Gambon promoted to department head
Bonhams has confirmed the appointment of Jim Peake as a specialist in its British ceramics and glass department in Knightsbridge (ATG No 2394). It has now announced the promotion of Fergus Gambon as head of department following the retirement of John Sandon.
Gambon, who joined Bonhams in 1994, said: “I am delighted to be following in the footsteps of my distinguished colleague, John Sandon… a legend in the industry. He will be a hard act to follow, but I am relishing the challenge of maintaining Bonhams’ position as market leader in British ceramics and glass.”
Heritage launches new monthly sales
Heritage Auctions of Dallas has launched monthly online fine and decorative art auctions. They will be held on the second Thursday of each month. The first closes on July 11 and features 200 lots including a selection of Lalique and European drawings that were included in the catalogue for a 1976 exhibition, Italian 19th Century Drawings and Watercolors: an Album, Camuccini & Minardi to Mancini & Balla.
The firm said the new regular sales will “supplement ‘Signature Live Auctions’ and weekly sales to meet increasing demand”.
Gough is new Arts Scholars Master
Georgina Gough has been appointed Master at the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars. She took over in May from Woolley & Wallis chairman Paul Viney.
Georgina Gough.
She is now the 14th master of the livery company. The company was formed in 2004 as a city guild for the antique decorative and applied arts by the late pottery dealer Jonathan Horne. Horne worked with Gough in forming the guild which was awarded full livery status in 2014.
Gough served as clerk until 2017. She is daughter of the late dealer Ronald Lee and worked at the family firm Ronald A Lee Fine Arts.
Courier firm struck off companies list
Courier firm Auction House Shipping Ltd has been dissolved and struck off the Companies House register. The West Sussex company was dissolved on April 23 via compulsory strike-off.
Sotheby’s appoints fresh China MD
Beibei Fan has joined Sotheby’s as managing director of China. Working in Beijing, Fan will be responsible for leading the local team and driving Sotheby’s business and presence in China. She previously worked in TV at HBO and prior to that at Warner Bros and The Walt Disney Company in China.
Beibei Fan is Sotheby’s managing director of China.
Non-elephant ivory now in spotlight
A consultation into the trade of non-elephant ivory has been launched by the government.
The consultation, which runs until August 22, seeks evidence on the trade in ivory from other, non-elephant, species to “help inform what, if any, action government should take to further restrict trade in ivory”. Plans for the consultation were announced when the ivory bill received Royal Assent to become the Ivory Act in December 2018.
MPs discussed extending the proposed ban to include other items during the debate of the ivory bill, amid concerns the ban on one form of ivory could increase pressure on another.
Hogarth saved for Leicester gallery
A William Hogarth (1697-1764) painting that has been on loan to the New Walk Museum & Art Gallery in Leicester since 1943 has been purchased for the gallery.
William Wollaston and his Family in a Grand Interior has been owned by the Wollaston family since it was painted for William Wollaston in 1730.
The 3ft 3in x 4ft 1in (99cm x 1.2m) oil on canvas by William Hogarth of William Wollaston and his Family in a Grand Interior, signed and dated 1730. Image copyright: Leicester Arts and Museums Service.
When the family decided to sell the painting they offered it to the nation at the reduced price of £1.47m in lieu of inheritance tax. The price was below the £3m valuation by Sotheby’s and the acceptance in lieu scheme arrangement meant HMRC accepted £903,672 in tax with the remaining £564,528 to come from fundraising.
The City of Leicester Museums Trust launched the Save the Hogarth Campaign to raise the money and received the amount from funds including the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and the general public.
Most read
The most viewed stories for week May 23-29 on antiquestradegazette.com
1 Only Fools and Horses millionaire cheque and other props come to auction in Bristol
2 Bonhams expects record bid for Tompion’s miniature ‘Q Clock’
3 Gandhi bronze valued on Antiques Roadshow by Philip Mould to be sold at auction
4 Three John Constable pictures come to auction including portrait of his uncle
5 Iznik tile, Beatles ticket and Chinese treasure box – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
In Numbers
86
The distance in miles that Jeremy Lamond, director at Halls auction house of Shrewsbury, is to cycle on June 9 to raise funds for children’s hospice Hope House. He plans to raise £2000 and is asking for donations via his Just Giving page: justgiving.com/fundraising/j-lamond1
Pedalling for a good cause... Jeremy Lamond, director at Halls.
