Auctions

Edvard Munch’s ‘Girls on the Bridge’ was knocked down at $50m (£40m) and led Sotheby’s evening sale of Impressionist & Modern in New York last night.

The quirky characterful and very British art pottery created by the late 19th/early 20th century artist potters Wallace, Robert and Edwin Martin is as popular in the US as in its country of origin.

It is easy to understand the appeal of a Victoria Cross to medal collectors. Likewise, any honours connected with the name ‘Dambusters’ or those awarded to flying ‘aces’ have a high value.

Phillips set a record price for a wristwatch sold at auction over the weekend when a Patek Philippe Reference 1518 was knocked down for SFr9.6m (£7.7m).

Sotheby’s second dedicated design sale in London is set to appeal to the base of younger buyers whom specialists say have taken an interest in this market.

Plymouth Auction Rooms made a surprise find on a recent visit to a remote Cornish cottage on the banks of the river Tamar. The auction firm was valuing a mixture of Cornish art and collectables at the address when it came across a Pablo Picasso vase.

The new Lord Harlech, music video-maker Jasset Ormsby Gore, is offering 400 items at auction from his family estate.

TV star Vic Reeves may be best known for his zany comedy double act with Bob Mortimer, but he is also said to be an accomplished artist, counting Damien Hirst as a fan.

The first two-day auction held at The Cotswold Auction Company’s new Bankside saleroom in Love Lane, Cirencester, clicked with one buyer especially.

A rare late 19th century Burmese silver bowl has come to auction having previously been used by the vendor’s mother as a waste paper basket.

A small Indian bronze brought to Special Auction Services (SAS) in a woman’s handbag set a new house record when it was knocked down for £114,000 yesterday.

Sotheby’s sale of David Bowie’s collection got off to a flying start in London last night. The collection was clearly ‘there to be sold’ but the Bowie provenance turned what may otherwise have been a solid sale into a bumper proposition.

A first edition of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ reached a world record price of £35,000 at the Bonhams Fine Books and Manuscripts Sale last night.

Only a handful of pieces of Irish secular silver are known to survive from before the Restoration.

The first Chinese firearm with an imperial reign mark ever offered at auction sold at Sotheby’s yesterday for £1.65m.

The Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London has revealed the latest addition to its collection.

A Chinese cinnabar lacquer brush pot sold for £155,000 at Shrewsbury auctioneers Halls earlier today.

Derbyshire-based Bamfords Auctioneers & Valuers has announced it will no longer sell solid ivory objects.

A second tranche of Lord and Lady Attenborough’s collection will appear at auction later this month.