BERLIN AUCTIONS

Paul Graupe ancl Hermann Ball will auction the
Seligmann Collection April 2 8 th and ag th. This
collection is one of the most important private col-
lections of art of the Middle Ages. Early Chri-
stian works of the Hellenist and late Classical
period up to the end of the Gothic are represented
in this collection giving an extensive picture of
art development of over fifteen centuries. Dr. Se-
ligmann has taken thirty years to gather together
this important collection. Dr. Seligmann was es-
pecially interested in the industrial art works of
early periods. Among others is an early Christian
bronze lamp from Anatolia, a number of Coptic
stuffs, EastGothic and Frankish ornaments of the
5 th and 6 th centuries. Especially extensive is the
art of the Middle Ages, here we find a small gilded
copper reliquary of French origin of the i i th
century, a bronze reliquary box from Lower
Saxony, and a silver altar decoration from Metz.
There is also an extensive collection of bronze
works of the 12 th century, and several interest-
ing sculptures and reliefs.

On April first Lepke is auctioning paintings of
old masters from various collections. The collec-
lion of Count II. brings a number of Dutch paint-
ings of the 17 th century, most of which are small
size, among them pictures by Jan Steen, the Osta-
des, Jacob van Ruisdael, van Goyen, Vlieger, Och-
terveldt. A foreign museum is selling paintings by
Wouvermann, Hubert Robert, Grassi, Tischbein,
Canaletto and Guardi. Further pictures from pri-
vate collections are also to be sold among these a
Jordaens, v. d. Helst and others.

On April 2 nd Lepke brings an auction of indu-
strial art and furniture. Here the French pre-
dominates.

LONDON AUCTIONS

T’he sale of the Barnet Lewis collection, which took
place the end of February at Christie’s (report in
No. 4, {»■ 120), brought decidedly varying results.
The French furniture was purchased by the owner
thirty years ago at a much higher price than he
received for it, in fact it was valued even lower
than last year. The old English silver brought
also the prices quoted on the present day market,
which in no way compete with those of the past.
The greatest interest was shown for the pictures,
which were of importance for the English and
American dealers, and brought good prices. (Prices
listed in our auction list enclosed.)

The auction of the Landsdowne Ilouse sculptures

(Report No. 4, p. 116) shows how few collectors
are interested in this field of art. ün the average
the prices paid were lower, sometimes, however,
liigher, seldom the value attributed to such works
of art. Brummer (New York) the most interested
buyer paid for the “Wounded Amazon” (No. 5g)
28 35o£, for the fraginent of a toinb relief from
the first part of the 4 th century Ö25o£ and also
offered the best priees for the Assyrian reliefs.
Browne secured the ITeracles statue (No. 34) for
483o £, but Spink had to pay only 2100 £, forthe
beautiful Hermes. The German art dealers were
represented only by the firm of Rosenbaum
(Frankfort-Berün), they secured the Roman tomb-
stone monument (No. 74) and a very splendid
candelabre for a very cheap price. Canova’s charm-
ing sleeping nymph (No. ng) was bought for the
Victoria and Albert Museum for 63o £ h. r.

OPENING EXHIBITIONS

The galleries of Van Diemen and Dr. Benediet &
Co. have now taken the rooms formerly occupied
by Dr. Otto Burchard & Co., No. i3 Bellevue St.
Dr. Burchard & Co. has moved to 5 Friedrlch
Ebert St.

Van Diemen and Benedict have arranged a little
exhibition of German portraits of the i8 th century
Their own collection has been extended by loans
so that the present show gives a view of the
century in a few but characteristic pictures with
nearly all of the important artists represented, A.
Pesne, Desmarees, Matthieu, Ziesenis, the Tisch-
beins, A. Graff, etc. The choice of this theme
which is so suitable for an exhibition because of
its festive and decorative effect is all the more
welcome as the famous Darmstadt exhibition of
igi4 aroused little interest among collectors and
connoisseurs because of the outhrcak of the war
and since then no larger collection of representative
works has been displayed.

Dr. Otto Burchard has opened his new rooms with
an exhibition of old Ghinese art. The most im-
portant place is here given to a series of three
richly decorated covered vessels, which belong to
the Tsin period. The Chou period is represented by
two vases with handles and an interesting ram’s
head. To the 6 th and Ihe 8 th centuries A. D.
belong a number of sculptures in stone. From the
masterly ceramics of the Tang period is the mighty
figure of a horse with yellow-white glaze, and a
number of rare pieces with blue glaze. From
later periods there are fine examples of Sung,
Ming and Kangshi porcelain.

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