WAR-RICH BUYERS OF ANTIQUES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 276, 18 August 1919, Page 3

WAR-RICH BUYERS OF ANTIQUES

FANCY PKICES AT LONDON SALES. The enormous fortunes made in Engknd dining tlio war are responsible for record breaking prices which sellers of antiques of every kind are jeahsing in London miction rooms, in tho opinion of men who have lonp been close to the trade. The whole country is being searched for treasures of all kinds which find ready sale at price* which hitherto have only been paid by foreigners. A mysterious portrait which recently appeared, in one auction loom, ami wae said by fomo one to have been by Franz IJals quickffly brought ,£12,000, α-lthough its authenticity lias even now not been established. A Reynolds portrait, which to the present had not attracted much attention, was easily sold for ■£14,000, and pictures by much lessor lights brought phenomenal prices. Artistic, furniture is in even more demand. Six Chippendale Gothic chaira recently sold at a country sale for .£1025, in spite of tho tact that modern artiste are copying this iiarticular design with marked success, and only tho (rained export can detect the difference. At another country «»lo two Chippendale tnbies brought ,£330 and a Chippoudnlo cabinet .£1250.

Sheraton furniture i 3 not so popular, oxcollent tn'blos tfoiu? as low ns ,£2fl. An old harpsichord in a William and Jtarjr «asa sold for .KOO, and n (?randfijtHier's cloelc brought its fortiimite owner .5120, in spito of the fact that tihe deck hud probablj- e.mevA to tick more than a' hundred years ago. Illuminated munusuripte are also in demand, and. as in th« ousf; of furniture, record prices urn hmiiis; ohtnincd. Letters of David Garrick, and a few by his wifo, to noted vcrmns of their ti'ino oaused fjnrited bidding, but were withdrawn and will bo offered again.

Effort* to trnco the iiurchasore of soiuo of tho choicest olTeriiisa have revealed the presence in Urn market »f persons who rtever Wore paid itny attention to antiques. Many of them aro persons who accumulated large fortunes iluring tlin war, and now that Uicy Imvo acquinid fine houses havo set; out. with tho aid of exports, to givo them IJic ancient touch mini rod by good taste.