Auctioneers

Thoughts that the sweet homely watercolours of Helen Allingham (1848-1926) have fallen from favour commercially may be premature, at least judging by the performance of a couple of works sold at a recent regional sale.

Luxury fashion discovered in a charity shop is heading to upmarket London retailer Fortnum & Mason.

A silver and gold presentation belt given to a civilian volunteer nurse who looked after the sick and wounded during the Siege of Ladysmith during the second Boer War has soared over estimate in a London auction.

A Queen’s Gallantry Medal in its case of issue awarded to a police constable who helped to catch two violent escaped prisoners sold for £2400 at auction.

Apocrypha sold at auction was his personal copy and then inscribed by descendants who later owned it

Italian-born sculptor was a founding figure in the first wave of Modernism via São Paolo

Thomas Bradshaw has been described as a poor civil servant but a brilliant artist.

A recent Design sale at Sotheby’s (26/20/13.9/plus 1% overhead buyer’s premium) in Paris had stacks of post-war material by renowned names such as the Lalannes and Charlotte Perriand but the Art Deco period also featured.

In recent times the work of newspaper cartoonists has been reassessed with a nod to its artistic, technical and historical merit.

Do embroidery and cut-paper pictures count as art? Bidders certainly appreciate their expertise

Founder of London gallery Agi Katz had personal experience after escaping from persecution herself

Stand-out original among the 76 pieces from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson’s workshops offered at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) 20th Century Design auction was a carved oak monk sold with its working drawing.

A number of strong sums for Frederick Gore’s (1913-2009) richly coloured views of Mallorca and the French countryside have been recorded since his auction record was smashed two years ago.

A couple of cat pictures made bidders’ whiskers twitch of late.

Such was the notoriety of Gunner James Collis that his family did not attend the funeral even though he had three sons in the army.

It may be stating the obvious, but collectors acquire militaria for many different reasons within that market.

A privately produced Victorian silver bravery medal proved hugely popular when offered at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium) on June 21.

The esteem in which British botanist William Lawrence Balls (1882-1960) was held is obvious from lots offered at Norfolk auction house Keys (25% buyer’s premium) on July 26-28.