Auctions

Ingenious design sold at auction involves a wind-out mechanism and extra pieces to fill

While this 1672 first did not quite hit the high of pre-sale hopes, it was still top lot of the Shrewsbury sale.

Such was the renown of toy collector the late Jack Tempest that when his collection came up for auction many of the bidders who flocked to the sale on November 10 recognised a lot of the items on offer.

Bertha Alexander Behrman – aka Madame Alexander – was probably destined to be a doll maker.

A selection of 16 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

In 1981 the most powerful man in the universe, He-Man, began his fight against the evil Skeletor to save the planet of Eternia and protect Castle Grayskull.

British watercolours are reliant not just on subject matter but also on market freshness, condition and a good pitch

More than 20 yards of Morris & Co fabric and two Howard & Son chairs were among a group of lots consigned to auction in Wiltshire with a provenance to Haselbech Hall, Northampton, and the Bower Ismay family.

A pottery has stood in the Welsh village of Ewenny for five centuries but, with a few exceptions, the collecting market does tend to focus on the decorative slipwares produced under the influence of the Arts & Crafts movement.

In terms of numbers, both in component parts and the sum achieved, a collection of over 200 miniature books published by David Bryce of Glasgow (1845-1923) was a stand-out lot in a recent London sale.

Shown here is one of ‘very few known’ examples of Yonezawa’s c.1962 Diamond Planet Robot – the largest tin windup robot produced, 10in (24.5cm) high.

Dealer Damon Revans-Turner of RTS Antiques in Liverpool has put a name and story to a rare Staffordshire figure that has hitherto evaded attribution.

A ‘Russian’ tunic from Chanel’s famed Spring 1922 collection sold for €100,000 (£86,000) in Paris – a record for her early work.

An Arts & Crafts goblet soared over estimate last week to land in the stock of dealer Anthony Bernbaum of The Peartree Collection, who recognised it as the work of John Paul Cooper (1869-1933).

Setting a major record for Duncan Grant (1885-1978) and equalling the highest price for any Bloomsbury Group picture, a painting depicting his fellow artist and close friend (and one-time lover) Vanessa Bell sold for £260,000 at Bonhams.

A Tyne and Wear auction house has relocated and rebranded.

When coming across a female artist who was once quite recognised but now is rather little known, buyers today automatically ask the question: ‘Is she undervalued?’

A few copies have made a little more, but the example of the original, 1826, folio edition of Jacob George Strutt’s 'Sylva Britannica, or Portraits of Forest Trees…' included in a November 8 sale at Reeman Dansie (20% buyer’s premium) sold for £3500 (guide £600-800).