Oil painting

A characteristically elaborately pierced and carved oak hall chair by the US furniture maker and designer Charles Rohlfs (1853-1936) proved to be the toast of the most recent Cottone (20% buyer’s premium) auction.

The last time this painting by David Teniers the younger (before 1610-90), depicting an alchemist in his workshop, was mentioned in a publication was back in 1877 and it comes to the market after having been in a Swiss family collection for over 200 years.

A sale of Old Masters held by Aguttes (25/23% buyer’s premium) included this portrait of the youthful Marie Antoinette.

Pictures by eastern European artists generating interest from national-minded buyers is an increasingly common sight at UK regional sales.

Among a flurry of historical portraits coming to the regional market at the start of this year, arguably the most notable appeared at Oxfordshire saleroom JS Fine Art (20% buyer’s premium).

Two British sporting scenes by French artist Raoul Dufy (1877-1953) were among the best-sellers in auctions held within a day of each other on either side of the Atlantic.

American artist Alfred Cohen (1920-2001) was inspired by the colour and handling of the Post-Impressionists and the imagery of the Commedia dell’arte.

Fresh generations of the famous family added to hall’s collections to create eclectic mix. Jonathan Franks reports.

While the Tiepolo drawing caused the biggest stir at the Roseberys (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) November 17 sale (see separate story in this edition), there were several other notable results, writes Jonathan Franks.

This oil on canvas of a white-robed young couple by the Czech artist Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) was sold for $800,000 (£601,505) in Chicago on December 2.

This series of Peruvian paintings of the 14 Inca emperors plus the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro featured in a sale held in Barcelona .

A large and impressive painting of a lush Indonesian tropical landscape by Raden Saleh (1811-80) was sold in Paris on December 2 for €1.7m (£1.45m).

Genre scene sets a new high for French artist inspired by Dutch and Flemish paintings.

Group of works from the late US dealer’s collection demonstrates his wide range of interests.

Few painters on the Danish art scene in the late 19th century felt a close affinity with contemporary English art. Symbolist painter Agnes Slott-Møller (1862-1937) was among the exceptions.

An opportunity to buy a portrait of one of Charles II’s mistresses emerged at a recent Bellmans’ (22% buyer’s premium) sale in West Sussex.

A small portrait sketch of a young boy by George Henry Harlow (1787-1819) drew lively interest at the recent Fine Art & Antiques sale in Gloucestershire.

Leading the latest Irish art sale at Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium) was a small work by market stalwart Jack Butler Yeats (1871-1957).

The last 18 months has produced something of a resurgence in the market for Paul Henry (1876-1958).

Among the Scottish pictures catching the eye at Lyon & Turnbull’s (25% buyer’s premium) sale of contents from Lowood House near Melrose was a half-length portrait by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823).