Europe

Some serious bidding action took place in the room when Lankes (25% buyer’s premium) sold tinplate toys in the small Bavarian town of Döhlau.

One would hardly call a 13in x 2ft 1in (34 x 63cm) copper block, weighing more than 32 pounds (14.6kg), a convenient method of payment, but in the mid-17th century such plates were indeed issued in Sweden under King Charles X Gustav.

Director Gropius invited promising student Helm to promote an exhibition

The new season got off to an encouraging start for Cologne auction house Lempertz (26% buyer’s premium) when it held an African and Oceanic art sale on February 1 in Brussels

Museum buyers were out in force for the early days of TEFAF Maastricht.

Equestrian works by the French master come to auction market fresh from a family collection

The specialist Paris drawings dealer Galerie de Bayser is showing this work by Simon Vouet (1590-1649) at the Salon du Dessin

Plenty of Italian works can be found in the Salon du Dessin ranging from Old Master drawings to modern items

Christie’s holds its annual dedicated drawings sale in Paris on March 22, the same day that the Salon du Dessin opens.

The Salon du Dessin and its Contemporary art younger sibling are now back to normal in the spring slot

Works on paper are included in two picture sales running on consecutive days at Tajan in March.

A selection of drawings will feature in Aguttes’ March 28 sale at Drouot of Old Masters.

For its presentation at Drawing Now, the Galerie Lelong from Paris will include a special focus on the work of Christine Safa (b.1994).

Ader will hold three drawings sales at Drouot around the time of the Salon du Dessin.

The French art market is to fight “devastating” proposals to increase import tax on art and antiques planned by a new EU law.

Discoveries by dealers will be among the highlights offered at this year’s TEFAF Maastricht, opening this week.

Fraser Short is gallery manager at Old Masters specialist Rafael Valls, one of the regular returning dealers at this year’s TEFAF Maastricht.