Auctioneers

This faded red-brown velvet cap worn by Alfred St George Hamersley (1848-1929) is believed to be the earliest rugby international cap to come to auction.

The boar’s head tureen with matching stand is considered the rarest of all the game tureens made by the Minton factory in its colourful majolica range.

Estimated at £300-500, a group of five hand-coloured prints of early 19th century Canada sold for £8500 at Gorringe’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Lewes.

Dated and inscribed and royal portrait subjects are the most desirable classes of early delftware

By their nature, rare bottles can emerge for sale in some unlikely places

An English covered goblet made in 1820 to commemorate the first voyage of the ship Woodford is on offer at Bishop & Miller in Glandford, Norfolk

A curious pearlware pottery hybrid animal with the head of a sheep and body of a winged fish proved a popular entry at Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium).

Latest slice of a ‘magnificent library’ that covered the development of book illustrations

Is Mason’s ironstone going through a collecting Renaissance? Well, perhaps

The glass and ceramics sales held by Woolley & Wallis usually include several designated single-owner collections and properties and the September 19 auction is no exception

A large and striking 1920s portrait of a young woman drew strong competition at Dreweatts’ (26% buyer’s premium) sale of Anouska Hempel’s collection.

Joseph Towne (1806-79) is best known for pioneering the creation of anatomical wax models, many of which are now displayed at a medical museum at Guy’s Hospital in London.

Spotlight on a selection of auction lots made using unusual or exotic materials

This 19th century carved Siena marble inkstand is fashioned in the form of an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

A pair of mahogany framed sofas, one shown here, caught the eye when they featured in Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s (19.5% buyer’s premium) auction on August 3.

This handwritten volume bound in maroon calf boards with brass clasp is titled inside The Minute Book of The Auld Lang Syne Sketching Club.

Trial run for a full worked-up version counts as a highly sought-after picture in its own right

A superior tea caddy proved to be the toast of a Bonhams’ (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium) sale of fine decorative arts in London.