Art and antiques news from 2005

REPORTS that Earls Court and Olympia are up for sale will not affect Clarion Events, who own and organise the three Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fairs.

imminent changes to the furniture and objects sales at two London rooms underscore the need to woo private, home-furnishing buyers and bolster more traditional sectors of the auction market.

FOR the second week in a row a Government U-turn has dealt the British art and antiques industry a bodyblow – but the latest move is far more serious than last week’s SIPPs debacle.

Who has the resale right? The artist holding copyright of their work or a qualifying body to whom they have assigned the right under the regulations, such as a charity. Until January 1, 2010, the right only applies if the artist is living.

THE giant RAF Swinderby fair will ditch Sunday trading and move to a Monday to Wednesday slot in the run-up to Newark from January.

WEDNESDAY, December 14 sees Thomas Del Mar Ltd’s inaugural sale of arms and armour at Sotheby’s Olympia.

PAUL Barthaud, who has just stepped down as executive director of Spink, is the new chief operating officer for the Fine Art Auction Group.

Gloucester auctioneers Bruton Knowles are experimenting with a new software package that allows online visitors to turn selected objects 360 degrees for a detailed inspection.

CHRISTIE’s will stage a sale of 200 items from Partridge’s stock in New York next May.

Art, antiques, wine, classic cars – pension hopes disappear

The following prizes have been awarded to students on the BA(Hons) Fine Art Valuation course at Southampton Solent University.

Staffordshire’s Richard Winterton Auction Group have opened a new saleroom in Lichfield.

Sotheby’s have extended their credit facility by $50m to $250m, bringing them greater room for manoeuvre in competing for business.

GROWING Essex auctioneers Sworders have expanded their reach into Suffolk with the acquisition of the venerable Sudbury firm Olivers. Plans are also underway for a new auction centre situated on a brownfield site just north of their current location in Stansted Mountfitchet.

On December 1 South Downs Auctioneers opened a new office and showroom at Gosdens Heath Barn, two and a half miles east of Midhurst, towards Petworth on the A272.

Christie’s and ATG teams follow in close second on quiz night

But they will bring benefits for the industry, expert advises

Clarion Events have announced the “postponement” of next summer’s Antiques For Everyone – Glasgow.

CLARION NEC have announced a link-up with LAPADA for their National Fine Art & Antiques Fair, the third of which will be held at the National Exhibition Centre from January 18-22.

THE price of gold reached an 18-year high last week, after speculative buying surged with the news that the Russian central bank is planning to double its gold reserves.