in the Victoria and Albert Museum, hitherto in the Broadfield House Glass Museum) £2000-3000

During the sale interest in the room stalled at a few thousand pounds, but a prolonged battle began between two telephone bidders, one a London dealer and one a local dealer. The London buyer eventually took the final price to £64,000, a house record for Wottons.

August Bohm (c.1812-90) died in poverty, but was considered the best exponent of his craft in his day.

The goblet in the V&A was once owned by the 19th century English glass maker and writer Apsley Pellatt, who pictured it on the frontispiece of his key 1849 publication Curiosities of Glass Making and described it and its creator as:

“A most beautifully engraved vase by a Bohemian artist is in the possession of the author; the workmanship is even more elaborate than that of the Portland Vase; the subject is from Le Brun’s painting of the conquest and final overthrow of the Persians at the battle of Arbela, by Alexander the Great. For depth of workmanship and artistic execution, as a modern intaglio engraving, this vase is unrivalled.”

Pellatt’s praise was mirrored by others and the V&A goblet was so highly rated that plaster casts were taken from it and kept in Bohemia to encourage other engravers.

It was announced last week that a British actor, Thomas Sangster, had won the role to play Tintin on the big screen adaptation of Hergés adventures of TinTin and interest in Tintin memorabilia has never been higher, with a Paris auction house recently selling an original artwork from the popular comic book for the record price of €764,200 ( over £500,000 ).

Described as a museum piece, the painting by Tintin’s Belgian creator Hergé, whose real name was Georges Remi, was part of one-off sale of 650 comic originals which raised a total of $5.4 million on the day.

Hergé died in 1983 and the 1932 oil painting by the author and artist was the art for Tintin in America, the third adventure in the long-running series. It features the boy reporter wearing a Stetson and a red bandana, with his faithful dog Snowy at his feet and tomahawk wielding indians behind.

Georges Rémi, under the nom de plume Hergé, established the clean, expressive style known as ligne claire (clear line) in the late 1940s. However, the record setting painting reflects the looser, rougher style of his earlier work.

Tintin remains the most popular comic book personality in French culture and the news that director Steven Spielberg is casting actors for a three-part Tintin film series beginning in 2009, is sure to increase the popularity of Tintin memoribilia worldwide.

So, get up to the attic and find that old trunk with all your Tintin comic books and annuals, there’s never been a better time to list them on ebay ……..

Morphy Auctions Spring Sale contains 10, yes 10 beautiful Tiffany lamps, including an extremely rare Nasturtium Trellis chandelier.

“The lamps were sourced from three brand new consignors,” says Morphy, “and there are some very rare and exceptional designs in the group, like the Nasturtium Trellis chandelier.” Morphy referred to the profusely decorated 26-inch conically shaped shade as “a killer … It’s not a standard Nasturtium pattern; there are blossoms and leaves all over striated Favrile sunset glass.

Three different experts who inspected the lamp said it’s exquisite, that the glass is topnotch and very special. It has been in one family’s home, untouched, since the mid-20th century, so it’s completely fresh to the market. Collectors are going to love this one. We think it will bring $125,000-$150,000.”

Another stunner consigned to the sale is a Tiffany Studios leaded-glass and bronze floor lamp executed in a sophisticated, Impressionistic botanical pattern. When illuminated, the 24-inch early Favrile-glass shade of blue and emerald tones introduces a rainbow of color from selenium to orange.

The lamp is illustrated in Alistair Duncan’s book Masterworks of Louis Comfort Tiffany and is offered with provenance that includes prior sale through Christie’s New York. The Morphy Auctions estimate is $90,000-$140,000.

Morphys Spring Sale is on 29-31 May 2008, contact and location info in the auctions calendar entry.

Click for more info on Louis Comfort Tiffany and his stunning glass work.

Royal Worcester porcelain is a particular favourite of ours, but uk auction prices appear to be climbing higher and higher.

Recent antique sales held in Yorkshire auction houses in early 2008, saw avid collectors paying excellent prices for some of the most beautiful pieces by well known artists. Worcester fruit painted porcelain is still a definite favourite but pieces by any member of the Stinton family are highly desirable and bidding can be ferocious.

A particularly beautiful pair of Oriental vases by Worcesters Harry Stinton depicted Monarch of the Glen type stags and determined to have them, we set aside £5000, double the auctioneers estimate, just for them.

But, as often happens two local collectors with deep pockets took the bidding to almost ten times the auctioneers estimate and they eventually sold for £24,500 plus commission.

It seems Yorkshire farmers aren’t quite in the poor house yet.