Auction Reports

Aided by strong American bidding action, the collection of Andrew Crawforth, the late Portobello Road trader and leading authority on early metalware, turned base metal into gold when all 431 lots – offered wihtout reserve – sold at Bonhams’ (27.5% buyer’s premium) Edinburgh sale.

Republican plaques bought at Hong Kong dealership take top price in Chinese art sale.

Of such high quality that they justify the description ‘cabinet miniatures’, examples of a small group of silk and metal thread embroideries of Charles I can be seen in the V&A and Wallace Collection in London and in the New York Met.

A Maori hei-tiki pendant offered in Cheltenham on September 16 had an old paper label verso stating that it originally belonged to Makoare Te Taonui.

Including seafaring, tin, copper, studio potteries and fishing, a Penzance sale covered just about everything from the region bar pasties.

This ventriloquist’s dapper dummy was one of the surprise star turns at Halls’ (23% buyer’s premium) Shrewsbury auction.

It was in the wake of the Great Fire of London in 1666 that the first societies were created to protect against the losses caused by fire.

A section of wood taken from the tree where Stanley met Livingstone in 1871 sold at Sworders’ September 14-15 Fine Interiors sale for £2400.

Irish castle home of earls about to be turned into hotel and spa furnishes a remarkable sale

Although not catalogued as such, this occasional table offered at auction is made to a well-known Aesthetic movement design by EW Godwin.

Alec Walker (1889-1964) created Cryséde fabrics as a small experimental silk-printing firm in Newlyn in 1920.

Estimated at £100-150, this pair of 4in (11cm) Chinese vases sold for an estimate-busting £39,000 at Gorringe’s (23% buyer’s premium) in Lewes.

Most original British quad posters from the series of 'Carry On' films can be bought for sums in the £50-300 price bracket but a number of rarities exist.

One of the most daring air operations of the Second World War included New Zealand pilot Flight Lieutenant Maxwell Nicholas Sparks as a participant.

Salisbury sale offered commemorative ceramics from single-owner collection

While Americans demonstrated by throwing tea into the harbour, the British registered complaints by putting the leaves into suitably decorated teapots.

Edinburgh-made clocks that predate 1700 are rare.

A Richard Winterton (20% buyer’s premium) sale in Lichfield included this 1973 Rolex Explorer II which sparked international interest.

This large Ottoman metal thread and silk hanging features a dedication to Sultan Ahmed III (1673-1736).

Cache of 17th century coins found during restoration of medieval home in Brittany