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The plethora of single-collection sales at the start of the year was not at the expense of old-fashioned auctions offering good-quality offerings across the range of dealing and collecting – such as the Winter Fine Arts sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) of Dorchester.

Helped by conservatively pitched estimates, a clutch of middle-market Orientalist pictures achieved some modest growth in value on their first return to auction in three decades.

This 1962 photograph of artist Lucio Fontana, below, is included in the UK’s first solo show of works by Ugo Mulas (1928-73).

Two rediscovered marble busts by the French 18th century sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828) are to be offered in Cottone Auctions’ next sale in Geneseo on March 23.

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales below £800, including an 18th century oil on canvas

Plenty of French art glass features in Woody Auction’s March 9 sale in Douglass, Kansas, including this bowl by Daum.

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period February 21-27, 2019. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

What seems to have been an overdue clear-out at Monmouth Trading Standards department led to half a dozen lots of imperial weights and measures being consigned to Stroud Auctions (18% buyer’s premium).

Regarded in their time as examples of the finest cabinet-making rather than simply reproductions, good 19th century French revivalist furniture remains in demand.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Sotheby’s has reported a 16% jump in sales to $6.4bn (£4.8bn) for 2018 – a reward for its focus on growing online and private sales. Profit, or adjusted net income, improved by 5.9% to $128.9m.

Two Victorian stained-glass and leaded window panels entered by the same vendor trebled the estimates in selling to the same UK online bidder at Special Auction Services (17.5% buyer’s premium) on February 5.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including Masterpiece fair taking a ‘pavilion’ within the Fine Art Asia fair.

Travelling from Glasgow to the south of England courtesy of a commission bid, this Hornby-Dublo train EDG 7 tank goods set, right, went at 10 times the lower estimate at McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium) sale on February 1.

A very rare and inscribed example of CS Lewis’ first published work, a 1919 collection of verses previewed ATG No 2377, was sold recently in Oxford for £2800. Spirits in Bondage was part of the extensive book section of a January 30-31 sale at Mallams (23% buyer’s premium).

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from March 5-16, 2019.

A small group of lots in a recent Edinburgh sale were once part of the library of the late 5th Earl of Lovelace at Torridon House.

Two unusual and successful lots from a February 20 sale held by Lockdales (19.5% buyer’s premium) of Ipswich.