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Concept Art Gallery (22% buyer’s premium) in Pittsburgh enjoyed a sensational result on June 8.

With a rusty blade and seemingly anonymous scabbard, an ornate hilt was the key as to why an Indian tulwar sword estimated at £100-200 instead sold for a huge hammer price of £109,500 (plus 22% buyer’s premium).

This rare Chelsea porcelain leaf-moulded teapot and cover came between a goat-and-bee jug and a crayfish salt.

Storing a bottle of carbonised mineral water upright often caused the cork to dry out, the gas to escape and the drink to go flat. Persuading a chemist or grocer to store them horizontally proved difficult until the adoption of William Hamilton’s egg-shaped or torpedo bottle.

There was saleroom drama at Aste di Antiquariato Boetto (25% buyer’s premium) in Genoa on June 19 when a 12in (30cm) Chinese blue and white jar estimated at €2000-2300 shot to €820,000 (£692,000).

An exhibition of over 100 previously unseen photographs taken by the renegade gallerist John Kasmin is showing at Lyndsey Ingram until August 16.

Father and son collection stars as centrepiece of 150-lot inaugural Islamic and Indian art offering

Late last year auctioneer and valuer Mark Huddleston received three images of a chief’s staff or pole club along with an ‘is this worth anything’ enquiry. The vendor had inherited it from his family who (by repute) had done Presbyterian missionary work in Polynesia in the 19th century.

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.

At Gildings (20% buyer’s premium) of Market Harborough, one little, or rather big bird took flight.

Annual London showcase of dealer exhibitions offers wide range of artists and styles across 500 years

The subject of this massive Italian micromosaic panel is taken from the lost series of frescoes depicting the Hours of Day and Night by Raphael.

Dreweatts’ (26/25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) single-owner dispersal of items from Bussock Wood on June 4 included significant works from the Modern British canon.