International

The Fifty Fathoms watch was born in the 1950s from the encounter between the Swiss firm Blancpain (by then using the legal trading name Rayville) and two French naval officers, Capt Robert Maloubier and Lt Claude Riffaud.

Improved security is one of the priorities at the fair after the shock of a jewellery robbery last year.

Elements of an important Naples porcelain service made after the Battle of the Nile have resurfaced at auction in the US.

A remarkable 16th century oil painting on marble that previously sold at Sotheby’s has been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The French anatomist and naturalist Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux (1797-1880) set up a workshop making very accurate human and veterinary anatomical models.

The Winter Maritime Sale at Eldreds on February 28-March 1 includes an 18th century Islamic brass quadrant made in the Maghreb region of north-west Africa.

Auctions of Chinese export porcelain have regularly featured in the New York schedule in January for many years, running alongside the traditional string of Americana sales and the long-running Winter Show.

The 68th edition of the BRAFA Art Fair closed its doors to the public on February 5 with 65,000 visitors having passed through its doors, writes Anne Crane.

Thomas Edison’s electric pen might not have flourished as planned for the purpose of duplicating documents but if you have a tattoo you can be thankful.

A footstool owned by Ringo Starr, a chair from the set of Casablanca and a Jean Cocteau wooden candelabra made for the home of Igor Stravinsky feature in a selection of furniture with intriguing histories at New York gallery ‘B’ Dry Goods.

A huge collection of cameos bought by the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities) will now go on display at the museum in Leiden.

Large collection of action figures offers multiple examples of hitherto scarce models to test the market

The sale at Clark’s Auction Company in California on February 19 includes this Moser enamelled glass fish vase.

This monumental Black Forest figural clock with matching stand, c.1880, is a mighty 7ft 1in (2.16m) high overall.

Hindman is conducting a series of auctions featuring property from the collection of the late Fred A Krehbiel and his wife Kay Krehbiel.

The Curated Home sale at Heritage in Dallas on February 24 includes this pair of Louis XVI-style gilt bronze mounted parquetry and marquetry side cabinets.

Sotheby’s New York holds an online auction titled Design that runs from March 7-14.

An artist, collector and ceramics specialist, Bob Ellison donated over 600 pieces to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in his lifetime.

A large and highly decorated processional cross, 18 x 10in (45 x 25cm), from 13th century Limoges is among the highlights in Bernard Descheemaeker’s exhibition and latest catalogue.