AN ART CASE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13719, 28 April 1910, Page 7

AN ART CASE.

SEQUEL TO THE CHINA FRAUDS

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON. April 26.

The jury found Messrs Christie, Manson and Woods, the well-known firm of auctioneers, guilty of negligence in the preparation of a sale catalogue, whereby the late C. J. Diokin. was sold some *i_leged antique china, which was spurious. Plaintiffs failed to prove that there had been any monetary loss, and judgment was deferred.

This case must have created great interest in tho art world, owing to tlie high standing of the firm -involved. .Messrs Christie, Manson and Woods, hotter known as "Christie's," are perhaps the most famous auctioneering firm in the world. They arc constantly handling works of art of great value, and the mer. fact that an article is put up fcr 'sale there is regarded as going a long way towards guaranteeing its aenuineness. The Ellis-Dickins case has also aroused t rreat interest. Dickins was a wealthy collector, whom Ellis, a well-known dealer, supplied with a great quantity of China purgirting to bo old and very valuable, ickins spent £100,000 on his hobby in five years, but on his death the china h© bought, realised only £42,200. The executors recovered heavy damages from Ellis, who was afterward- found guilty of fraud at the Central Criminal Court.