Auction Reports

The unexpected highlight of the Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) Out of the Ordinary sale on February 15 was this plaster version of the Jean-Jacques Feuchère (1807-52) sculpture Mephistopheles.

From the early 1930s, the London potter Phyllis Keyes (1881-1968), with a studio in Warren Street and later in Clipstone Street, supplied Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and other members of the Bloomsbury Group with earthenware teawares, jugs and vases for decoration.

As a Doulton ‘lifer’ George Tinworth’s (1843-1913) output was immense.

The George I period giltwood and gilt gesso girandole or mirror shown here belonged to art historian, connoisseur and collector Ralph Edwards (1894-1977).

Floral decorator tasked her assistant to develop a range which was fired by Fulham Pottery.

Chinese export bowls such as this one, decorated in the mandarin palette with famille rose foxhunting scenes, were popular both with the British and American markets in the last quarter of the 18th century.

This blue and white ewer with a Qianlong mark offered at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge as part of an Interiors sale is of a type modelled on a Zhou bronze ritual wine vessel or 'he'.

Qing period embroidered satin throne-back cushion covers can be seen still in situ in a number of the buildings in the Forbidden City including the Hall of Supreme Principle and the Palace of Eternal Spring. Others are held by institutions and collectors throughout the world.

During the Victorian era the Rev Henry Moule (1801-80) of Fordington in Dorset was doubtless considered something of a zealot.

Two Soloman Island clubs were catalyst to amassing of more than 10,000 artefacts

Leading the sale held by Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) in Rosewell, Edinburgh, was a 7in (18cm) high Qing iron red bottle decorated with chilong dragons amid stylised clouds. It had apparently been rejected by ‘a more prestigious auctioneer’.

This porcelain beaker from the Baltic Service was the highlight of a timed online sale held by 1818 Auctioneers (22.5% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Cumbria.

The third and final part of the collection of 19th century silver trade tokens formed by John Akins was offered by Dix Noonan Webb (24% buyer’s premium) in London as part of its February 1-2 sale.

Egyptian antiquities and Rolex are a hit in first sale of the year held at Surrey golf club

Chorley’s (22.5% buyer’s premium) Fine Art & Antiques auction was topped at £28,000 by a 17th century Mughal ivory inlaid rosewood table cabinet.

Specialist auctions staged in Stowmarket with expert input show encouraging signs

This 18ct gold and enamel medal was awarded to Reginald Arthur Whitcombe (1898-1957) for winning the 1936 Open Golf Championship of Ireland.

The furniture and works of art sale at Crewkerne auction house Lawrences (25% buyer’ premium) on January 21 included a set of George II walnut seating furniture with an excellent provenance.

Ecclesiastic buildings can be the source of good secular antiques: typically items bequeathed in the distant past by parishioners for church use.

The Palais Royale built for Cardinal Richelieu in 1629 had a variety of uses over the years but in the 18th and early 19th century was rebuilt as a place for public recreation and social gathering.