Features

Rediscovered sculpted portrait heads a special report covering recent lots linked to the man who became emperor, dedicated to both his triumphs and defeats

Only two examples of this 11in (28cm) Sèvres biscuit porcelain bust of Napoleon’s son, Napoléon-François-Charles-Joseph Bonaparte (1811-32), are known.

This glass tumbler, pictured below, engraved with a crowned 'N' over a band of diamond cutting, contained in a tooled leather cylindrical travelling case, is of a type that accompanied Napoleon on campaign.

The French silver-gilt table knife and fork shown here, c.1810, is from a service made for Napoleon Bonaparte.

This example of the well-known Nelson memorial vinaigrette made by Matthew Linwood of Birmingham in 1805 sold for £2800 at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne.

Among the very rarest bottles to appear for sale in recent months was a miniature shaft and globe in dark aqua glass, c.1650, sold in South Yorkshire.

Sealed wine bottles possess a powerful sense of time and place. For some collectors it is the regional connections that appeal most.

For reasons of both supply and economics not every collector of English 18th century drinking glasses gets to own a piece from the great Beilby enamelling workshop that operated at Amen Corner in Newcastle in the 1760s-70s.

Sealed examples with coats of arms, names, dates and places reveal a social history and give an ideal opportunity for genealogical research

Of all antique sealed bottles, those made for the All Souls College Common Room are probably the most prevalent.

This sealed and dated onion in olive green glass, below, comes with a handwritten scrap of paper inscribed 'George found [this bottle] when he dived into the Thames at Windsor'. The seal reads 'S Slater 1710'.

Two Rolex tool watches were estimated to bring £80,000-120,000 each at a recent Fine Watches sale at Bonhams’ (27.5/25% buyer’s premium).

The reference 3330 antimagnetic is one of the rarest pre-Oyster chronographs made by Rolex.

ATG reports on the market for the Enicar series of watches that were taken to Everest

The watch market can be obsessed with brand names – and the best names do come with a price tag to match.

This late Victorian Garrard & Co pearl and diamond tiara was described by Great Western Auctions in Glasgow as ‘the ultimate in metamorphic jewels’.

A Victorian sapphire, diamond and pearl brooch-pendant was one of two pieces with Indian roots offered for sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium).

On June 23 Bonhams Hong Kong sold a version of Cartier’s first-ever mystery clock: the Model A.

This Art Deco turquoise, rock crystal and black enamelled silver necklace carries the maker’s mark of the celebrated French atelier René Boivin.

The jewellery team at Richard Winterton Auctioneers has expanded.