Auctions

A long time ago, way before music downloads came onto the scene, the latest technology involved phonographs, graphophones and gramophones. Not to mention the phonautograph, of course.

Human understanding and exploration of space took off in the 20th century and relics of that time of discovery remain popular today. This summer, two lots appearing on the New York market highlight the continuing enthusiasm for space.

Times change. While tobacco has now assumed a Social Evil status up there with North Korea, not so long ago children would be proudly displayed in an advert clutching a bunch of fags with the words ‘Mummy’s favourite’ underneath.

If Royal Flying Corps medals are out of your price range, or you want to collect something a bit different, two recent lots show that honours are not the only option for auction purchases.

The price of amber necklaces soared in 2013 and top prices are still being achieved at auction, often valuing the natural untreated beads at twice that of 24ct gold.

Five hundred years after it was nailed to a church door, a copy of Martin Luther’s ‘95 Theses’ was hammered down at a German auction at €1.1m.

Certain topics or people are so popular with collectors that they virtually become a market in themselves. Take Sir Winston Churchill for instance.

A ring bought at a car boot sale for £10 in the 1980s has been estimated at £250,000-350,000 and is heading to a Sotheby’s auction.

Lot 1234 made it count for London auction house Dix Noonan Webb despite lurking towards the back of an extensive two-day sale.

The top regional Asian art price at auction this season was reached by Duke’s of Dorchester on May 18 when Wu Guanzhong’s (1919-2010) scroll painting White Birches on Mount Chang Bai (Zhangbai) sold at £500,000 (plus buyer's premium).