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Contents

VOL 57 NO 6 NOVEMBER 2022

BEST COLUMNISTS LATEST MUST-SEE EXHIBITIONS FAIRS IN YOUR REGION

Asian Art Special

Putting millennia of the very finest Chinese ceramics in the spotlight

Sign of the times Discoverthe royalautograph everycollector

wants

NOVEMBER 2022

A SEAT OF LEARNING

RESEARCHING A GEORGE

III CORONATION CHAIR

STARTING A NEW CHAPTER

THE ORIENTAL BOOKS GRABBING

ATTENTION

Inside: EASTERN PROMISE HOW THE EAST INFLUENCED EARLY ENGLISH FURNITURE GREAT FINCH & CO. THE CONTENTS SALE OF A LEGENDARY LONDON DEALER

Glazes 5

Chinese

Every collector should know about

ALSO INSIDE Library steps on the up • Auction results • Latest book offers

COVERA rare pilgrim flask ‘baoyueping’ on oval foot-ring, Ming dynasty, first half of 17th century, 25cm high, on sale from Littleton & Hennessy

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THIS MONTH

REGULARS 3 Editor’s Welcome: Georgina Wroe introduces the November issue with its annual focus on Asian Art

6 Antique News: Our industry focus on everything going on this month, including the opening of a new auctioneers in London and the launch of an online antiques quiz

10 Your Letters: This month’s mailbag offers up a request for information on an unusual lectern and an answer to one reader’s query about a vase’s origins

12 Around the Houses: A German Enigma cipher machine cracks its estimate, while four ginger jars divvy up a spicy return

16 Waxing Lyrical: David Harvey lifts the lid on an unusual piano stool which houses a metamorphic secret in the shape of a set of steps

24 Cool and Collectable: The realignment of the House of Windsor has thrown up some collecting opportunities, writes expert Paul Fraser

26 An Auctioneer’s Lot: Charles Hanson considers the boom in Asian art as two exceptional pieces, a table and a vase, appear in his saleroom

44 Puzzle Pages: Give your little grey cells a run out with the latest posers from our resident quiz editor Peter Wade-Wright

46 Saleroom Spotlight: Guy Schooling shines a light on the contents sale of Finch & Co., one of London’s most eclectic dealers

52 Top of the Lots: Behind the scenes at a single-owner collection of Georgian children’s games, plus an album of photographs of Charles Darwin come to light in a Georgian bureau

54 Book Offers: Discover the latest titles from our sister publisher ACC Art

Books and save more than a third on the RRP

56 Fair News: Get the lowdown on antiques fairs for you to visits this month in London, Kent, Birmingham and Malvern

58 Fairs Calendar: Make the most of the events in your region by checking out the latest fairs taking place in our up-to-date listings

60 Auction Calendar : Complete details of this month’s sales from the country’s leading auction houses including several devoted to Asian Art

66 Marc My Words This month the

Antiques Roadshow specialist reveals why his dining room is awash with Asian art treasures

FEATURES 18 Hands Down: Work by the Regency artist Sarah Biffi n, who was born without arms or legs, is making waves in the saleroom as a new exhibition opening this month reveals

30 Eastern Promise: Antique Collecting considers the influence Chinese designs have had on English furniture from the 16th century to Victorian times and later

34 In the Pink: Don’t know your falangcai from your famille rose? Ceramics specialist Sarah Wong puts Chinese glazes through their paces

38 Asian Showcase: A round up of some of the finest lots going under the hammer as part of Asian Art in London and beyond

40 China Sees: Dr Matthew Wills turns the page on a new collecting field – Chinese books – with everything you need to know

48 Royal Seat: Furniture historian Christopher Coles delves into the history of a special chair, placing it at the coronation of George III

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