Auctioneers

The highest price at auction for 12 years for Arthur Foord Hughes (1856-1934) came at Nottingham saleroom Mellors & Kirk (24% buyer’s premium) at the start of the year.

A mixture of leading artist, intriguing subject, ‘prominent’ background and perhaps a bit of speculation helped propel a portrait of an Indian figure to 36 times the top estimate.

Lots Road Auctions in Chelsea is moving to a large new saleroom in Fulham as the firm becomes an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) following the retirement of founder Roger Ross.

A timed online auction at Thimbleby & Shorland of Reading included this fine quality Kentian console table that had come from a probate sale in London.

A Parisian sale titled Pablo Picasso and his Friends staged at Piasa in France on February 15 included a series of artworks to which the great man had contributed in some way.

Two fine Art Deco jewelled pendant brooches featuring miniature fob watches achieved strong results at Bonhams’ (28% buyer’s premium) London Jewels sale.

Among the most eagerly contested lots at a west London saleroom was a Georg Jensen silver bangle from the Lamellae collection designed by the architect-turned-designer Zaha Hadid.

When it comes to period costume antique footwear can often command some of the strongest prices.

A group of four pictures on offer in an Essex auction came from a vendor whose grandmother was part of the Fitzrovian set - the Bohemian group of artists and intellectuals centred around Charlotte Street in London, just north of Soho, in the 1920s-50s.

Fifteeth year of the New York event involves 28 dealers and 12 salerooms taking part

Legend has it that Charles Arpels (of Van Cleef & Arpels fame) saw a lady friend stashing her lipstick and other cosmetics in an ordinary cigarette tin for a trip out on the town.

This single-sheet letter was written by Catherine de Medici (1519-89) to the ambassador to Spain.