Auctions

The Alfred Jewel is a famous piece of Anglo-Saxon goldsmith craftmanship, a gold-mounted piece of rock crystal enamelled with a portrait of a man and the inscription translating as ‘Alfred ordered me to be made’.

During his lifetime relatively little was written about the work of Albert Cheuret (1884-1966).

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

Not only is this 1960 first edition of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' inscribed by Harper Lee to her friend Harold Caufield, but it was sold with a Christmas card from the author penned with a lengthy message.

Among the most recognisable output of the Meissen factory are the ‘Elements’ ewers, the set of four emblematic of Earth, Air, Water and Fire that were designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler in 1741.

A Chinese export oil showing a Qing emperor at court led a single-owner dispersal at Tremont Auctions (27% buyer’s premium) in Sudbury, Massachusetts, on May 5.

ATG’s pick of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com, featuring both the highest prices over-estimate and the top prices paid online.

It was on March 1, 1849 that Nathaniel Cook, the editor of the Illustrated London News, registered the design that would provide the ancient and cosmopolitan game of chess with its first standardised set.

A gold and cameo ring offered with an estimate of just £200-300 at Derbyshire auction house Irita Marriott (plus 28.8% buyer’s premium inc VAT) and catalogued as 19th century caught the eye of a number of jewellery dealers and bidders from as far as Paris and the US.

Extensive collection on tennis theme inlcudes early Wimbledon designs and Broders view of Monte Carlo

A lot catalogued simply as a ’French gilt bronze figure of Madonna and Child’ proved the highlight of the Furniture, Art & Asian auction at Clars (28% buyer’s premium) in Oakland, California, on May 17.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including an archive being sold by Charlie Chaplin's goddaughter.

“Siege notes are a niche but popular subsidiary of military banknote collecting,” says Andrew Pattison, head of the Banknotes Department at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium).