Auction Reports

Lawrences’ (30% buyer’s premium) summer sales series in Crewkerne included a Charles II period stumpwork casket.

Three equestrian silver groups made by different London firms over the space of a century took centre stage in three separate sales in July.

By the mid-18th century, as the fashion for the pannier dress reached its peak, some women wore dresses measuring 7ft (2.13m) wide.

With its long and varied production lines Moorcroft remains a stalwart of Design auctions.

England cricketer Sir Ian Botham sold a group of memorabilia from his international and club career at auction on July 15.

The best of nine snuff mulls consigned by a titled long-standing client to Minster Auctions (16% buyer’s premium) was a treen example carved as a ram’s head with glass eyes.

This 19th century carved Siena marble inkstand is fashioned in the form of an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

William Lenthall (1591-1662) was chosen as Speaker of the Houses of Commons at the beginning of the Long Parliament in 1640.

While a few examples survive from the 17th and the very early 18th century, teacups and saucers are a rare form in Georgian silver.

A fine Oscar Wilde letter sold for £16,000 at Dawsons (25% buyer’s premium) in Maidenhead on June 29.

The Vinyl Cape Jawa was the first Star Wars action figure to assume mythic status among collectors.

Most terracotta plank figures from Bronze Age Cyprus have been found in Lapithos, a once important coastal centre on the north of the island.

A fine example of Viking metalworking was offered at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium) in Mayfair on July 18.

This Heal’s set of garden furniture added seasonal warmth to Great Western Auctions’ (24% buyer’s premium) Glasgow sale.

Ornate creation from Gothic fantasy comes for sale as part of the Bayreuth collection

The ivory-made launching mallet and silver casket from the ill-fated RMS Empress of Ireland came for sale at McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow.

A Queen’s Gallantry Medal in its case of issue awarded to a police constable who helped to catch two violent escaped prisoners sold for £2400 at auction.

Do embroidery and cut-paper pictures count as art? Bidders certainly appreciate their expertise

Stand-out original among the 76 pieces from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson’s workshops offered at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) 20th Century Design auction was a carved oak monk sold with its working drawing.

Such was the notoriety of Gunner James Collis that his family did not attend the funeral even though he had three sons in the army.