FOR 7-13

GROSVENOR HOUSE ART & ANTIQUES FAIR SEES STALWART DOMESTIC BUYING, No cuts

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LONDON — The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair confirmed its position as a leading art fair, attracting 18,459 visitors. Dealers reported robust sales, particularly to a reinvigorated domestic market.

English furniture has been an integral part of The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair since its inception in the 1930s. Good sales were reported by most furniture dealers at the fair. Mallett’s sales included a pair of George II giltwood side tables in the manner of William Kent, circa 1740, while Apter-Fredericks sold two rare and unusually small Queen Anne walnut pieces, a bureau-on-stand and a bachelor’s chest, both dating from 1710.

Richard Courtney and Brian Rolleston, both noted for English furniture, said that this had been their best fair for some years. Courtney’s sales included a rare George I burr walnut concertina-action card table, circa 1730, which went to new English clients, and Rolleston sold a rare George I walnut bachelor’s chest with double hinged top, 1725, to an English collector. Later furniture also fared well. Martin Levy of H. Blairman & Sons sold a corner cabinet, designed by Bruce James Talbot, circa 1880, and a refectory table designed by Gordon Russell, circa 1927.

The range of pictures here has grown over the past decade and spans all periods from the Italian Renaissance to the present. Colnaghi-Bernheimer wrote up a “Portrait of a Gentleman” by Nicholas de Largilliere (1656–1746) and Philip Mould sold four hitherto unpublished early Seventeenth Century English school portraits of the Folliott Brothers, 1603, to a new client. Dutch and Flemish Old Master specialist David Koetser’s trade included a pair of river landscapes with figures by Lucan van Uden (1595–1672), and “A Shepherd sleeping against a tree with his flock of sheep” by Adriaen van de Welder (1636–1672), signed and dated 1659.

Among sculpture, a collector bought “Horse & Rider” by Elizabeth Frink, a bronze from an edition of seven, 1970, from Osborne Samuel, and The Sladmore Gallery sold a small bronze of “The Kiss” by Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) cast in 1915. Reflecting an entirely different era, A&E Foster sold a Franco Flemish ivory portrait bust of a nobleman by C. Lacroix, circa 1680.

Clocks, a particular strength of the fair, saw one of the most important displays for many years. Anthony Woodburn sold one of his highlights, the Medici Tompion, 1700, to a new private client as well as a miniature tortoiseshell table clock made for George III and later inherited by his son, Prince Augustus Frederick.

Other clocks to sell included a rare Charles II silver mounted table clock by Ignatius Huggerford, London, circa 1675, which was sold by John Carlton-Smith.

Russian collectors displayed a keen interest in their own heritage as sales were reported by both Wartski and Marks. Wartski sold a Faberge samovar, which is being returned to Russia. Marks sold three items: a Faberge cloisonne enamel and silver gilt pictorial box and a cloisonne box, both by Fedor Richkert, as well as a Russian polychrome enamel on silver gilt tea caddy and shovel, 1891, all to the same Russian collector.

An Edwardian diamond necklace that converts into a tiara was sold by Sandra Cronan. The Metal Gallery sold a number of pendants and earrings made from coal mounted with platinum and diamonds by contemporary German designer Cornelia Rating.

Albert Amor’s sales included a pair of Chelsea Gold Anchor candlesticks in the form of ‘Spring” and ‘Summer,” circa 1760, as well as a rare pair of Worcester leaf dishes with early transfer printing, 1756. Mary Wise reported an excellent fair, selling one of her catalog pieces: a first period Worcester plate, painted in the Atelier of James Giles, circa 1763–68.

Jean-David Cahn’s third year at the fair, he wrote up an important reclining Greek pedimental figure from the Fifth Century BCE and a life-size Greek female head of a muse. London antiquities specialist Rupert Wace, sold a number of pieces, including an Egyptian limestone relief fragment depicting the head of an official, Old Kingdom, Fourth­–Sixth Dynasty, 2573–2140 BCE.

The dates for The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair 2008 will be June 12–18 with the preview on June 11.

For additional information, www.grosvenorfair.co.uk.