Auctions

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.

Thomas Bradshaw has been described as a poor civil servant but a brilliant artist.

The esteem in which British botanist William Lawrence Balls (1882-1960) was held is obvious from lots offered at Norfolk auction house Keys (25% buyer’s premium) on July 26-28.

A Queen’s Gallantry Medal in its case of issue awarded to a police constable who helped to catch two violent escaped prisoners sold for £2400 at auction.

Our selection of nine lots from upcoming UK auctions

Our regular listing of UK and Irish auctions available on thesaleroom.com

Founder of London gallery Agi Katz had personal experience after escaping from persecution herself

Italian-born sculptor was a founding figure in the first wave of Modernism via São Paolo

It may be stating the obvious, but collectors acquire militaria for many different reasons within that market.

A small selection of the distinctive decorative figures produced by the Austrian firm of Hagenaur featured in the sale of Decorative Arts held by Im Kinsky (28% buyer’s premium) on June 21.

A couple of cat pictures made bidders’ whiskers twitch of late.