Features

This fine First World War silver presentation model of the Vickers FB5 or Gunbus was made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company (London 1916).

The most famous firm of the many silversmiths in the German city of Hanau in the late 19th century was Neresheimer & Söhne.

Queen Victoria gave many gifts to family, friends and servants, often commemorating notable events in her life.

This Tiffany Aesthetic movement silver-gilt pepperette is engraved with the presentation inscription Given by TRH Prince & Princess of Wales, Xmas 1879.

Irish Georgian silver made outside Dublin and Cork comes with significant rarity value

The top-seller of the small Chinese offering from Exbury House was this colourful, elaborate 18th century cloisonné cong.

One of the best places to find furniture from across the ages this autumn was the 'Winter Art & Antiques Fair Olympia'.

A round up of portrait miniatures appearing at auction and offered by dealers.

Despite being buffeted by the vagaries of fashion and now the modern crusade against antique ivory, portrait miniatures have managed to keep a keen collecting base.

Two ancient country manors refurbished by two of the 20th century’s leading UK interior designers brought what the auctioneers described as ‘pre-Covid atmospheres’ at Dreweatts’ (25% buyer’s premium) Donnington Priory rooms.

Carved giltwood mirrors were in strong demand at Dreweatts, four of them among the five-figure prices.

How can an enthusiast create a museum-quality collection without vast sums of money?

“I couldn’t have started collecting without the help and guidance of Robert Bayne-Powell (1910-94).

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

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

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.