Auctioneers

Although originally trained as a goldsmith, Dirck Van Rijswijck (1596-1679) developed his own characteristic style using less rarefied material.

The Christmas Rare Books & Collectors sale at Irish auction house Fonsie Mealy on December 12-13 includes No33 of only 150 copies in a limited special edition of Bog Poems by Seamus Heaney illustrated by Barrie Cooke (London, Rainbow Press, 1975).

Pictured here are two fine 19th century presentation copies that, unexpectedly, topped sales in South Cerney and Cambridge in October.

Scrap of paper came as result of half a manuscript book being chewed into ‘confetti’ by Steinbeck’s dog

On December 8 Beaussant-Lefèvre is holding a sale that will feature a number of examples of Gallé glass including this early piece.

The writing was on the wall for the Waverley not long after it entered the market in 1895.

While pictures of young female sitters are not unusual in the oeuvre of George Clausen (1852-1944), ones with mythological or allegorical subjects are distinctly rarer.

Porcelain from short-lived Staffordshire firm comes from collector and dealer who revived the market

Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) arrived on the Amalfi Coast in 1923 and ultimately created more than 100 works there based on the landscape.

A group of Modern and Impressionist pictures provided a significant boost to the latest Art & Design post 1880 sale held at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium).

Eminent artist stepped aside once he saw the monumental figure by younger colleague Maillol

An auction record for Harry Becker (1865-1928) was set this autumn.

How much would you spend on an antique or vintage chess set? Here are three examples from different periods that sold across a wide range of prices.

Little-known artist tutored by Cedric Morris comes under the spotlight thanks to her portrait of him

In Chinese symbolism, three goats shown together are representative of the New Year, bringing a change of fortune (sanyang kaitai).

An ancient Egyptian sculptural fragment was the most eagerly contested lot in Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ (20% buyer’s premium) Autumn Majestic sale on November 10-12.

The Matchbox Superfast 74a Daimler Fleetline Bus estimated at £60-80 as Lot 214 in the Vectis (27% buyer’s premium inc VAT) sale on October 31 made £35, while the version guided at £50-70 two lots later made £120.