Decorative Art

European dealers and collectors competed for pieces of 18th century Transylvanian silver which were on sale at the 300th auction of Dr Fischer (30% buyer’s premium) in Heilbronn, Germany.

A substantial piece of Edwardian silver which has served both as a wine cistern and a racing trophy was the most expensive piece of silver in Tennants’ (24/20% buyer’s premium) dedicated auction of jewellery, watches and silver.

A table bell was among the more sought-after lots in a dedicated 200-plus lot silver sale held by Roseberys (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) on March 20.

These two pieces share a common Aesthetic-movement style and a link to the influential and avant-garde designer Christopher Dresser

A highlight of Anderson & Garland’s (25% buyer’s premium) recent silver sale was a particularly early and rare North Country seal top spoon.

It was a piece of modern design that led Kinghams’ (25/18/15% buyer’s premium) latest dedicated sale of silver and objects of vertu.

We first met Rod over 40 years ago when we both dabbled in the flea markets of the North West. Rod was forming his business from tiny seeds and we were trying to make a little profit to feed our habit (collecting pots!).

This early 20th century 10in (25cm) long sporran impressed in Edinburgh at Franklin Browns (18% buyer’s premium).

London auction shows the collecting appeal and opportunities for silver produced beyond Europe

Among the clutch of new exhibitors at the spring Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair in Battersea is Mary Cooke Antiques, specialist in silver, whose key items include a George IV silver gilt table bowl.

Andrew Morris spent over 30 years putting together a collection focusing on the Worcester porcelain of the Kerr and Binns and Royal Worcester periods and Leonard Joel (25% buyer’s premium) offered it at auction in Melbourne, Australia, over two days on March 25-26.

Deceased estates and collectors selling up mean items collected in the late 20th century reappear at auction.

Our selection of lots from 13 upcoming auctions

Bob Aibel is founder of Moderne, one of the exhibitors at the Philadelphia Show

Almost 3ft (90cm) wide and weighing a massive 710oz, this Edwardian wine cistern is marked for Garrard & Co, London, 1903.