A GREAT CONNOISSEUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 98, 15 June 1911, Page 4

A GREAT CONNOISSEUR.

By the death of Mr. Charles Wertheimer, the art world has been ■ deprived of, perhaps, the greatest connoisseur of modern times. His speciality was, no doubt, in making artistic “iinds” and in becoming their possessor at the lowest possible price against all competitors. In one typical case he noticed a: vase in theiwin-, dow of a Brighton house, and at once saw that it was almost priceless. Ho determined to possess it. Having obtained the owner’s name, Mr. Wertheimer called, stating that he was desirous of buying a house in Brighton. Passing that house he had taken a fancy to it, and was prepared to buy it at once exactly as it stood,, every article being left intact. The owner, who was promised cash down, received the offer favourably, and Mr. Wertheimer arranged to.. call next morning. He bought tbo lot at £lßjooo.' The price was £SOOO above the market value, but by bis ruse the collector had secured a vase which ho shortly afterwards sold to an American millionaire for £45,000. This he regarded as In's greatest coup, but really a compilation of the sensational purchases made by him at all the art sales read like a chapter out of the “Arabian Nights.” In 1903 a dilapi-' dated ‘canvas was placed upon the easel at Christie’s. There was a hole in the picture, and the uninitiated would never have expected that it was a Gainsborough masterpiece. One or two others were acquainted with its value, and there came a combat which' ended very satisfactorily for the vendor. He had been to Bond Street, and had been offered a five pound note for the picture. This was refused, and it was put up at Christie’s. There on the day of the great Viale sale the experts were bidding vigorously up to 9500 guineas, when Mr. Wertheimer carried off the prize.