Auctions

This sealed and dated onion in olive green glass, below, comes with a handwritten scrap of paper inscribed 'George found [this bottle] when he dived into the Thames at Windsor'. The seal reads 'S Slater 1710'.

For reasons of both supply and economics not every collector of English 18th century drinking glasses gets to own a piece from the great Beilby enamelling workshop that operated at Amen Corner in Newcastle in the 1760s-70s.

What would appear to be a rare James Bond promotional poster proved the major attraction of a June 14 sale held by TW Gaze (18% buyer’s premium).

The Aguttes (25/23% buyer’s premium) Old Masters auction on June 28 at Drouot was led by a Murillo oil on canvas depicting the Christ child as The Good Shepherd.

Of all antique sealed bottles, those made for the All Souls College Common Room are probably the most prevalent.

With 207 pieces of silver from the Levant and all points East to China on offer at Chiswick Auctions (25% buyer’s premium), the stand-out pieces were the work of Iranian smiths.

Sailor’s sweethearts or valentines were once thought to have been made by sailors as love tokens during their long trips away from home.

Playing cards displaying maps lead a look at a Gloucestershire sale

Among the paintings on offer in Bruneau & Co’s August 1 online sale of fine and decorative arts in Cranston, Rhode Island, will be this framed oil on canvas of a dark-haired lady in a white dress applied with pearls.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions

“Analogous to the Tunbridge ware but of a superior character” was Robert Russell’s description of his work at the 1851 Great Exhibition.

Colourful work with provenance back to artist’s sister catches the attention in Kent saleroom

A selection of 14 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

The highlight of Tajan’s (25/20/12%buyer’s premium) Old Masters auction held on June 22 was an impressive large-scale modello created by the Italian artist Francesco Solimena (1657-1747) in preparation for his painting for the ceiling of San Domenico Maggiore, in Naples.

Aboriginal art from the collection of Richard Kelton (1929-2019) will be offered by Abell of Los Angeles in an auction on July 28.

Among the very rarest bottles to appear for sale in recent months was a miniature shaft and globe in dark aqua glass, c.1650, sold in South Yorkshire.

A new record for a Royal Doulton figure has been set in Stoke-on-Trent.