Up-to-the-minute reports on major events in the rug, textile, Asian and tribal art markets. Unravelling the vagaries of the marketplace.

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TAUBMAN BANGED UP (31 July 2002)
Oh how the mighty have fallen! After losing his battle in a US federal court of appeals, ex-Sotheby's chairman tycoon Alfred Taubman will tomorrow begin serving a prison term of a year and a day. He was convicted in December last year for colluding to fix auction commission fees with rivals Christie's International.

TEMPTING TURKMENS (18 June 2002)
Love them or loathe them, Turkmen weavings have one of the biggest fan clubs in the carpet and textile world. Our author, co-founder of Hali magazine and the International Conference on Oriental Rugs, spent a day at this year's Hali Antique Carpet and Textile Art fair (6-9 June 2002) looking at the Turkmen and other Central Asian weavings on offer. Here he presents a small group of his favourites.

NEW IMPROVED HALI FAIR (14 June 2002)
This year's HALI Antique Carpet and Textile Art show (6-9 June 2002) was easily the biggest and most diverse to date. In the first of our reports from the June 2002 event, we take a look at the turnout and some of the people and pieces seen in the galleries of Olympia's National Hall over the course of the weekend.

THE INDY ACOR (31 May 2002)
e sixth American Conference on Oriental Rugs wrapped up late April in Indianapolis, home of the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Though not as racey as the Indy 500, this event is as close many rug dealers get to the fast lane. The largest of all ACORs to date, the 2002 conference nevertheless produced mixed reactions from its participants.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS (31 May 2002)
A collection of some of the best Turkmen weavings that have passed through the hands of renowned Danish dealer Hans Elmby will go under the hammer at Sotheby's Olympia on June 11, under the supervision of new carpet department head Joshua Lumley. Our author examines some of the more noteworthy Turkmen trappings on offer at the West London sale.

CUT IN TWO - ISLAMIC WEEK RUG SALES (24 May 2002)
A marked difference in this year's annual spring Islamic auctions was the halving of the number of carpet sales in the week long event. Bonhams & Brooks merger with Phillips in September last year knocked one auction out of the line-up, and Sotheby's decision to hold their sale just after the Hali Fair in June left another hole in the calendar. Consequently, Bonhams 24 April rug sale and Christie's King Street sale the following day were the sole attractions for rug buyers coming to London for the event.

ISLAMIC ART IN RECOVERY (23 May 2002)
One of the highlights of London's annual spring Islamic week was Christie's sale of Islamic Art and Manuscripts at their King Street salerooms (23 April 2002). The results, up from last year's totals, may provide a little comfort and encouragement to a generally sluggish market. Whether or not they signal a recovery in the Islamic art market , after its collapse in 2001 following four years of phenomenal growth, remains to be seen.

SPRINGTIME IN WIESBADEN (26 April 2002)
It is a breath of fresh air getting Detlef and Christa Maltzahn's Rippon Boswell catalogues in the post. In these days when the big auction houses' sales are crammed with large decorative carpets and rarely more than a smattering of good quality collector pieces, the Wiesbaden sales are the only auction-game in town.

THE DOWNTOWN FAIR (24 April 2002)
The Arts of Pacific Asia show was held in a new venue this year – the Events Center on West 25th street. While cleaner and easier to reach than the show's previous venue, the size and layout proved to be somewhat problematic. Nevertheless, good Asian art proved in strong evidence, shown by 83 galleries from 15 different countries. For those who didn't make it to town for the event, we offer a sample of what was on offer.

MAGIC IN THE MARQUEE (22 April 2002)
New York's Asia week this year featured two new venues for the annual uptown International Asian Art fair and the downtown Arts of Pacific Asia show. Both shows fared moderately, with the uptown fair in particular doing good business. Our authors highlight some of the more memorable pieces from the two events.

ON THE WATERFRONT (11 March 2002)
This year's San Francisco Tribal, Folk and Textile Arts opened to torrential downpour on a Thursday evening in early February, and closed that Sunday on an unseasonably sunny afternoon. The turn in the weather was not the only reason for good spirits – on the last day of the fair it became evident that the show had been a worthwhile effort for those involved with reasonable sales made.

TRIBAL FOLK (8 March 2002)
New to this year's San Francisco Tribal, Folk and Textile Arts fair was a special gala preview reception to benefit for the galleries for art of Africa, Oceania and the Americas and the Textile galleries in the new de Young Museum. Though attendance was low, the elaborately catered event was enjoyed by those who attended.

MERRELL SELLS WELL (13 February 2002)
The collection of the late Miss Elinor Merrell formed the core of the 29 January Costume and Textile sale at Christie's South Kensington. Surprisingly, it will be South Kensington's last textile sale until July.

SAN FRANCISCO GOES TRIBAL (7 February 2002)
San Francisco's annual Tribal, Folk and Textile Arts show opens today with over 80 dealers from around the world exhibiting rare and important ethnographic art. Ceremonial objects, masks, pottery, costumes, jewellery, rugs, beadwork and furniture will all feature in the fair, to be held at the Fort Mason Center.

RECORD BREAKING PRICES FOR CANADIAN INUIT ART (21 December 2001)
Prices for Canadian Inuit Art has always seemed to lag behind other contemporary aboriginal arts but recent auction prices may be a sign that things are changing.

AGAINST ALL ODDS (14 December 2001)
Scheduled for the third week of October, London's Islamic week carpet sales took place only a month after the World Trade Center attacks, when the world was still fraught with tension about the impending state of the global economy. The results for the London auction houses were, however, rather encouraging, though Sotheby's still seemed to be struggling after a troubled year of litigation and downsizing.

MAKING IT IN MILAN (12 December 2001)
Over 50 rug and textile dealers convened in Italy late 2001 for the first ever Milan Textile Art fair. Stylishly presented with a surprisingly high quality of material, the show clearly proved it had the potential to become an established event.

PEOPLE AT THE MILAN FAIR (11 December 2001)
Fashionistas, Franciscan monks and the world's leading rug and textile dealers arrived in Milan just over a week ago for its first ever Textile Art Fair. Here we offer sample of the opening night celebrations.

A FASHIONABLE AFFAIR (23 November 2001)
Late November is often a quiet time of year in the rug world, after the flurry of activity brought on by the lively spring and summer months of fairs and exhibitions. This year, however, the rug buying public is heading for Milan to see a promising line-up of exhibitors at the new Milano Textile Art Fair (29 November - 3 December 2001). Abigail McCullough reports.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO PARIS (2 October 2001)
The first Salon International d'Art Asiatique (4-8 October 2001) will open later this week in Paris's elegant Eighth Arrondissement. For their debut fair, the Salon's organisers have attempted to create an event of a standard equal to New York's spring International Asian Art Fair. But can the Salon place Paris at the heart of the Asian art market in Europe? Eva McLaughlin reports.

GO WESTWOOD! (14 September 2001)
The fashionistas were out in force for Christie's South Kensington's Costume sale (4 September 2001). Up for grabs was the archive of Vivienne Westwood, one of Britain's more flamboyant designers, attracting buyers in droves. Diane Hall reports.

PRELUDE TO A SEASON (7 September 2001)
This month sees the advent of a new season of rug and carpet sales in New York, with Sotheby's impressive auction of Fine Oriental and European Carpets (20 September 2001), followed by a dismal offering in Christie's sale of the same name (25 September 2001). Robert Pinner reports.

OPPOSING FORCES (17 August 2001)
Antique carpets and textiles were in abundance at the Hali Fair (14-18 June 2001) in London, and brisk business was done by many dealers. However, many of the biggest names in the trade chose not to exhibit. Alan Marcuson reports.

CLOUDBAND @ THE LONDON FAIRS (14 June 2001)
A series of 'live' reports from London's summertime fairs, including The Hali Antique Carpet and Textile Art Fair (14-18 June 2001), The Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair (13-19 June 2001), The International Ceramics Fair (15-18 June 2001), and The London Antique Textile Fair (16-17 June 2001).

GOLDET MAGIC SETS AFRICAN ART RECORD (18 July 2001)
The sale in Paris of Hubert Goldet's Collection of African art (30 June - 1 July 2001) by auctioneers François de Ricqles was the most successful ever held in the field of tribal art, earning a total of FF88.44 million ($11.7 million). Amy Page reports.

BELGIAN PRESTIGE (16 July 2001)
Now in its 11th year, the Brussels Non European Art Fair (12-17 June 2001) attracts a faithful and ever-growing mix of international collectors and dealers. Here Cloudband's Assistant Editor offers a glimpse of the opening days' activities and range of pieces on offer. Abigail McCullough reports.

ISLAMIC MARKET SHAKE OUT (12 July 2001)
The spring 2001 Islamic week sales in London (1-3 May 2001) included many highly estimated items that failed to find buyers, signalling the end of the boom in this sector. Stephen Wolff reports.

A PLACE IN THE SUN (29 June 2001)
Despite only moderate trading, the first ever Arizona Rug Bazaar was an invigorating event and talks are already under way about the next desert attraction. Nick Purdon reports.

SOTHEBY'S ONE-STOP SHOP (25 June 2001)
Sotheby's first all-in-one sale of the 'Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas' in New York (19 May 2001) was a resounding success, with healthier results in these areas than have been seen for a long time. Amy Page reports.

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE (22 June 2001)
Christie's much-hyped sale of 'Important Needlework Collected by the late Sir Frederick Richmond Bt.' at King Street in London (14 June 2001) was not a resounding success. Diane Hall reports.

AND NOW FOR BRUSSELS (15 June 2001)
This year's New York International Tribal Antiques Show (20-23 May 2001) was the best ever in terms of the quality and breadth of material on offer. Yet the mood of dealers at the fair was mixed, with many big names failing to do serious business, especially in African art. Amy Page Reports.

THE BUSIEST MONTH (8 June 2001)
Cloudband's editorial team takes a look at a selection of rugs, textiles and Asian works of art from the upcoming London in June season of antiques fairs: The Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fair (7-17 June 2001), The Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair (13-19 June), The Hali Antique Carpet and Textile Art Fair 2001 (14-18 June), The International Ceramics Fair & Seminar (15-18 June), and the London Antique Textiles Fair (16-17 June).

TEXTILE AUCTIONS - KYOTO STYLE (1 June 2001)
In the second of her 'Letters from Japan', Rika Yamamoto explains the intricacies of the Kogire-kai auctions held in Kyoto twice every year.

IT'S A DECORATOR'S WORLD (31 May 2001)
The carpet auctions at Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams and Phillips in London (2-3 May 2001) were quiet events, as expected, where the noticeable absence of good collectible rugs was balanced by strong performances in the decorative category. Aaron Nejad reports.

ZHANG AT THE TOP (22 May 2001)
This year's offerings of classical and modern Chinese paintings, at Sotheby's and Christie's in Hong Kong (29-30 April 2001), showed the popularity of Zhang Daqian, with nine of his works achieving 'top ten' prices. Hilary Binks reports.

LACQUER COMES OF AGE (18 May 2001)
A world record price for Chinese lacquer at auction, achieved at Christie's Hong Kong sale of 'Important Chinese Lacquer, Ceramics and Works of Art' (30 April 2001), demonstrated a coming of age for this art form. Meanwhile, Sotheby's fine offering of porcelains in their corresponding sale (1 May 2001), saw competitive bidding and high prices realised for the top lots. Hilary Binks reports.

QIANLONG RULES (17 May 2001)
This spring's Imperial Sale at Christie's Hong Kong (29 April 2001) featured a particularly fine selection of Qing Imperial porcelains, attracting fierce competition among bidders and proving that – as ever – top quality pieces will always find buyers. Hilary Binks reports.

HIGH DESERT DEALING (14 May 2001)
The first ever Tucson Rug and Textile Bazaar takes place at the Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort in Arizona this week (18-20 May 2001). Cloudband's Assistant Editor, Abigail McCullough, spoke with local kilim dealer, George Fine, the man who made it happen.

STRONG AT THE TOP (11 May 2001)
The world record for an Asian work of art at auction was achieved at Christie's sale of 'Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art' in New York (20 March 2001). Sotheby's corresponding sale (22 March 2001) also saw high prices paid for an outstanding group of porcelains, proving that the top end of the market is as strong as ever. Sandra Sheckter reports.

UNDER THE WEATHER (4 May 2001)
This year's auctions of Japanese and Korean Works of Art at Sotheby's and Christie's in New York (21-22 March 2001) were an unexpected disappointment, with only a handful of lots attracting buyers' interest. Sandra Sheckter reports.

TEXTILES TRIUMPH IN NEW YORK (30 April 2001)
This year's Arts of Pacific Asia Show in New York (22-25 March 2001) had an outstanding selection of textiles on offer, resulting in strong sales in this section. Diane Hall reports.

MOROCCAN HEAT (27 April 2001)
In their sale of 'Islamic and Indian Costume and Textiles' (4 May 2001), Christie's South Kensington will offer some of best Moroccan textiles seen on the market in the past 30 years. Alan Marcuson reports.

CHINA FLYING HIGH (27 April 2001)
Every year, a growing number of galleries mount exhibitions to coincide with Asia Week in New York (21-28 March 2001). This year was no exception, with over 20 galleries offering their wares. Most noticeable was the predominance of Chinese artworks. Eva McLaughlin reports.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME? (20 April 2001)
Despite stockmarket fears, the International Asian Art Fair (23-28 March 2001) in New York was another overall success with over 50 of the world's best dealers presenting a remarkable selection of objects. The best works in every category continued to find buyers, though this was the quietest fair to date for some dealers. Amy Page reports.

DOWNTOWN SLOWDOWN (20 April 2001)
The overall quality of the Caskey Lees' New York Arts of Pacific Asia Show (22-25 March 2001) was mixed and business at the top end was reportedly slow. Nevertheless, the fair boasted its largest attendance ever, with around 10,500 visitors over four days. Amy Page reports.

DISPELLING THE GLOOM (22 March 2001)
The quality of this year's offering at The International Asian Art Fair (23-28 March 2001) and Arts of Pacific Asia Show (22-25 March 2001) in New York should ensure sales for exhibitors, despite stock market gloom. Nick Purdon reports.

UNUSUAL WORKS LURE BUYERS IN SAN FRANCISCO (22 March 2001)
Buyers were impressed by the wide selection of unusual wares on offer at the Arts of Pacific Asia Show in the Fort Mason Center, San Francisco (2-4 February 2001). Fred Stern reports.

DRAGONS AND DOLLARS (5 February 2001)
Christie's are hosting an interesting sale of carpets and tapestries on 14 February 2001, all consigned by Milan decorative carpet dealer, Davide Halevim. The sale includes an interesting group of Beijing carpets, by far the largest selection of any one type on offer. Nick Purdon reports.

MAMLUK GLASS COMMANDS A SHATTERING PRICE (17 January 2001)
Christie's sale of 'The Collection of the Late Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild' (14 December 2000) produced a world record for Islamic glass with a Mamluk mosque lamp fetching an extraordinary £3.3 million. Stephen Wolff reports.

OBIS AND HANDBAGS (4 January 2001)
In the first of her 'Letters from Japan', Rika Yamamoto looks at the quirks of textile collecting in Japan, which were well demonstrated at Tokyo's preeminent textile fair last November.

WANG LANDSCAPE PEAKS IN HONG KONG (15 December 2000)
Some excellent prices were made during the six sales of classical Chinese, modern and contemporary paintings sales in Hong Kong (29-30 October 2000). The most important lot sold was an important 14-leaf Chinese handscroll by Wang Fu (1362-1416), fetching HKD11,044,750 ($1,418,720). Hilary Binks reports.

CHRISTIE'S DOMINATE KOREAN ART BOOM (15 December 2000)
Christie's Japanese and Korean auction (19 September 2000) was the most successful of all New York's Asia Week sales. Mention must be made of a delightful gilt bronze bodhisattva which fetched $446,000. Sandra Sheckter reports.

SKINNER'S SWEET SEPTEMBER (12 December 2000)
While Sotheby's New York had a much grander offering for their sale of 'Fine Oriental and European Carpets' (27 September 2000), Skinner's sale of 'Oriental Rugs and Carpets' (23 September 2000) featured a large number of attractive tribal and village pieces at affordable prices, making it in many respects the more successful sale. Carl Strock reports.

THE PRICE OF A BOTTLE (12 December 2000)
A rare Iznik water bottle dated to the mid-16th century fetched £311,750 at Christie's London's 'Ottomans and Orientalists' sale on 21 June earlier this year. Stephen Wolff reports.

SNUFF TO GET HIGH ABOUT (1 December 2000)
The first snuff bottle auction in Hong Kong since 1997 saw a veritable international 'Who's Who' of snuff bottle collectors. The top lot at the Sotheby's sale (30 October 2000) doubled its high estimate and sold for over HKD 1.5 million. Hilary Binks reports.

JADE IS A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND (1 December 2000)
Christie's Hong Kong held their first ever jade theme sale on 30 October 2000. Jewellery proved to be the hottest seller among the mixed selection of old and new jades on offer. Hilary Binks reports.

FIVE WORLD RECORDS AT SOTHEBY'S IMPERIAL SALE
(29 November 2000)
Sotheby's Hong Kong had much to celebrate after their sale of Ming and Qing Imperial Porcelain from a private collection (29 October 2000) set five new world records. However, Christie's was not to be outdone in their sale of Chinese ceramics from the Robert Chang Collection on the following day, with a baluster 'peach' vase smashing the record price for Qing dynasty blue and white porcelain. Hilary Binks reports.

RARE YUAN JAR REVIVES CERAMICS MARKET (28 November 2000)
The Chinese art auctions at Sotheby's and Christie's in New York (20-21 September 2000) saw high prices realised at the top end of the market. Highlights included a magnificent blue and white Yuan dynasty jar from the Collection of Charles A Dana that fetched $830,750, twice its low estimate. Sandra Sheckter reports.

DAVID COLLECTION SNAPS UP LION DOORKNOCKER (23 November 2000)
Despite the apparent absence of the Islamic art market's biggest buyer, London's autumn Islamic Art sales at Sotheby's, Christie's and Bonhams (10-12 October 2000) achieved the second highest combined total ever for London's Islamic Week. Stephen Wolff reports.

HIGH ESTIMATES HAMPER DE CALATCHI DISPOSAL (17 November 2000)
A combination of high estimates and outmoded stock made for a difficult sale at 'The Robert de Calatchi Collection of Fine Oriental Rugs and Carpets' auction at Sotheby's London on 4 October 2000. By Aaron Nejad.

DRUMMING UP TRADE IN PARIS (17 November 2000)
The third Salon International d'Art Tribal (16-19 September 2000) confirmed Paris as a key centre for tribal art, with both French and Belgian dealers at the fair reporting brisk trade. Amber Daines reports.

SLOW BUT SURE (18 October 2000)
Caskey Lees chalked up another success at this year's 'Arts of Pacific Asia' fair in New York (21-24 September 2000), where despite a relatively low turnout, a good deal of serious buying was done. Amy Page reports.

AFRICAN DAWN AT BONHAMS & BROOKS (18 October 2000)
Bonhams & Brooks' inaugural sale of modern and contemporary African art received a mixed reception in London on 13 September 2000. Highlights included two Nigerian works, which fetched more than £3,000 each. Mario Pissarra reports.

TIBET IN SWITZERLAND (11 October 2000)
From 14-22 October 2000, Basel in Switzerland will host its second World Art and Antiques Fair. 'Cultura 2000' features a number of well-known European dealers in Asian art with a particular focus on Tibet. Eva McLaughlin reports.

THE BEST OF QING (28 September 2000)
An outstanding group of porcelains come under the hammer at Sotheby's Hong Kong on 29 October 2000. Our author, Eva McLaughlin, attended the preview.

ASIAN ART MAKES ITS MARK AT PARIS BIENNALE (27 September 2000)
Although the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris is best known for its European art and furniture, Asian art dealers were more visible this year (15 September-1 October 2000) than ever before. Our author, Amber Daines, attended the opening day.

HOI AN HOARD TREASURES AFLOAT (25 August 2000)
A sneak preview into the rare and important late 15th-early 16th century Vietnamese ceramics from the Hoi An Hoard on sale at Butterfields, San Francisco (11-12 October 2000). By Sandra Sheckter.

ABORIGINAL PAINTING DOUBLES ITS OWN RECORD (25 August 2000)
Water Dreaming at Kalipinya by Johnny Warangkula broke it's own record and set a new world record for an Aboriginal artist at an annual Sotheby's Melbourne sale (26-27 June). Terry Ingram reports.

SINO-PORTUGUESE PORCELAINS AND OTHER WONDERS (16 August 2000)
Sotheby's combined sale of Chinese Export Porcelain and Japanese Works of Art (7-8 June 2000) included great results for Jorge Álvarez bottles and an Imari dinner service. Sandra Sheckter reports.

KYOSAI MASTERPIECE ENTERS THE RECORD BOOKS (16 August 2000)
Impressive examples of ancient Jomon pottery, porcelain, prints and netsuke could be found at both Sotheby's and Christie's during London's summer season of Asian art sales. Kawanabe Kyosai's masterful depiction of two Japanese beauties, however, stole the show. Sandra Sheckter reports.

WET WEATHER, HOT SALES (4 August 2000)
Ceramics and bronzes created the greatest interest and fetched the highest prices during London's June sales of Chinese works of art, with top lots including a Xuande reign "dice bowl" and a Cizhou-style meiping vase (6-7 June 2000).

COMPARING AXMINSTERS (2 August 2000)
A well-preserved 18th century Axminster carpet sold for £220,000 at Sotheby's London in April, while a much-deteriorated example sold the next month at Dreweatt Neate in Newbury for £34,000. Aaron Nejad considers which was the better buy.

CHINA REIGNS AT LONDON'S CERAMICS FAIR (24 July 2000)
This year's International Ceramics Fair at the Park Lane Hotel (16-19 June 2000) provided a great visual feast, with 42 international exhibitors showing a wide assortment of porcelain, pottery and glass.

TRIBAL FAIR CULTIVATES NEW MARKETS (24 July 2000)
A number of international carpet and textile dealers exhibited at this year's New York Tribal Antiques Fair (21-24 May 2000) and successfully managed to captivate a new market.

GULF BIDDERS INFLATE PRICES (7 July 2000)
London's spring Islamic Art sales at Sotheby's, Christie's King Street and South Kensington, and Bonhams (11-13 April 2000) gave a confused view of the market, with unbelievably high prices on selected items. Stephen Wolff reports.

WHAT'S IN A NAME (30 June 2000)
The two star lots at Sotheby's New York's sale of African and Oceanic Art during May 2000 fetched impressive prices, despite mutterings in the trade about the extent of restoration and the validity of their provenance. By Amy Page.

LOOTED ITEMS RETURN TO CHINA (26 June 2000)
Sotheby's sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art in Hong Kong on 2 May was dominated by the 'looted' items controversy surrounding a rare Qianlong famille-rose hexagonal vase and a bronze zodiac tiger's head. Hilary Binks reports.

ZHANG PAINTINGS BRING BIDDERS TO HONG KONG (22 June 2000)
Sotheby's and Christie's five sales of modern, contemporary and classical Chinese painting during Hong Kong's Asia Week (30 April-1 May 2000) produced mixed results. Hilary Binks reports.

IMPERIAL SALE ENTERS THE RECORD BOOKS (22 June 2000)
Despite local protestors' attempts to stop 'The Imperial Sale' at Christie's Hong Kong (30 April 2000), the auction performed exceptionally well, setting three world records and more than tripling its pre-sale estimate. Hilary Binks reports.

TRIBAL ART AT ELMS LESTERS (15 June 2000)
Elms Lesters Painting Rooms in London's Soho stage an annual tribal art fair (11-12 June 2000). This, the seventh, features a small but select group of dealers offering a broad array of art. Diane Hall reports.

NEW YORK GOES TRIBAL (15 June 2000)
The New York International Tribal Antiques Show (21-24 May 2000) at The Seventh Regiment Armory, Park Avenue at 67th Street, New York featured 53 leading tribal art dealers from around the world. By Amy Page.

FAIR TRADING IN NEW YORK (15 June 2000)
The International Asian Art Fair at The Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City (23 March - 29 March 2000) was a most successful event, with dealers reporting ongoing sales. Cloudband looks at some of the most memorable pieces on show.

HIMALAYAN ART PEAKS AT SOTHEBY'S (26 May 2000)
Sotheby's New York held one of the most successful ever sales of Indian and Southeast Asian art on 23 March, while Christie's struggled on 22 March, with just 87 of its 170 lots selling.

TAKING SNUFF AT AUCTION (16 May 2000)
Christie's sale of 'Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Rachelle E. Holden Collection' (21 March 2000) produced some spectacular results, including a world-record price for a Qianlong mark and period engraved glass bottle.

GRAND FINALE FOR BUSHELL NETSUKE (16 May 2000)
The last of three sales of netsuke from the Collection of Raymond and Frances Bushell at Sotheby's New York (21 March 2000) was a great success.

EAST ASIAN ART RIDES HIGH (12 May 2000)
Sales of Japanese and Korean art at Christie's and Sotheby's New York during March were helped along by a healthy dose of bidding from East Asian buyers.

A BREED APART (20 April 2000)
Following the sale of a spectacular jade buffalo figure for $250,000 at Christie's New York during Asia Week – while Sotheby's failed to even sell a similar piece – Sandra Sheckter analyses what made this piece a cut above.

THE BEST, NOT THE REST (20 April 2000)
Christie's and Sotheby's Chinese auctions during New York Asia Week produced some impressive figures amongst the patchy results, with their star lots being a jade buffalo and a Song dynasty Bodhisattva respectively.

REAPING A RECORD (14 April 2000)
Fifty-three Ottoman ceramics from the collection of the late Dr Chompret, went under the hammer at Pescheteau-Badin, Godeau and Leroy in Paris on 28 February 2000. By Stephen Wolff.

SPINK QUITS ASIAN ART (11 April 2000)
On 29 February 2000 Spink closed down all but one of its Asian art departments. Simon Ray and Leng Tan continue to run the Islamic and Indian art department form a new King Street premises.

SUPPLY EXCEEDS DEMAND IN ASIAN DECORATIVE ARTS (31 March 2000)
Christie's East's sale of Asian decorative arts drew tepid results at Asia Week in New York, with just five lots fetching more than $10,000.

MOLLER COLLECTION BOOSTS PHILLIPS SALE (31 March 2000)
The sale of rugs at Phillips from the collection of the late Leopold Moller (1896-1999) takes place during London's Islamic Week.

ALL COLLECTORS GREAT AND SMALL (22 March 2000)
The spring 2000 Arts of Pacific Asia fair in New York features 81 exhibitors of Asian art and textiles for every taste and budget.

ON THE COATTAILS OF THE NASDAQ (17 March 2000)
Dealers and collectors unite next week for what is arguably the Asian art market's premier event, New York's International Asian Art Fair (24-29 March 2000).

BATTERSEA LOOKS EAST (7 February 2000)
Asian art and textiles were very much in evidence at the Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair (18-23 January 2000) in south-west London.

DECORATIVE CARPETS GO WEST (28 January 2000)
Milan dealer Alberto Levi takes a look at the best decorative carpets sold during London's Islamic Week held last October.

GOING FOR A SONG (22 December 1999)
Sotheby's gamble with a selection of Song dynasty ceramics at Asian Art in London paid dividends, but the highlight was a spectacular bid for a Vietnamese polychrome bottle vase.

CHINESE EXPORT SALES SURGE (22 December 1999)
The tremendous success of the Chinese export porcelain and works of art sales at Christie's and Sotheby's last month confirmed London's place as the strongest venue for this market.

NETSUKE STEALS THE SHOW (20 December 1999)
The Christie's sale of netsuke and lacquer from Eskenazi Limited last month was the showcase of Japanese art at Asian Art in London, serving as a tribute to the good taste of the late Luigi Bandini.

EDO WARES UNDER SALES SPOTLIGHT (20 December 1999)
The revived purchasing power of Japanese collectors helped boost the success of the Japanese auctions at Asian Art in London.

INDIAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN ART MARKET GETS TOUGHER (12 November 1999)
With the red-hot demand for Indian and Southeast Asian art waning compared to previous years, Christie's had marginally more success than Sotheby's amongst the discerning buyers present.

CATCH A FALLING STAR (10 November 1999)
Caucasian rugs, Anatolian kilims and a group of yellow-ground Konya fragments made up the bulk of Rippon Boswell's most recent sale. Bidders came to Wiesbaden from far and wide to get a piece of Europe's premier private collection.

KOREAN ART KICK-START (5 November 1999)
The Korean art market celebrated economic recovery this September with strong prices at both Christie's and Sotheby's in New York and much interest from private buyers and institutions alike.

WEATHERHEAD COLLECTION BRINGS BUYERS TO CHRISTIE'S (5 November 1999)
Amongst the glut of mid-range material at the Japanese sales during September's Asia Week, the Weatherhead collection of porcelain added a touch of class.

ASIAN ART BUYERS BRAVE HURRICANE FLOYD (1 November 1999)
Despite a poor turnout at this year's Arts of Pacific Asia Show in New York, many dealers reported strong sales, especially in Japanese and Indian art.

SIMPLICITY PROVES POPULAR AT CHINESE AUCTIONS (27 October 1999)
At Sotheby's and Christie's September sales of Chinese furniture, ceramics and works of art, simplicity triumphed over the ornate, a reflection of the large proportion of Western buyers currently playing this market. Amy Page reports.

LAPADA SHOW LACKS ASIAN ART FLAIR (22 October 1999)
The ninth LAPADA Show at the Royal College of Art in London featured a wide variety of objects in every price range but lacked Asian works of art.

THE KIRCHHEIM CULL (24 September 1999)
On the eve of the magnificent Orient Stars collection being auctioned at Rippon Boswell &Co in Germany, Cloudband's executive publisher explores the hype behind 79 pieces that make up Heinrich and Waltraut Kirchheim's great collection of Caucasian rugs.

GIANT STEPS (20 August 1999)
Amy Page at the Fifth New York International Tribal Art Fair (26-31 May 1999). Caskey Lees went downtown in an attempt to go upmarket. Exhibitors seemed cheerful despite the Memorial Day weekend exodus.

CAUTIOUS PICKINGS AT SOUTH KEN (27 July 1999)
At Christie's South Kensington's sale of, "Fine Needlework, Textiles, Lace, Costume and Haute Couture" on the 29 June 1999, the few dealers in attendance and telephone bidders, carefully picked the few things of interest and ignored most of the rest. Diane Hall reports on the sale's highlights.

TRIBAL ART: THE THREE S's (21 July 1999)
Symes, Schädler, and Schaeffer consign tribal art aplenty for the May auction season. Sotheby's say "thank you very much".

HEALTHIER RESULTS FOR THE JAPANESE AUCTIONS (12 July 1999)
Japanese buyers are back on the scene for New York's Asia Week, but caution is very much the order of the day.

LONG LIVE THE QING! (30 June 1999)
Chinese works of art struggle, but Sung and Qing pieces rally.

A RECIPE FOR DISASTER (30 June 1999)
Sotheby's first dedicated sale of Chinese Furniture fails to meet expectations.

BE COOL! BUY TIBETAN! (29 June 1999)
Tibet may be chic in Manhattan, but both Christie's and Sotheby's struggle to entice any superstar buyers for their Indian and Southeast Asian offerings.

STOP PRESS (14 June 1999)
Cloudband's editor reports live from the event on its final day.

THE MAYORCAS SALE - A BENCHMARK FOR YEARS TO COME (10 June 1999)
Alan Marcuson reports on a memorable sale of European decorative textiles at Christie's London, and gives a blow by blow commentary on some of the key lots.

THIN AT THE TOP (10 June 1999)
Elizabeth Gill looks back at Caskey Lees in San Francisco last February, and despite a wealth of material, finds a paucity of buyers at the high end.

WHEN RHINOS FLY (10 June 1999)
A triumph of bad taste, or masterpieces of the Kirman designer's creative genius? Julia Bailey finds out.

AN INTIMATE AFFAIR (10 June 1999)
Elms Lesters have been putting on Tribal Art fairs (and countless other events) for several years now, and are slowly managing to make their mark in a city not overly endowed with top-notch dealers in the field, despite some notable heavyweights.

EVERYTHING FOR THE PERFECT HOME (10 June 1999)
Diane Hall reviews the Olympia Fine Arts and Antique Fair in London.