France

Himalayan gilt metal statuettes featured prominently among the best-sellers in several Drouot sales including a number of modestly estimated examples that were pursued to way past their guides.

A lot that made far more than expected at Drouot’s sales was this large circular blue and white dish which came up in a June 14 auction at Theirry de Maigret (30% buyer’s premium inc tax) where it realised €135,000 (£114,405).

These two very different screens were among the notable results recorded in the Asian sales at Drouot.

Over the course of six days from June 7-14, a dozen sales devoted to the arts of Asia were staged by 11 firms at the Drouot auction centre as part of Printemps Asiatique.

A group of Chinese objects in a June 14 sale of furniture and works of art held by Coutau Begarie (30% buyer’s premium inc tax) included this carved celadon jade group dated to the 18th century.

Dealer Speelman’s own figures and vessels shine among Asian art sales held in Paris

A long bidding battle took this Qianlong mark and period covered vase to a triple-estimate €230,000 (£194,915) to top Peschetau-Badin’s (30% buyer’s premium inc tax) Asian arts sale on June 13.

Most Parisian galleries are going away for the summer but one hardy soul is holding an Olympic exhibition

In a private collection since it was last sold in 1991, one of only two known autograph manuscripts by author and journalist Albert Camus of his masterpiece L’Etranger was sold by Tajan (23/20/12% buyer’s premium) in Paris on June 5.

The Ivoire Clermont-Ferrand auction house in France has organised themed sales based around the famous Michelin Guide for 25 years with its specialist Pierre Gabriel Gonzalès.

The last Jean-Jacques Rousseau herbarium in private hands came for sale at Ader in Paris on June 17.

Stand-out lots from upcoming sales including Chardin still-life, Napoleonic marshal's baton and fine art collection acquired over decades

Focus on first part of a series of porcelain sales offering businessman’s collection