Blackadder’s codpiece sells at UK auction
It may well have taken pride of place in Lord Blackadder's wardrobe. So he would have been pleased to hear that his black leather codpiece fetched a princely £850 at an auction of TV and movie costumes. The codpiece formed an essential part of the well-dressed Elizabethan man's wardrobe. Worn by Rowan Atkinson in the second Blackadder series, which was aired in 1986, it was sold by Cameo Auctioneers in Midgham in Berkshire. Other items in the auction included the khaki ski suit used by Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in The World is Not Enough in 1999, which sold for £1,700. A tunic worn by Sean Connery as Robin Hood in the film Robin and Marian in 1976 fetched £2,000. Source: Daily mail
£430m masterheist: Lone robber in huge art raid… at Paris museum with broken alarm
£20.3m: Picasso's 'Dove with Green Peas', painted in 1912, was among the priceless masterpieces stolen
A lone thief is believed to have carried out one of the most daring – and lucrative – art heists in history yesterday. The ‘burly man’ stole masterpieces worth tens of millions of pounds from a Paris gallery in an early morning raid. He broke into the Museum of Modern Art and made off with works by Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. Heist: French forensic police transfer an empty frame through a window at the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (Paris Museum of Modern Art) after the shocking discovery Heist: French forensic police transfer an empty frame through a window at the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (Paris Museum of Modern Art) after the shocking discovery yesterday 'Enormous crime': Picasso's 'Dove with Green Peas', painted in 1912, was among the priceless masterpieces stolen £20.3m: Picasso's 'Dove with Green Peas', painted in 1912, was among the priceless masterpieces stolen The haul is reckoned to be worth anything from £170million to £430million – although French officials attempted to play down the value of the stolen paintings. Last night it emerged that, incredibly, the gallery’s alarm system had been broken in some rooms since March 30. The security system operator had ordered spare parts to fix it but had not yet received the equipment from the supplier, officials admitted. There were also fears the thief may have had people ‘on the inside’ helping him. There were three security guards in the building at the time, but each has told detectives that they ‘saw nothing’. Confirming the raid was the most costly in the history of French art, Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe called it ‘an intolerable attack on Paris’s universal cultural heritage’. CCTV footage caught the ‘heavily disguised, burly figure’ jumping through a smashed window at around 6.50am. He is then believed to have forced a lock to gain access to the most valuable works in the building, which lies just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. The canvases are thought to have been cut from their frames and taken away in a bundle. All that remains: Police officers search for clues as they pack up the frames of the stolen paintings outside the Paris Museum of Modern Art today All that remains: Police officers search for clues as they pack up the frames of the stolen paintings outside the Paris Museum of Modern Art yesterday Some Paris officials put the value of the works at under £100million. But art historians said they could be worth four times that. Earlier this month a Picasso sold for a world record of £70million at auction. ‘They are wonderful works – the very best that the artists produced,’ a source close to the inquiry said. ‘Police are speaking to all of us in case people on the inside helped the burglar.’ Because the paintings – detailed right – are so well known, it is thought it would be impossible to sell them on the open market. The Modern Art Museum has been a Paris landmark since it was opened in 1961, and had been considered one of the most secure in Europe. Yesterday it was shut to all visitors with a sign on the main door reading: ‘Closed for technical reasons.’ Meanwhile officers from the Brigade de Repression du Banditisme, the French police’s elite armed robbery unit, were scouring the building for clues. The suspected thief was captured on one of numerous CCTV cameras inside the building. It was unclear why those monitoring the screens did not summon police as soon as they saw him. ‘He was heavily disguised with a hood and face covering,’ said an officer at the scene. Insiders working for low pay in the gallery are often suspected of helping art criminals, said the officer. Sometimes those involved leave clues suggesting a break-in, when in fact they simply used keys, he added. France has traditionally been at the centre of the international art theft underworld, with paintings regularly stolen to order. The total world trade in stolen art is thought to be worth £4billion. In 2007 two paris Picassos worth £50million were stolen from the Paris home of the artist’s granddaughter, Diana Widmaier. Twelve Picasso paintings valued at around £17million were stolen from the French Riviera villa of another of his grandchildren, Marina Picasso, in 1989. Picasso is the most stolen artist in the world because of his prolific output, recognisable signature and valuable works. There are more than 500 missing Picassos on the London-based Art Loss Register of stolen works. The most famous art raid of all was the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris. Italian immigrant Vincenzo Perugia hid in the museum overnight before getting away with the priceless painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It was finally returned in 1914. The largest art theft – unless it is officially eclipsed by yesterday’s Paris raid – happened in Boston in 1990 when raiders took 13 works, worth a total of around £400million, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. A reward of £3.5million is still offered for information leading to their return. Source: Daily Mail
A christening gown embroidered with swastikas that was worn by Hermann Goering’s daughter is to be sold at UK auction
The 3ft gown came from one of the Goerings' maids and is due to be auctioned off on Thursday 27th May
It is thought Adolf Hitler gave the 3ft-long lace gown to the head of the Luftwaffe for the ceremony, at which the Nazi dictator was pictured holding Edda, his god-daughter The ceremony took place in November 1938 - ten months before the outbreak of World War II. It is thought Hitler gave the Christening gown to the Goerings for the ceremony Hitler has his cheek pulled by Edda Goering the daughter of the Luftwaffe chief, Hermann. It is believed the Nazi dictator gave the christening gown to the Goerings A lace Christening gown embroidered with swastikas that was worn by Hermann Goering's daughter is to be sold at auction The 3ft gown came from one of the Goerings' maids and is due to be auctioned off later this month Swastikas were embroidered into the christening gown which was worn at the 1938 ceremony, 11 months before the beginning of World War II 
Swastikas were embroidered into the christening gown which was worn at the 1938 ceremony, 11 months before the beginning of World War II The 3ft-long gown came from one of the Luftwaffe chief's maids and ultimately fell into the hands of a collector who is now selling it at an auction in this country. Edda herself is still alive and believed to live in South Africa but she rarely gives interviews. After the war Goering was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death. But he cheated the hangman's noose by taking cyanide the day before his execution. Edda's mother Emmy, an actress, died in Munich in 1973. The gown is being sold by Mullock's auction house in Ludlow, Shropshire, and is expected to fetch up to £7,000. Richard Westwood-Brookes, who is selling it later this month, said: 'This is believed to have been the gown that Goering's daughter wore at her christening.
Hitler has his cheek pulled by Edda Goering the daughter of the Luftwaffe chief, Hermann. It is believed the Nazi dictator gave the christening gown to the Goerings
'It was held at the Goering mansion and Hitler was the godfather and it's believed that he gave the Goerings the gown. 'It is about 3ft long and has little swastikas incorporated into the design and it remains in good condition. 'The vendor obtained it from an intermediary who got it from one of the maids in the Goering household, named Frieda Zychski.' To view this sale click here Source: Daily Mail
Greatest Winston Churchill collection ever at UK auction
Steve Forbes's collection of Britain's most celebrated Prime Minister goes under the hammer Next month, Christie's is to offer what they claim is 'the most important and comprehensive private collection of letters and books related to Winston Churchill ever assembled'. The collection belongs to Steve Forbes of Forbes magazine, the son of fellow collector Malcolm Forbes. The collection was assembled over a period of more than 30 years. Christie's will sell the collection of the great statesman's memorabilia in three auctions - the first and last in London and the second in New York - at six month intervals. Some of the highlights of the collection include: A telegram sent by the Boer Police to Johannesburg as they attempted to track down Churchill. The great man had been captured in the Boer War, but had hopped over a wall, strode casually down a path and caught a passing train to freedom. "Englishman 25 years old about 5 foot 8 inches tall medium build walks with a slight stoop. Pale features. Reddish-brown hair almost invisible small moustache. Speaks through his nose and cannot pronounce the letter S. Had last a brown suit on and cannot speak one word of Dutch." The incident was of great assistance in Churchill's campaign to become an MP the following year. The telegram has a modest guide price of £6,000-8,000. The most important surviving source for Churchill's daily activities during the World War II, his engagement diary is also to appear in the first auction. The series of thirty engagement cards giving day-to-day details of the Prime Minister's appointments from September 1939 to June 1945, noting meetings with President Roosevelt, Charles de Gaulle and Stalin, alongside more regular dinners and lunches with King George VI is expected to realise £80,000 to £120,000. Thomas Venning, Director of Books and Manuscripts at Christie's commented: "This outstanding collection presents an exceptional and fascinating insight into [Churchill's] personality, character, sharp wit and his distinctive way with words, with letters, photographs and books spanning his entire life." The first sale takes place on June 2 in London. Collectors unwilling to wait that long for rare Churchillean memorabilia will wish to know that this signed photo, personal letter and annotated transcript of his answers to parliamentary questions are currently available. Source: Paul Fraser Collectibles For more memorabilia auctions go to www.ukauctioneers.com
Jamaican 1 shilling invert could bring £10,000 in UK Auction
Jamaican Frame Inversion
The spectacular example of a frame inversion error heads Corbitts' rare stamps sale Near the end of the month, the Newcastle (UK) auctioneer Corbitts is offering a sale of rare stamps as the main part of their All World Public Auction, which comprises 2,130 lots. As is typical of Corbitts the sale is quite eclectic. Stamps from all over the world are covered from British Penny Blacks & Reds and Two Penny Blues through US Civil War covers, from Egypt to Brazil and Hong Kong. There are also a handful of autographs and other collectibles. Deltiologists will be particularly happy with the range of postcards on offer. But the most exciting piece seems fairly clear. That is a beautiful example of a Jamaican 1 shilling orange inverted frame. The 1920 orange-yellow and orange-red stamp is one of just 20 known, of which eight exist in two blocks of four. The attractive and fresh piece, with deep colour, is one of the most desirable British Commonwealth rarities, and would make an excellent centrepiece to a collection of Caribbean stamps, or a good investment. It is offered with a guide price of £10,000. There is also a collection of Hong Kong stamps from 1862 to 2006. The wide-ranging selection has a guide price of £3,000, but in reality is likely to fetch more than this, especially as the value of such stamps is likely to increase. The auction takes place on May 27. Bidders who can't reach Newcastle can place bids online. Source: Paul Fraser Collectibles More philatelic and postcard auctions can be found at www.ukauctioneers.com
Lawrence of Arabia’s £32,000 diary appears at UK auction
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T E Lawrence
A copy of Seven Pillars of Wisdom, with a signed letter by TE Lawrence, will go under the hammer at Lyon and Turnbull The forthcoming Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photographs sale will include a limited edition of one of the most important accounts of the fighting experience of the First World War. When Seven Pillars of Wisdom was penned by Thomas Edward Lawrence, or TE Lawrence, he had already lost two brothers in the conflict. His resulting book on the campaign against Turks in the Middle East, written between 1919-1926, detailed acts of gross cruelty, revenge, disgusting hospitals and death. Seven Pillars of Wisdom was anything but a jingoistic "boy's own" account of the conflict - and earned favourable comparisons to Dostoevsky, Melville, Yeats and Joyce. Due to his immense skills as a writer, TE Lawrence earned the name Lawrence of Arabia - also the title the 1962 film of his life starring Peter O'Toole, based largely on Seven Pillars of Wisdom. This exceptional copy of Seven Pillars of Wisdom from 1926 is one of just 170 subscribers', or "cromwell", editions, printed in red and black. It is inscribed by the author on page 19: "Complete copy. IXII.26 TES." The book's front bears a portrait of King Faisal I of Iraq to whom Lawrence became an advisor, by the artist Augustus John.
Hollywood star Peter O'Toole portrayed the author in the 1962 classic film, Lawrence of Arabia
Also included within the books pages are six plates, four folding coloured maps, and 58 coloured illustrations in the text by John and other artists Eric Kennington and William Nicholson. Remarkably, the lot also includes a signed two-page letter written by Lawrence to FR Rodd, later Lord Rennell of Rodd. Dated November 3, 1925, it mentions the Seven Pillars of Wisdom. "Yes I'm here now... Lincolnshire is like a picture of dead earth in green & grey... The [Royal Air Force] camp is good. Also the fellows, also the life. "...the reprint of my book would have been finished.... it will not be ready much before March. You don't really want one, you know. Thirty guineas is an absurd price," writes Lawrence. This copy of Seven Pillars of Wisdom will fetch considerably more than 30 guineas, and will carry an estimate of £28,000-32,000 when it auctions at Lyon & Turnbull on May 26. Source: Paul Fraser Collectibles Search for more historical doucments auctions at www.ukauctioneers.com
World Cup Fever starts at UK auction
Graham Budd
There's no escaping it - World Cup fever is on the way and once again the England team will carry a nation's dreams of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1966. But even if we follow tradition and depart in the quarter finals, investors can still become winners by investing in World Cup paraphernalia. Collectables relating to the England team of 1966 still attract the most interest and their values have continued to climb. Stars such as Brazil's Pele have also provided great returns. Football shirts are among the most collecthe-table items, along with autographed photographs. Other investment areas include programmes, tickets, medals, footballs and mascot souvenirs. Graham Budd of sports specialist Graham Budd Auctions in Palmers Green, north London, and a consultant for auction house Sotheby's, says the World Cup is a winning bet. 'Football is the world's most popular sport,' he says. 'It is inconceivable it will ever fall out of fashion. And the World Cup is the pinnacle of this great sport. 'World Cup investments start with the very first tournament in 1930 held in Uruguay and won by the host nation, who beat Argentina 4-2 in the final. 'It was not a commercial circus in the beginning and to see a match you might have had to board a ship for a two-month voyage rather than fly. This helps to explain why early memorabilia is so rare and so valuable.' A 1930 World Cup poster designed by the late Uruguayan artist Guillermo Laborde is valued at £5,000 - ten times its price in the Eighties. A winner's gold medal that was presented to the Uruguay captain, Jose Nasazzi, was sold for £28,800 at auction in 2008. Budd says: 'Prices for the 1930 posters may seem high, but if you want an original poster for the 1934 tournament in Italy, you will have to pay even more. Italy won the Cup - beating Czechoslovakia 2-1 - but it was a highly controversial tournament. The Italian dictator-Benito Mussolini hosted the event and the route to glory involved some interesting refereeing decisions.' A 1934 World Cup programme is valued at £4,500. Budd says that paraphernalia from tournaments before the Second World War always hold their value because of their rarity. There was a 12-year gap after 1938 before the next tournament, when Uruguay beat host nation Brazil 2-1. It was also the first tournament that England took part in, though they lost 1-0 to the United States. Mark Woodhead, auctioneer at trader Spirit of Sport in Hurst, Berkshire, says: 'It is 1966 that attracts the most interest. The first-ever tournament mascot was World Cup Willie in 1966. He heralded the era of collectable memorabilia - mugs, stamps, badges, tea towels, beer mats and stickers. They all represent fascinating investments.' Historic match clothes worn by football legends are solid investments. Bobby Moore, England's captain in 1966, is one of the most revered names in World Cup football and his death from cancer in 1993 at age 51 increases demand for items connected with him. Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of his captain's shirt from World Cup Final, but it is believed to be owned by his family. If it were ever sold, it would almost certainly sell for far more than the £91,750 paid in 2000 for the World Cup- winning shirt worn by hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst. Hurst's spare World Cup shirt will go under the hammer at Bonhams next month, valued at £8,000. The record amount raised for a football shirt was £157,000 paid for the one worn by Pele in the 1970 World Cup final in Mexico, auctioned in 2002. Another record price was set when the World Cup winner's medal presented to England goalkeeper Gordon Banks was sold in 2001 for £114,000. SIGNATURES hold their value well. A set from the 11 England finalists in a display with ticket stubs might fetch £1,500 - more than double the value of a decade ago. The world of sports memorabilia is awash with fakes and that makes provenance vital. A ' certificate of authenticity' can easily turn out to be worthless. Always deal with reputable traders who agree to provide a money-back guarantee that the goods are authentic. * Graham Budd Auctions, 020 8366 2525, grahambuddauctions.co.uk; Spirit of Sport, 0844 770 1966, spiritofsport.co.uk; A1 Sporting Memorabilia, 01202 475600, a1sportingmemorabilia.co.uk. Source daily Mail See more memorabilia/collectables auctions at www.ukauctioneers.com
Daisy Makeig-Jones for Wedgwood bowl made £2300 at UK auction
- This octagonal Fairyland lustre bowl sold for £2300 at Mallams Cheltenham 5th May sale
Collecting Lalique Glass
René Lalique
René Lalique was born in Ay, France in 1860. From an early age his mother was aware of his artist nature and encouraged it wherever she could. At 16 he began an apprentice ship with the then famous Paris jeweller, Louis Aucoc. By the time he was 21 he was designing his own unique and innovative jewellery. In 1885 he opened his own workshop and quickly gained a reputation for his graceful and unique creations of animal, plant and human forms. Lalique was the first to bring together semi-precious stones with mediums like ivory, coral, pearl, enamel and even glass. It was not long before Lalique attracted International attention and in 1900 he exhibited his jewellery at the Paris Exposition Universelle, where he attracted many notable clients of the day, creating a great demand for his work. After achieving this pinnacle of success His thoughts refocused on a new concept; glass making. Lalique had already experimented with glass in jewellery making and at the age of 50, he changed his career to become a master glassmaker. This change of direction proved to be very successful, gaining him worldwide fame. A name that lives on today in as symbol of excellence.
Rooster by René Lalique
Lalique opened a shop near the famous perfumier Francis Coty. In 1907 he started creating perfume bottles for Coty. Eventually he was doing the same for names like Worth, D'Orsay, Guerlain, and many others. Lalique created more than 250 different bottles. Although most sell for modest amounts today, some have sold for tens of thousands of dollars at auction. Besides his signature pieces, René Lalique soon brought his art into every day life by mass-producing tableware, inkwells, vases, chandeliers, and clocks. In fact at one point his factories were employing up to 600 people creating millions of pieces of glassware. The Art Nouveau movement, in which Lalique played an important role, spanned the years between 1890-1925. The artists of the day were drawing their inspiration from nature, in the form of flowing water, leaves, vines and animals. Lalique stood among great names like Louis Comfort Tiffany, Toulouse Lautrec and Galle, all of which greatly influenced the movement. In all his work Rene Lalique is best known in glassware for his vases. His talent shines through in his masterful way of producing the amber, plum, blue. Opalescent, grey green, black and yellow hues he obtained by meticulously adding measured amounts of pigment to darken the glass. Geometric designs with smooth flowing lines and vibrant colours are so characteristic of his work. Making it so collectable today. He also personalised much of his work with frosting, polishing and glazing to give it that individual look. 
In the 1920's Lalique found a way of decorating car "bonnets" or "hoods" as they are called in America. In the form of glass mascots produced in flowing shapes of animals, fish, horse heads, frogs etc. In all Lalique created 29 "Car Mascots". Female nudes were also a favourite design. All the mascots were designed to be illuminated from with-in by a small light bulb. Filters were used in various colours to change the hues. These glass mascots were designed for the most stylish cars of the day like Bentley, Bugatti and Hispano Suiza. So collectable today! World War 11 forced the closure of his factory, he died in 1945 before it could be re-opened. Laliques' son Marc took over after his fathers death, instituting a change in the medium used, from demi-crystal to full lead crystal. Laliques granddaughter, Marie-Claude, later led the company and introduced her own style with clear crystal with coloured motifs. Pre 1939 (Second World War) pieces are the most sought after by collectors. Lalique marked much of his work, even the mass produced pieces as "R.Lalique" but this is only by rule of thumb as his signature can be found in many forms and is difficult to give a definitive guideline as to what was made before or after 1939. Reference books and Lalique experts are the only answer. The pieces created by Marc Lalique are signed "Lalique France", And "Lalique h France" is the work of Marie-Claude.
Tips for the inexperienced Collector.
Condition is all important, chips, ground down edges, drill holes from conversions of say a bowl to lampshade. These can greatly reduce value. Colour can also make a great difference. Some colours are more rare than others and can command high prices, like electric blue and very dark amethyst. Is it genuine? There is very little worry about known Lalique designs being faked. But, there is a very big problem with modern Czech glass, bearing Lalique signatures. These are quite common. Care must be taken when buying from on online auction sites where they are being sold in volume, along with less valuable French glass of the 1920's again with a Lalique signature. Lalique Signatures
Montmorency opalescent and stained blue glass vase , signed
A Lalique glass atomizer scent bottle, signed
With thanks to: http://www.aw-antiques-collectibles.co.uk/