Collectors and students of art have reason to be grateful
to Messrs. Christie for publishing annual records of the principal works sold at their famous auction rooms. The fourth volume of this invaluable series, Christie's- Season 1931 (Constable, 21s.), has just been issued. Mr. A. C. R.
Curtis once again contributes the learned and readable comments on the sales of pictures, silver, bronzes and armour, porcelain, furniture and tapestries, and the chief items, the prices and purchasers of which are noted, are illustrated in excellent photographs. It is well known that, owing to the depression in America, the past season was relatively poor. But first-rate objects still commanded high prices. The Howard Grace cup, bought by Lord Wakefield for the South Kensington Museum, cost him £11,000 in view of its beauty and its unique historic value as a relic of Catherine of Aragon and perhaps of Thomas Becket. A Gothic tapestry, representing the " Adoration of the Magi," fetched £17,850, and the Hirsch furniture in a two days' sale brought £55,000, so that there was no decline in values. These Christie volumes abound in interest and will be permanently useful, too.
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