Merry Christmas!

All the best for the silly season! Antique & Art will be around (for the most) part over the holiday period - so get in touch if you need an urgent valuation before you go on holiday... we will be in Whangarei / Hokianga in the second week of January 2011.

Lalique Snake Vase Sells For Record Price

This Lalique vase sold for NZ $76,000 in New York at Heritage Auctions. Article from Auction Central News here.

Friday House Tour

The Napier home of museum director Douglas Lloyd-Jenkins has a Victorian influence - done well, without a repro Queen Anne dresser in sight...Dominion article here.

Birds Of America Makes NZ $14 Million

The famous Audubon's "Birds of America," fetched more than £6.5 million at auction in London, making it the world's most expensive published book. ArtDaily report here.

$58,000 Sleeper In Hamilton

A $5 painting purchased in a Bric-A-Brac sale in Northland turns out to be by one of Canada's most sought after artists. The unsigned work attributed to Lawren Harris sold by the Fine Art Society last night. NZ herald article here.

Te Kanawa Goldie Sells For $573,000

International Art Centre last night set a record for the price paid for a painting at auction in New Zealand. Stuff article here.

Kiri Te Kanawa's Goldie May Set Record Tonight

International Art Centre are hoping to fetch a record price tonight for a Goldie belonging to Kiri Te Kanawa. The work with excellent provenance and ownership has been estimated at the $500,000 mark. In March 2008 Richard Thomson set the record of $454,000 for the Goldie work 'Hori Pokai'. All will be revealed in Parnell tonight.

Tiki Sells For £45,650 In Chatsworth Sale

The Sotheby's Chatsworth Attic Sale of 20,000 objects was held last week, to great interest and purchase. Of New Zealand interest was this hei-tiki (estimated at £7,000), found hidden in the back of a cupboard. It sold for an astonishing £45,650. It was possibly acquired in the early 19th Century by the 6th Duke of Devonshire.

Treasure Trove Found In Paris

A Parisian flat untouched for 70 years reveals a 2.1 million Euro painting by Boldini. Telegraph article here.

Dunedin Art Gallery Buys Hodgkins

Dunedin Public Art Gallery shows off their latest acquisition in the ODT online.

Augustus Earle's Australian Lithographs Find Aussie Buyers From Oxford

Four hand-coloured lithographs of Sydney circa 1826 by Augustus Earle (1793-1838) sold in Oxford for £26,000.

These lithographs with a pre-sale estimate of £200-300, saw five phone bidders from Down Under compete in buying the works, knocked down in the end for £26,000.

The itinerant artist familiar to us in New Zealand painted scenes of our life between 1827 and 1828.

Antique & Art Valuations For Christchurch Earthquake

I will be in Christchurch for a week in mid October to provide valuations for anyone putting in their claims for antique items damaged in the Christchurch Earthquake. You will need one for the Earthquake Commission or your insurance company to complete a claim. Please call me on (09) 9488829 or email me on at erika@antiqueandart.co.nz to book your appointment. If you just need some advice concerning one please feel free to call or email too.

Don't Buy New, Buy Old!

Of course we all knew that Antiques are a green option but now an independent report has confirmed this. It claims antique furniture is likely to have a carbon footprint 16 times lower than that of a newly manufactured item. "Buying antiques reduces landfill, reduces carbon emissions and reduces consumption of new goods from abroad. The antiques trade is the oldest recycling business in the world and the ultimate in terms of preserving our heritage for future generations. This report provides further proof that antiques should be recognised for their genuine green hallmark – sustainable, re-usable and re-saleable." Antiques Trade Gazette article here.

Ivory Stolen From Hokianga Historic Place

This carved whalebone whip handle has been stolen from Clendon House in Rawene and The New Zealand Historic Places Trust would like it returned. NZHPT Northern Heritage Destinations Manager Gordon Hewston says "The real value of this object is the connection it has with the house and its cultural significance. We really just want this object returned to us as soon as possible - even if it's brought back anonymously." If you have seen it or know where it is please contact your local police station, or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
UPDATE: This was returned to to the Historic Places Trust a few weeks later, possibly because of a threat of its tapu.

Found Antiquities Made Into Jewellery Banned From Museum Shop

The British Museum has stopped stocking jewellery made from items of antiquity. The items incorporated in the jewellery have very low intrinsic value and little value to a museum, but museums should not be trading in these items even in this form, the museum has decided. Article from The Telegraph. Pictured is an example of the type of work available from the website English Relics - necklace made from a Roman Theatre Mask retailing for £18o.

Friday House Tour

See the rest at Apartment Therapy here.

Silver Candlestick Sells For $11,500 in Auckland

Cordy's in Auckland had a sleeper in their sale last Tuesday. Lot 483 described as a late 18th century Dutch silver chamberstick by S. Gravenhage had a pre-sale estimate of $450 but sold to a phone bidder for $11,500.

Police Looking For Owner Of Roman Glass Bracelet

This Roman bangle was handed into police in Palmerston North and they are now seeking its rightful owner.

The plaque reads ''Roman Glass Bangle. 1st Century AD. Funerary Offering. Found in home.''

If it is yours or if anyone has any information about it is asked to contact Palmerston North Police on (06) 351 3600 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A Million Pound Print?

Munch's print of the Madonna (with hand colouring) from 1895 realises a record price in London. Antiques Trade Gazette article here.

Te Papa Buys "Pacific Mona Lisa" For $2 Million

Here is an in depth article from The Dominion Post about Te Papa's latest acquisition (as opposed to the six lines given by the NZ Herald).

Record Price For British Silver At £2.5 Million

This rather large (d. 129cm) silver wine cistern dating from 1705/6 sold at Sotheby's London for the record price of £2.5 million. The cooler known as "The Great Silver Wine Cistern of Thomas Wentworth" was part of a small 21 lot "Treasures Aristocratic Heirlooms Sale" all pieces having impeccable and distinguished provenance.

Feather Sale Goes Global

Last Thursday Webb's sold a huia feather for $8,000 as part of their Tribal Sale. It turns out it is a record for a feather at auction. Lord knows who keeps the lists of these records... Telegraph article here.

No Go Poe

UPDATE: The Poe portrait as referred to here has failed to sell at auction in Baltimore. Estimated at $30,000 - $50,000 the piece could not get a $15,000 starting bid.

Napoleon Archive Found In NZ To Be Auctioned This Month

Following on from the recent story about rare films being discovered in the NZ Film Archives another important discovery has been made by Art + Object at a recent charity Roadshow. At the end of the month they are to auction 40 items that have come through the family of Captain Denzil Ibbetson (1788-1857), who accompanied Napoleon to exile on St Helena in 1815 and stayed with him until the emperor's death in 1821. The items include a lock of hair (pictured) estimated at $12,000 - $15,000 and a lithograph of Napoleon on his deathbed. A+O described the archive "being in effect an artistic and documentary record of Napoleon's final days this offering constitutes one of the most important collections of artwork and objects associated with a major historic figure ever to be found in Australasia". The auction takes place at 6pm on June 29th and it is on view from the 20th. There is also a Wellington viewing by appointment on Saturday 12th of June. This exciting find will surely have much international interest.

New Zealand Born Designer Adds Contemporary Touch To Historic Mansion

Mark Brazier-Jones has been asked by the National Trust to add some 'bling' to The Vyne -a Tudor mansion in Hampshire. This pink chaise is one of the pieces he has incorporated into the house which was last decorated in the mid 19th century. (Guardian article here).

Million Dollar Snuff Bottle Sells in Hong Kong

This 1.6inch snuff bottle made for the Emperor Qianlong has beaten an auction record when it sold in Hong Kong for

$1.75 million (NZ$). Read Daily Mail article here.

A 'Girly' Sale In Wellington

Dunbar Sloane has just released their latest catalogue which features an interesting 'Vintage Costume & Boudoir Accessories' section. Featuring the Jim Pike Collection of Art Nouveau and Deco Chocolate and Lingerie Boxes. The sale is on the 23rd of June and is on view on Sunday 20th June 1-4pm, Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd June 9am-5pm. It looks to be an interesting one to view if you are in Wellington over that weekend. Vintage items of this age are pretty hard to find these days. The catalogue is online here.

Antique Shows Accused of Financial Obsession

Mark Dodgson, secretary general of the British Antique Dealers' Association, has criticised UK broadcasters for programmes which concentrate too much on what heirlooms are worth rather than fostering an interest in them. Article from The Telegraph here.

Jarvis Cocker Records The Sounds of Historic Places

A new project by The National Trust has had Jarvis Cocker recording the sounds of thirteen properties over three months. Described as "holidays for the ears", the sounds include birds playing in fountains, the footsteps of visitors and a door latch opening and closing. You can download or listen free here. (Guardian article here) (image: Chartwell stairs by John Hammond)

A £250,000 'Copy' Star of Latest Roadshow

A painting thought to be a copy by the war artist Sir William Orpen has turned up for appraisal at the latest Antiques Roadshow. This second version was gifted to the man who helped the artist escape a court martial for painting the original, of his French lover. Read the complete Telegraph article here.

Important Winston Churchill Collection At Christie's

Christie’s latest offering is "the most important and comprehensive private collection of letters and books related to Winston Churchill ever assembled". The collection belonged to Malcolm S. Forbes Jr.of the Forbes family. It is to be offered in three parts; two sales in London and one in New York. The catalogue for Part One is online now here.

(Image: Lot 1 £5,000-8,000)

New Auction Record For Carpet

This 19th century carpet has just sold at Christie's in London for $9.59 million (US) a new record price and 20 times its estimated value. In 2010 - "The Year of the Rug"- those in the know claim rugs are entering the artistic realm. Story from Artdaily.org.

Antique and Collectable Maps As Decoration

I have recently stumbled upon a great blog called Found, Now Home which features one woman's antique quests and other vintage musings. This post features 'Maptastic' images of antique and collectable maps used as decoration, which is a trend currently seen in the most "on-trend" (sorry) of houses...

Doll Dressed By Princess Victoria For Sale At Bonhams

Queen Victoria loved dolls. When she was a "lonesome little girl she had 132 to play with". (NYtimes archive). Bonham's, Knightsbridge have this doll, dressed by her eldest daughter for auction (est. £800-1200) as part of their May 26th Doll and Teddy Bear sale . It was sold in 1868 to raise funds for impoverished Germans in the city (Artdaily.org).

The Future For Antique Shops?

In a quest to keep up with technology and improve market size, antique shops are going online. The Antique Atrium is a unique online-only business in London (from The Telegraph); but increasingly Hospice shops around New Zealand are setting up on Trademe to get more bang for their buck (article from the Southland Times).

Diary of A Dress Detective

Kerry Taylor has a specialist antique vintage fashion and textile auction house in Dulwich, which is getting some phenomenal prices of late (including a £24,000 Chanel dress). Read this article about her from the Telegraph.

Friday House Tour

A 1960s home retaining its original character in Seattle, thanks to Apartment Therapy. See rest of tour here.

Silver Doing Well At Auction

The latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) quarterly survey of the arts and antiques market, reports that silver is doing well...Guardian article here.

Valuable Surprise For Hospice In Donation Box

This cased Waltham Eight Day 'Deck Watch' donated to the Ellerslie Hospice was a nice surprise for the charity. It sold on Trade Me for $1,400. East & Bays article here.

George Washington Book Return Request

Librarians in at a New York library have found that George Washington has not returned some books taken out in 1789. Story from the BBC.

Roadshow Expert's Dirty Nails Distract Viewers

Sorry, a silly story for a Friday from the Daily Mail...

Seuffert Rarity Star Of Auction

This Burton Cabinet by Anton Seuffert in 1870, is the star piece of Dunbar Sloane's latest antique auction to be held in Auckland next week. It is one of four known secretaires made by this technically brilliant cabinet maker. One was presented to Hooker at Kew Gardens in 1867; 'The Hooker Cabinet' is now in Te Papa along with the more elaborately decorated 'Watt Cabinet'. The Auckland Museum has the other, presented to Bishop Selwyn on permanent display. Estimates for one of these would be in the hundreds of thousands. The Dunbar catalgoue is now available online.

Collection of Weird and Wonderful Taxidermy Up For Auction

A large collection of taxidermy is up for auction in Dorset. Featuring 250 animals, many real and some imagined, the sale is said to be the collection of an eccentric 19th-century professor and explorer. Read article from The Daily Mail here.

Auctioneer Fined £1000 In The Egg Cabinet Case

Following on from this story (mentioned last week), Jim Railton has been fined in his unknowingly illegal attempt to sell an Edwardian collectors cabinet of eggs...article from Antiques Trade Gazette.

House Tour Friday

See the rest at Apartment Therapy here.