Auctioneers

With the traditional hiatus in the UK auction market typically stretching across the month of August, a number of notable picture highlights appeared slightly earlier this summer at sales around the country.

A chalcedony, sapphire and diamond flower brooch by Suzanne Belperron (1900-83) was included in Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) Fine Jewellery, Watches and Silver sale on July 15.

Serpent jewels, symbols of eternity and exoticism, are ever popular and two good examples are on offer this autumn.

A previously unrecorded 18th century manuscript containing 75 pieces of traditional Scottish music sold for £5000 at Lyon & Turnbull (plus 26% buyer’s premium).

Collectors with refined taste are happy to take their time even when it comes to the most important makers.

Both Christie’s and Bonhams brought impressive Chinese clocks to market in July.

The precursor to the Woolley & Wallis Fine Jewellery sale on October 25 is a single-owner catalogue devoted to the collection of Jean Louis Chameroy (1946-2020).

By the mid-18th century, as the fashion for the pannier dress reached its peak, some women wore dresses measuring 7ft (2.13m) wide.

Extensive selection of the long-running cricket guides on offer at auction runs up a market test

The September 12 Important Jewellery auction at Hindman in Chicago includes this Art Deco diamond, jade, cabochon emerald and enamel brooch mounted in platinum.

Dent and Co is one of the bestknown names in English horology with a long history of precision clock and watch making.

Jewellery from the estate of Ella Naper (1886-1972) was offered at Lay’s (21% buyer’s premium) in Lanner, Cornwall on August 10-11.

The north European Mannerist bronze sold for £550,000 against a guide of £250-350 was not the only spectacular sleeper in the August 8 sale at Reeman Dansie (22.5% buyer’s premium).

Metal detectorists continue to be the best supply of ancient and medieval jewels onto the market.

Well known for pottery, Sally Tuffin (b.1938) is also renowned for pioneering 1960s fashion as part of the Foale and Tuffin firm.

A wistful and chatty letter from Charlotte Brontë to her editor William S Williams comes for sale in California on September 7.