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Estimated at $30,000-50,000, an ink and colour on paper hanging scroll by Shi Lu (1919-82) took a mighty $430,000 (£354,500) at the latest Bonhams (28/27/21% buyer’s premium) auction of Fine Chinese Paintings in New York.

Following on from my correspondence regarding security for the trade at markets earlier this summer (ATG No 2599), on a recent visit to Kempton I saw first hand that organisers Edward and Jenny Cruttenden have stepped right up to the mark and I would say are offering one of the most secure environments for traders in London and the south east and deserve much praise.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including details of the funeral for dealer John Read Smith.

It was in the early 1950s that Prunella Clough (1919-99) ‘found’ her subject matter after touring London’s industrial wastelands and factories.

A textbook Chinese sleeper emerged at a recent sale held by Helmuth Stone (25% buyer’s premium): this 11in (29cm) cinnabar red lacquer circular box and cover.

The career of the French artist Pierre Soulages spanned over 80 years. He died in 2022 at the age of 102.

Doyle’s (26% buyer’s premium) sale of Old Master and 19th century Paintings & Drawings in New York on October 19 was topped by a 15th or 16th century Flemish School oil on panel portrait of a soldier.

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.

Highlights of the sale of Modern and Contemporary Art on November 16 at Clars in Oakland, California, will include works by Andy Warhol, the Latvian/American artist Raimonds Staprans, the American artist Gordon Onslow Ford and this monumental work by the Austrian artist Goetz Valien (b.1960).

A high price for a Winifred Nicholson (1893-1981) picture sold outside the main London rooms came recently in Cumbria.

Two of the highest prices at auction in the last 20 years for Dame Ethel Walker (1861-1951) came at Roseberys’ (26% buyer’s premium) latest Modern British & 20th Century Art sale.

Dealers are being asked to support the well-known antiques fair at Alexandra Palace in north London that has announced its plans for 2024.

Lot 57 at Sutton Hill Farm Country Auctions on October 21 comprised ‘2 framed paintings, signed J Cole, one other’, taking a hammer price of £8. Lot 59, a ‘vintage Sesame Street Big Bird piano toy’ (in working order) made it into double figures, at £14.