It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Canny collectors should swoop in when an artist falls out of fashion—but always pay attention to quality, because even the greatest names, such as Picasso, made the odd pot-boiler

- Huon Mallalieu

NOT so very long ago, a great pleasure of visiting London's West End was that one could be sure of finding something to view at one or other of the major auction houses. Even when one had no thoughts of buying, there was much to be learnt and much to be enjoyed. Sotheby's would often turn out to be less of a shortcut between Bond and Regent Streets than one hoped, because of the distractions en route. Now, however, the Great Rooms are all too often empty and there is no longer even an array of catalogues to be browsed.

Thus, for a few weeks at the end of June and beginning of July, art-market veterans might have thought that they had slipped back in time, so much was on view and so crowded the rooms with viewers—and hardly a handbag or gym shoe to be seen. I shall be looking at some of those auctions over the next couple of weeks, as well as sales at Treasure House and Classic Art London, but today consider some slightly earlier sales in London.