Features

If you wanted to keep the strings of a tennis racket taut, you could do with a tennis racket press – a device consisting of a frame closed by a spring mechanism.

A pair of early 19th century Staffordshire pearlware figures modelled after bare-knuckle boxers Tom Cribb and Tom Molineaux who fought for a ‘world title’ of sorts is estimated at £3000-5000 in Tennants’ Autumn Fine Sale on November 13 in Leyburn.

A silver tea service presented to Sir Stanley Matthews (1915-2000) to mark his record England cap has been sold by a Hampshire dealer.

A group of “rare and interesting” 20th century cycling ephemera relating primarily to the Olympic Games offered by Catherine Southon (20% buyer’s premium) came from the collection of cycling journalist David Taylor (1937-2020).

The highlight of an impressive range of football memorabilia offered by specialist Graham Budd (20.5% buyer’s premium) was the earliest Manchester United medal sold at auction.

This reticulated Longquan celadon pear-shaped vase is one of the stars in an exhibition at Littleton & Hennessey in Duke Street, London.

Duke’s sale in Dorchester on November 25 includes this pair of Yongzheng period (1723-35) famille rose fish bowls.

This Katsushika Hokusai woodblock print from the series Hyakunin isshu uba ga enoki (The Hundred Poems as Told by the Nurse) is titled Poem by Fujiwara No Toshiyuki Ason.

Another studio sale bringing attention to an artist whose work rarely appears was held at Dreweatts (25% buyer’s premium) via a timed online auction of pictures by Bruce Tippett (1933-2017) that closed on September 16.

Jade ewers such as this one represent cu da ming.

The scene on this 19in (43cm) Yongzheng famille rose dish depicts the Daoist immortal Magu on her way to celebrate the famous peach banquet of the Queen Mother of the West, Xi Wang Mu, who rules over the garden of the peaches of longevity.

This 7½in (19cm) Japanese wood netsuke shows the standing figure of Ashinaga with his arms outstretched.

This pair of 12in (30cm) high meiping-shaped vases bear the year 1701, making them one of the few dated pieces of Chinese porcelain to exist.

Most likely taken from black and white prints, these porcelain figures of a Jewish man and woman were created c.1740 during the Qianlong period.

This Ming period bronze weight comes in the form of a recumbent mythical beast.

This 17th century Japanese lacquer cabinet was made for the Western market, c.1680.

The hare, one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, is associated symbolically with longevity and the moon.

Matthew Barton’s European and Asian Works of Art sale at Olympia Auctions on November 24-25 includes this 4in (10cm) bronze figure of Manjusri, the bodhisattva associated with prajna (wisdom) made in Java (Indonesia) in the 10th century.

Among the highlights in terms of Mod Brit sales this autumn, Lyon & Turnbull will offer the personal collection of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912-2004) .

New to Asian Art in London this year is the Frome saleroom Dore & Rees, now owned by Asian art specialist Lee Young.