British modernist Kenneth Lauder (1916-2004) used to entreat his opticians to create spectacles that would allow him to see the world upside down. They refused, but he remained determined to view life in a different way.

Racing round the banking at Brooklands in Surrey, Sir Tim Birkin is shown to dramatic effect in this oil painting by Dion Pears, below.

Romanians, Hungarians, Saxons, Roma and Russians have all historically lived in the area in central Romania known as Transylvania. Each group had its own distinct culture, but after years of living side-by-side these ‘families’ drew inspiration from one another.

Dealer Mel Caswell, based in Bristol, specialises in Japanese art and unusual objects.

Mullany Haute Epoque Fine Art opens the doors to its new gallery on Bury Street, St James’s, this autumn, taking the premises formerly occupied by a silver dealership.

When is the right time to buy a piece of rare antique silver – a George III caviar dish, say?

Jeremy Astfalck of The Old Corkscrew is a specialist silver dealer with a business encompassing all areas of the 19th and 20th century decorative arts genre. He is among the dealers at this month’s LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair.

Mayfair gallery Connaught Brown is staging the first solo exhibition of French Neo-Impressionist and Symbolist painter Henri Martin (1860-1943) to take place in London for a number of years.

A late 19th century kingwood and ormolu mounted jardinière, offered for £4995 by Mark Buckley Antiques of Ilkley, is among the pieces on show at Galloway Fairs’ next event at Duncombe Park.

In a major cooperative move, next summer’s series of London book and map fairs has been aligned to run in the same four-day stretch.

Created to impress and instruct, textiles played an important role in the history of the Catholic Church.

'Elements of Foliate Heads' will be instantly familiar to fans of John Piper (1903-92), despite the fact that the picture has not been on the market for more than half a century.

Paul Pfanner runs Timewise Vintage Watches and next exhibits at the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair (September 14-19).