In the February 2000 database there are now 23,675 items, up 963 from the 22,712 that were in the last copy.  That's made up of 1,094 new items on the register and 131 items that were removed for whatever reason.

The largest new collection is in London with agent Christie's (contact E A MANISTY ESQ) with 467 new items. The 2nd largest is P J Cronin address is Westminster (261 items).

The new database items include 6 Canaletto paintings, 2 Constable portraits of members of the Neave family, 3 Degas works (2 sculptures, 1 painting), 4 Van Dyck paintings, 5 Kandinsky paintings (mmmm!), The usual clutch of new Joshua Reynolds portraits, 5 Rodin sculptures (wow!), 8 new cannons (yeah!!) a pair of Great War Brigade side drums, a couple of whips (ooh-err) and a Fukien beaker and saucer (a spelling mistake maybe?)

Whilst by far the majority of the items are in the southern half of England, there's plenty of stuff in other parts of the country for you art lovers to enjoy, and anyway the listed locations aren't always that accurate (that's true of other items of data in the database, too).  Here's the top 10 locations.  A full list by county can be found on the "more statistics" page.  These statistics are taken from the last copy of the database I received in February 2000.

Depends what you like, really!  There are certainly interesting objects and artists/makers to be found, but it really depends what turns you on! Personally, I'm a fan of everything on the register!  At least that's what you might need to say when the agent or owner asks why you want to see the item.  Just saying "well it's on the list and I demand to see it" sometimes doesn't get you very far.

Let's see...interesting items...

I'll post some up good ones here after I've had a good rummage, the only ones that spring to mind at the moment are as follows.  I'm not suggesting you need to see these items, they're just "interesting".  The last one sounds like it's in a public gallery anyway.

Item reference: 17783/Miscellaneous/20TH CENTURY MOTOR CARS/MIDDLESEX
Aston Martin motor car LM2 Reg: VM 4252. This is the second car built by Aston Martin for the Le Mans race, 1928.
KEENE MARSLAND 0171-375-1581 E H G THOMAS DRAGOON HOUSE , 37 ARTILLERY LANE, BISHOPSGATE, LONDON, E1 7LT

Item reference: 9115/Miscellaneous/SPECTACLES/NORTHUMBERLAND
Sir Walter Scotts spectacles
CANON S S HUXLEY 01289 382356 35 CASTLE STREET, NORHAM, BERWICK-ON-TWEED, TD15 2LQ

Item reference: 9292/paintings&miniatures/picasso pablo/portraits/edinburgh
Portrait of Lee Miller 1937, 810mm x 600mm.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN 0131 556 8921 MR R CALVOCORESSI BELFORD ROAD, EDINBURGH, EH1 3DR

Well we will eventually when we've dug out all the details of who owns the big collections. As a little teaser, here is the list of the known owners of stuff on the list from the original research.  I've adjusted the numbers of items from the original research in the following as best I can.

SIR NICHOLAS SOAMES - Now appears to have 25 items on the list.  His brother Rupert has a few items on there as well.

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL - is Sir Nicholas Soames' cousin and has 29 items on the list.

SIR JACOB DE ROTHSCHILD - is the current head of the British arm of the Rothschild dynasty.  Sir Jacob has 738 items on the list.

ROBERT HOLDEN LTD - runs an extremely low key and discreet Saville Row agency for the landed classes and is the agent for (and possibly the owner of) 134 items on the list.

MR PETER FITZGERALD - is the Duke of Somerset's solicitor and is the agent for 987 items!

THE IVEAGH TRUSTEES LTD (The Guiness Family) - The Iveagh Earldom was bestowed on the Guiness family in 1919.  They are agents for 9 items on the list.  If these truly belong to the Guiness Family, there is no way that they can't afford to pay the tax, I mean they're listed as the 26th Richest in the UK with £680 million!

THE VISCOUNT & VISCOUNTESS KNUTSFORD - The Viscount is a former National Trust Councillor and Executive Committee member.  The Viscountess has one item listed in the register.

LORD MELCHETT - An interesting one this. A Labour peer, Lord Melchett is the Executive Director of Greenpeace UK and the former chairman of the Ramblers' Association. When we asked to see his marble figure of Cupid he was very prompt in inviting us to see it. Unfortunately, he added, the figure is not a 16th Century Florentine at all, but a fake. We lost interest after that, although he did assure us he would be informing the Inland Revenue of the fake so that other taxpayers would not be so duped.  Mind you, it's still on the list.

SIR GEOFFROY R. E. MILLAIS - Sir Geoffroy is the heir of Sir John Everett Millais (1829 - 96), the artist and former President of the Royal Academy. 111 works of art are held by the Sir Geoffroy, mainly Millais' own paintings but also including works by William Ruskin, whose wife Sir John later married, much to Ruskin's annoyance. Fladgate Fielder, the firm who act as agent for the works would, we are sure, be happy to supply any bona fide art fans with a list of the works available to view.

MR G COURTAULD - Mr Courtauld is the fortunate descendent of Mr Samuel Courtauld, one of the earliest British collectors of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.  He has 8 items registered.

SIR SIMON HORNBY - Sir Simon Hornby is the former Chairman of W H Smith Group plc and a long-serving member of the National Trust Council (and an Executive Committee member from 1966 - 1993). He is a non-executive director of Pearson plc and Lloyds TSB Group plc and a former trustee of the British Museum. Sir Simon has 3 books and manuscripts listed.

SIR BROOKE BOOTHBY - Sir Brooke Boothby is an old hand in the field of heritage and tourism, running his own brand of tourist companies, as well as chairing the National Caravan Council (Parks Division) from 1987 - 1990 and the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority. He is the former president of the Glamorgan Branch of the Country Landowners' Association and for two years was chairman of the Historic Houses Association Inheritance Committee. He has obviously taken his own good advice, since his castle, Fonmon Castle in Wales, has benefitted under the conditional exemption scheme, as have a Coffee pot and Caudle cup which he has registered on the list.

THE DUKE OF ST ALBANS - A chartered accountant by trade, the Duke had to sit his exams like everyone else. The Duke sits as a Conservative in the House of Lords and is Heriditory Grand Falconer of England. He owns 54 items on the Register, including works associated with Charles II's mistress, Nell Gwynne and a couple of pictures of Lady Diana.

We haven't finished yet.  More will be posted here as we continue to dig into the list.