Auctions

Ornate creation from Gothic fantasy comes for sale as part of the Bayreuth collection

The Vinyl Cape Jawa was the first Star Wars action figure to assume mythic status among collectors.

This Heal’s set of garden furniture added seasonal warmth to Great Western Auctions’ (24% buyer’s premium) Glasgow sale.

A fine Oscar Wilde letter sold for £16,000 at Dawsons (25% buyer’s premium) in Maidenhead on June 29.

Our selection of lots at seven upcoming UK auctions

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.

The presence of a cat added commercial appeal to a 17th century portrait of a young girl offered at Bonhams’ latest Old Master sale in London.

Thoughts that the sweet homely watercolours of Helen Allingham (1848-1926) have fallen from favour commercially may be premature, at least judging by the performance of a couple of works sold at a recent regional sale.

Luxury fashion discovered in a charity shop is heading to upmarket London retailer Fortnum & Mason.

A drawing of Jean François Millet’s (1814-75) most famous image generated unexpected levels of bidding in Alameda, California.

A silver and gold presentation belt given to a civilian volunteer nurse who looked after the sick and wounded during the Siege of Ladysmith during the second Boer War has soared over estimate in a London auction.

In recent times the work of newspaper cartoonists has been reassessed with a nod to its artistic, technical and historical merit.

A number of strong sums for Frederick Gore’s (1913-2009) richly coloured views of Mallorca and the French countryside have been recorded since his auction record was smashed two years ago.

Regarding Sotheby’s announcement concerning its move to the Dutch Auction system [for some sales of digital art – see ATG No 2602], one is left questioning why they have adopted this system.

Do embroidery and cut-paper pictures count as art? Bidders certainly appreciate their expertise

Stand-out original among the 76 pieces from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson’s workshops offered at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) 20th Century Design auction was a carved oak monk sold with its working drawing.

Such was the notoriety of Gunner James Collis that his family did not attend the funeral even though he had three sons in the army.