Auctions

After a world-wide pre-sale tour that took in three continents, a five-day public viewing in Paris and over two weeks of live and online sales, on June 23 the curtain finally came down on Christie’s Paris (26/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) summer auction series of the collection of Hubert de Givenchy (1927-2018).

Although he initially specialised in small furnishing objects and statuettes, the Parisian bronzier Victor Paillard (1805-86) began exhibiting with more elaborate creations in the 1840s.

ATG reports on the market for the Enicar series of watches that were taken to Everest

The watch market can be obsessed with brand names – and the best names do come with a price tag to match.

Two Rolex tool watches were estimated to bring £80,000-120,000 each at a recent Fine Watches sale at Bonhams’ (27.5/25% buyer’s premium).

This early 17th century harpsichord is inscribed to the name baton for Andreas Ruckers, Antwerp, 1614.

One of the most notable harbour scenes ever to emerge by the Victorian artist William Mitchell (1823-1900) of Maryport was among the lots bringing interest at a recent Mitchells sale.

Selection of sale highlights from the exceptional Henry Rogers Broughton collection

The Map of Florida shown here was issued in 1829 to encourage settlement following its still recent acquisition from Spain.

Eighteen works by the Birmingham School artist Mary Ireland (1891-1980) were offered at a recent Lyon & Turnbull’s (25/20% buyer’s premium) sale.

An English delft drug jar offered by Great Western Auctions (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow was both a polychrome and a documentary piece.

A ‘Jolly Roger’ or pirate flag that records the Second World War exploits of a British submarine flew once more in a militaria sale earlier this summer.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

Bishop & Miller is expanding into Norfolk this autumn with a new saleroom and team.

A remarkable Sèvres part tea service made to mark the recovery of George III from illness in 1789 was among the unheralded highlights of this year’s London sales season.

A suite of solid ivory and gilt furniture sold by Christie’s on July 7 appears to be the first auction lot to benefit from the exemption to the Ivory Act allowing the sale of items of ‘outstandingly high artistic, cultural and historical value’.