Bonhams

The full fall-out from the record-breaking Dr John P Driscoll sale of British studio ceramics is yet to be understood.

Trademark colourful picture features people depicted with a distinctive style of limbs.

A single-page letter sent on the day before Steve Jobs’ 19th birthday to a close school friend, Tim Brown, sold for $400,000 (£292,825) in New York.

A select 13-lot auction of works from the collection of Amalia de Schulthess at Bonhams (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) in New York on December 7 was led at $8.4m (£6.36m) by a classic René Magritte (1896-1967) Surrealist painting.

British porcelain element of renowned US collection amassed in European salerooms comes to auction in London

While the kilns at Sèvres languished during the Revolution, Napoleon recognised the value of a national porcelain factory and used it as an extension of his power.

The highlight of Bonhams’ Chinese art series conducted in London last week was the sale of the Parry collection of Chinese art.

Among Gilbert Ledward’s (1880-1960) most admired works is the sensuous nude, 'Awakening' or 'The Awakening', that today stands in Ropers Garden on the Chelsea Embankment.

One of the first sales held by Bonhams (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) in its new Paris rooms was devoted to works by Jean Cocteau (1889- 1963).

A painting of a pugilist will now be researched by the dealer who bought it at auction thanks to his collecting fascination with the early days of the sport

Works by the Scottish Colourists led the day as expected at Bonhams’ (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) latest Scottish art sale in Edinburgh but the slightly muted demand that emerged meant it was not always plain sailing.

Letter from cryptology expert describes his analysis of a Monte Carlo betting system

Aided by strong American bidding action, the collection of Andrew Crawforth, the late Portobello Road trader and leading authority on early metalware, turned base metal into gold when all 431 lots – offered wihtout reserve – sold at Bonhams’ (27.5% buyer’s premium) Edinburgh sale.

It has been a busy season for ornithological favourite Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) with a number of quality pictures previously sold by leading dealers reappearing at auction and attracting keen interest.