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I was recently informed by a mutual friend of the sad passing of (James) Michael Finlay, of Thursby near Carlisle (Obituaries, ATG No 2622).

One of the Old Masters attracting significant interest at Lyon & Turnbull’s (25/20% buyer’s premium) latest Five Centuries sale in Edinburgh was a small still-life that drew strong competition against a £5000-8000 estimate.

Our selection of lots from nine upcoming auctions.

The Komai family of sword makers and armourers were among the many Japanese metalworkers courting a new clientele during the Meiji period (1868-1912).

Estimated at $2500-3500, this micromosaic plaque depicting the Rape of Europa hammered for $13,000 (£10,300).

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions

Rembrandt prints were a prominent feature of the London Old Master sales in December.

Very few English Golden Age clocks signed by Ambrose Gardner are recorded.

A couple of views of London were strongly contested at the latest Old Master auction series in the capital.

The music memorabilia sale at Omega (28.8% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on November 29 included the handwritten lyrics to two tracks on David Bowie’s 1972 classic The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Antiquities from the collection of famed works of art dealer Ernest Brummer (1891-1964) sold for a combined total of over $2m at Hindman (26/20/15% buyer’s premium) in Chicago.

Quirky subjects generate the most eye-catching results at the latest Old Master auction series

Fleetwood Mac are famous for the huge-selling Rumours album that propelled the band to superstardom but the original line-up and sound were very different.

The handstitched booklet titled Balls & My Partners, 1844-1845 was written by Adelaide Horatia Elizabeth Seymour (1825-77) as she enjoyed the life of a debutante.

Single-owner collection forms biggest dispersal of mustard pots at auction for many years

Bidder in Massachusetts goes to £24,000 to secure an account of a 1764 trip along the eastern seaboard

Letters and books marking the deep relationship between author EM Forster and policeman Bob Buckingham and his family sold for £9000.

A lot in a recent Andrew Jones (25% buyer’s premium) auction that will doubtless merit further research was an early 19th century French self-portrait.

It was with dazzling exhibition pieces that Joseph Rodgers & Sons made its reputation as Sheffield’s foremost knifemaker.