Auctions

A soapstone seal used by the emperor Qianlong to express his approval of paintings and calligraphy in the imperial collection sold at auction in Hong Kong for HK$131m (£13m) on April 29.

Among the most extraordinary of all navigational charts are the lattice ‘stick maps’ used by Marshall Islanders.

Setting a record price for the Newlyn artist Ernest Procter (1886-1935), a previously lost First World War scene generated strong competition at Lyon & Turnbull’s latest Modern Made auction.

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.

Even though the head of the Christ Child was missing, numerous bidders joined in the action when a carved figure of the Madonna with Child came up for sale in Düsseldorf.

The countless designs for furniture and decorative arts created by Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine, who were known as Napoleon’s architects, not only found favour with the French emperor but also had an enduring influence on cabinetmakers throughout Europe.

When the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated on April 15, 1945, a party of British Red Cross nurses and doctors stayed and tended those they could help back to health.

A small group of Riccardi Press limited editions, each title produced in runs of 500 copies for the Medici Society, were offered in an April 7 sale held by Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) of Carlisle.

The Romanian artist Victor Brauner is known above all for his disturbing Surrealist paintings, often incorporating violent scenes.

Letter to adviser in 1592 underlines her frustration at the French king’s policies

One of the last five works created by the German Expressionist August Macke is for sale at Ketterer Kunst after being family owned for almost 100 years.

Focus on 19th century works by continental European artists sold recently

A Spanish picture that had been in the same family for at least the past 120 years was among the works bringing demand at Bonhams’ (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) latest sale of 19th Century and British Impressionist Art.

German castle’s works of art hidden away in the war come to light in Munich saleroom

Until the widespread advent of the wireless, barrel organs were a familiar sight (and sound) on the streets of Berlin and other major German cities.

First published 1817, Joseph Walker’s 'The Shepherd’s Guide' has been updated many times and is still in use today, noted Bill Nelson of 1818 Auctions.

The Austrian sculptor Gustav Gurschner, who was particularly productive at the beginning of the 20th century, designed many functional objects such as door knockers, doorknobs and ashtrays, encapsulating the style of Viennese Jugendstil.

The top-selling lots at Hansons’ April 1 Fine Art Sale were two pieces of Chinese blue and white porcelain.