Auctions

In collecting terms it is not surprising that a country such as Australia should have a tradition of interest in English ceramics – factories such as Royal Doulton and Moorcroft have a noticeable following.

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 final proof coin set bearing Queen Victoria’s portrait was issued by the Royal Mint in 1893.

While the main paintings from the collection of dealer Sir Jack Baer and his wife Diana were sold at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) at the end of September (see ATG No 2564), a group of around 50 works on paper were held back and offered at the Stansted Mountfitchet saleroom’s latest Homes and Interiors online auction.

This Japanese ‘Super Car’ tinplate vehicle is an unlicensed model, probably based on the Supercar vehicle from Gerry Anderson’s 1960s UK television series.

Shelley first introduced the geometric Vogue and Mode shapes in 1930 – both the designs of Eric Slater who had worked at the factory since the end of the First World War.

A small watercolour titled A Sleeping Wayfarer by George Richmond (1809-96) roused a few bidders into action when it was offered at auction.

Nomura was one of the biggest Japanese toy makers post-war and is now particularly renowned among collectors for mechanical toys such as robots.

The Birmingham silversmithing firm of Hukin & Heath received the approval of the progressive (if slightly pompous) writers of The Furniture Gazette when it signed a big name to produce some of its designs in 1878.

A group of five watercolours by Peter de Wint (1784-1849) that were previously kept at a Grade II-listed Oxfordshire country house caught the eye at a recent sale.

This wonderful photo taken in 1914 shows the Coghill family plus a rather hairy friend: a rare large Steiff centre-seam teddy bear c.1906.

Lucy Peck ran The Dolls’ Home, a successful business that opened in Regent Street in London in 1893.

Over the course of 35 years Andy Houldsworth amassed one of the largest collections of Action Man and similar action figures in the UK.

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