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Watercolour of a sleeping feline – possibly her favourite cat – takes £19,000 in Cambridge saleroom

A recent Brunk’s (23% buyer’s premium) auction in Asheville, North Carolina, included a group of six small oil-on-copper mythological scenes by Neapolitan painter Luca Giordano (1634-1705).

The familiar heart symbol - that today is ‘read’ as love - made its first appearance as a rebus in the late Medieval era.

Snappy the Happy Bubble Blowing Dragon is a scarce battery-operated toy made by Marx in Japan in the 1960s.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper auctions

Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) took great delight in making cameo appearances in the films he produced and directed.

A strong provenance is always desirable on the secondary market, but it is essential when it comes to selling works by LS Lowry (1887-1976) - arguably Britain’s most faked artist.

A collection of vintage comics has sold at auction in Lichfield for a total hammer price of £13,150.

An untitled ink on rice paper work by Brazilian artist Mira Schendel (1919-88) is among the works starring at the exhibition 'Live With It', staged at Battersea Power Station, where it is offered for $18,000.

The digital museum Clocktime opened last month with an event at the Royal Academy of Engineering, London.

This Herter Bros inlaid rosewood and upholstered slipper chair was part of a suite made for the Vanderbilt family c.1881-82.

Ben Nicholson’s series of monochromatic three-dimensional relief paintings - created by the thick layers of white paint and carving wood - were first produced in the mid-to-late 1930s.

This 18ct gold pocket watch by Charles Frodsham with accompanying chain (offered separately) was presented by Sir Victor Horsley (1857-1916) to the man he credited for saving his son’s life.

Castings on Charles I era lantern clock suggests the work of William Bowyer

This 8in (19cm) high vase may belong to a select group of Ming cloisonné enamel vases dating to the Xuande period (1426-35).

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Mid-century works by the French Modernist architects and interior designers Jacques Adnet (1900-84) and Jacques Quinet (1918-92) were in strong demand at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (31/25% buyer’s premium).

A Rolex used by Spanish sailor and scientist Vital Alsar Ramirez (1933-2020) during his Amazon and Atlantic expeditions in 1977 sold for £10,000 at Halls (24% buyer’s premium).

“Our selection of Charley’s War artwork continues to attract new winning bidders”, says Malcolm Phillips.

Our selection of lots from 10 upcoming auctions