Europe

This 18th century pastel on paper portrait showing a young friar has many hallmarks of the work of the Venetian painter Rosalba Carriera (1675-1757).

In 1902, while visiting stands at the Esposizione Internationale d’Arte Decorativa Moderna in Turin, the Queen of Italy congratulated Carlo Bugatti on his ‘Moresque’ style of furniture. He reportedly replied, “You are mistaken, majesty, this style is mine!”

Raymond and Suzanne Fischoff-La Foux were a Parisian society couple.

Further high-ticket sales from this year’s TEFAF Maastricht have been announced.

An early 18th century, Qing Dynasty, Chinese blue and white painted porcelain charger caused the biggest surprise at the March 2 sale held by Kendzia (16% buyer’s premium) in Hamburg.

Rediscovered work inspired by Goethe emerges at auction in Germany

Driven by the demand from the numerous Grand Tourists who visited the Italian capital in the 19th century, Roman craftsmen revived and adapted the ancient technique of mosaics to produce works of art that would appeal to their international clientele.

In 1959, some two years after the German painter Otto Piene founded the ZERO group of artists together with his colleague Heinz Mack, he began producing his so-called 'Rauchbilder' (Smoke Paintings).

In 1926, after two years of negotiations, two German automobile producers joined forces to become Mercedes-Benz.

Early on in his career, which spanned most of the 19th century, Johann Wilhelm Preyer decided to paint only still-lifes. He studied at the academy in Düsseldorf and was one of the leading lights in what was to become the Düsseldorf School of painters.

In the latter half of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, there were over 250 companies in Great Britain producing bamboo furniture.

The vendor of an early 19th century glass offered as part of the February 21-24 sale at Wendl (21% buyer’s premium) in Rudolstadt will have been astonished by the result.

A fresh-to-the-market ensemble of rosewood furniture by French designer and architect Pierre Chareau (1883- 1950) met with great enthusiasm when it went under the hammer.

Auction staged at Drouot offered a varied selection topped by Louis XVI-era suit

The Paris auction houses will also be hosting plenty of sales devoted entirely or in part to works on paper.

Drawing Week, the Paris annual spring celebration staged around the Salon du Dessin fair and a raft of works on paper auctions, takes place in the latter part of this month when the French capital traditionally turns the spotlight on drawings

This gem-set gold snake armlet, a gift from the celebrated Victorian artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) to his second wife Laura Epps (1852-1909), will take centre stage on the stand of London jeweller Wartski at TEFAF Maastricht.

A Parisian sale titled Pablo Picasso and his Friends staged at Piasa in France on February 15 included a series of artworks to which the great man had contributed in some way.