Letters to the Editor

MADAM – I was astonished to learn that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has specifically decided to refuse any grants under the Discretionary Grant Scheme to antiques market stallholders in Portobello Market.

MADAM – Might I ask whether one of your readers is able to assist with a little piece of identification?

MADAM – It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Laurie Langford, the renowned maritime antique dealer (Obituary, ATG No 2448).

MADAM – Following on from ATG news articles (issues 2447 and 2448), it seems clear to me there is a group of Portobello Road traders who simply do not want to pay their rent during lockdown despite being in receipt of government grants.

MADAM – I run a small conservation and restoration workshop in Kent and like many businesses in the UK, my activity has been greatly affected by the coronavirus emergency.

MADAM – With the list of auctions increasing in every issue, it gives me hope that normality is on the way and soon we should be acting as normal albeit online for a while instead of bidding in person at these auctions.

We enjoy reading letters sent to us by our readers both via email and more traditional methods.

MADAM – Re: the crayon drawing of Churchill.

MADAM – Re: the article on the front page of ATG No 2446 regarding art and antiques premises reopening.

MADAM – I would be very grateful if any of your readers could shed light on the artist of the attached crayon drawing of Churchill.

MADAM – The Virtual Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair ended last Sunday (May 31) and we are now busy trying to gauge the short-term results. The main reason for putting it on was always to give all the exhibitors, who missed out on the real fair, a platform in May, and I am really touched by the many lovely messages sent to thank me and the team for our efforts.

MADAM – I was interested to see the details of ‘grand reopenings’ on front and p4 of ATG No 2445.

As lockdown kicked in, Edward Whitton of Whittons auction house in Honiton conducted online-only auctions outside in the fresh air (the first was held on April 2). Internet buyers reported hearing birdsong as they placed bids.

MADAM – If any of your readers who run events have any news I would be grateful for any updates.

MADAM – Congratulations on the Books, Maps & Prints 2020 supplement in last week’s ATG.

MADAM – I find it interesting to see that some auction rooms, who before Covid-19 were very unhelpful regarding postage and packaging, are now bending over backwards to provide either this service or free storage.

MADAM – I hope you are all keeping well in these challenging times. The reason for my writing is I am wondering whether ATG readers can assist me in searching for works by the 18th century racing artist James Seymour (c.1700-52).

MADAM – I wonder if the collective, wonderful wisdom of the ATG community might be able to shed any light on this watercolour below, or the artist whose name seems to be ‘Jacopo’ or some variant – the vowels are not entirely clear. I suspect it is not the 15th century one!

MADAM – Because I am so old my hen-pecking children have had me in lockdown since the beginning of March.

MADAM – I have recently polled our PBFA members to assess the state of the antiquarian book trade and asked in particular about any positive outcomes of the lockdown.