Auctioneers

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including news of auction house Fellows selling the collection from Joseph Bonnar Jewellers in Edinburgh

Michael Ramsey (1904-88) who served as the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961-74, curated his own personal visitor book that tracked his career from 1942-87.

Views of Exmoor form a notable niche in the market for works by Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959).

Portraits consigned from the family of two artists feature intriguing stories of those depicted

Despite the catalogue note “would benefit from sympathetic restoration to exterior”, the overall appeal of a rare 19th century folk art dolls’ diorama of a kitchen was enough to take the hammer price to £7000.

Gordon Mitchell Forsyth (1879-1952) is best known as a ceramicist - specifically for his work as art director at the Pilkington’s Lancastrian factory from 1903-14 and his subsequent teaching career as superintendent of art instruction in Stoke-on-Trent.

Moorcroft pottery collection offered in Essex saleroom had a great focus on signed wares of the initial Macintyre era when the designer was at his prime

Small-scale Mouseman carvings were typically made in Kilburn for promotional purposes – attracting custom at the Yorkshire Show or similar trade events. Rarities continue to bring muscular sums in the salerooms.

The French artist Alexandre-François Desportes (1661-1743) spent much of his early career as a portraitist, including a notable spell working at the court of King Jan Sobieski of Poland.

With its exaggerated, curved armrests, ample cushioning and cantilevered frame, the H269 bentwood chair is perhaps the best known of all Czech industrial furniture designs.

The inaugural sale at Rare Book Auctions (26.5% buyer’s premium) in Lichfield included this signed and inscribed first printing of Terry Pratchett’s 'The Colour of Magic'.

Not only was this Robert Wallace Martin (1843-1923) stoneware ‘face’ jug deemed an excellent example of its type, but it was sold with a hand-written letter to David Oxen Esq, the original buyer of the jug in 1914.

The Scottish printer David Bryce (1845-1923) said that when he “descended to the miniature, mite and midget size” he had “many a scoff and jeer as to the absurdity of the production”.