Features

When collecting portrait miniatures it is important to know what materials have been used.

Tapestries featured at both Dreweatts’ Chilham Castle auction and Flaxley Abbey sale.

The market presence of Sarah Biffin (1784-1850), a portrait miniaturist born without hands, arms and legs, has been rising over the past few years.

The unashamed opulence of interior decoration that became known as Le Goût Rothschild as it spread from 19th century France to Austria, Germany and Britain is a style that has always been admired.

In 1888, in response to a tender issued by the War Office, Prof Archibald Barr and Dr William Stroud submitted an application for an optical range-finder patent to the Patents Office.

Relatively few gallantry medals available for what was short self-contained conflict, heroic stories involving highly collectable regiments, a relatively morally unambiguous backstory (for British collectors at least)… the Falklands War can generate high demand at auction.

Lt William Emlyn Hardwick (1885-1918) was born in Brecon but by the time he enlisted to fight in the First World War he was living in Australia.

Despite their sterling service with the Allies, a large number of Polish soldiers could not return home when the fighting ended, as a fascinating archive reveals.

Air Commander J Searby had a key role to play in the Peenemunde Raid targeting the V weapons factory during the night of the August 17-18, 1943, as part of the RAF’s elite Path Finder Force.

When Bill Speakman won his Victoria Cross on November 4, 1951, fighting beside him was Corporal John Pender.

Stroud Auction Rooms’ sale on November 9-10 will feature over 1000 lots of guns, weapons, medals and militaria, including two notable collections.

A group of father-and-son lots related to the Royal Navy may have been small in size but revealed a combined service in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars that was lengthy.

Maps for Indian & Islamic Art: 20-29 October / East Asian Art: 27 October-5 November.

A selection of Japanese art on offer at upcoming sales in London and the regions

Asian Art in London (AAL), the initiative that ties together auction houses and dealers in a common aim of promoting the UK as a market centre for Asian works of art, celebrates its 25th edition in 2022.

The awards shortlist for Asian Art in London’s East Asian art season has been announced. The Antiques Trade Gazette Award for Outstanding East Asian Work of Art from an Auction House and the Apollo Award for Outstanding East Asian Work of Art from a Dealer each have three finalists.

A selection of East Asian art on offer at upcoming sales in London and the regions

Rowland George Allanson Allanson-Winn, 5th Baron Headley (1855-1935) led an extraordinary life.

This pair of Indian gem-encrusted gold and champlevé enamel arm bracelets or bazubands are expected to bring £5000-7000 at Chiswick Auctions’ Islamic Art – Property of a European Collector sale in London on October 28.

Maps for Indian & Islamic Art: 20-29 October / East Asian Art: 27 October-5 November.