East of England

The response to Suffolk House Antiques’ summer exhibition has been enthusiastic, with customers snapping up some key pieces even before the show’s official opening.

The pretty market town of Harleston in Norfolk’s Waveney Valley is getting ready for its busy annual community-led antiques and vintage street market, now in its fifth year.

British artists dominated Sworders’ (23% buyer’s premium) Modern & Contemporary prints sale in Essex, with works by Banksy, Patrick Hughes, Damien Hirst, Bridget Riley and Grayson Perry all getting away.

In our continuing series looking through the keyhole of ‘bricks and mortar’ shops and centres, ATG talks to Lesley Austin who runs The Shed with her partner Ken Dunn.

It’s all in the family for new fair organiser Emma Sheridan. Her father Gary Sheridan is GNB Fairs, with antiques and collectors’ fairs running at eight venues in the UK, including three in Suffolk and one at the Dover Cruise Terminal.

T Crowther & Sons was founded in 1880 in Fulham and was well established before the First World War. The company was split into two sections in the 1940s: Albert Crowther trading from Syon Lodge and T Crowther & Sons in Fulham.

The second annual antiques fair at Bayfield Hall in north Norfolk takes place on Sunday, June 10.

Barbara Jones joins a growing band whose peacetime work is also now in strong demand.

Described as a ‘homage to all things teddy bear’, the second Teddy Bear Festival runs in the Sculpture Gallery and grounds at Woburn Abbey.

Buildings constructed out of straw bales sound more like the world of Channel 4’s Grand Designs rather than the often solidly traditional realm of art and antiques auctioneers.

Suffolk auction house Bishop & Miller is holding its first-ever specialist Oriental Art and Antiques Sale on May 24.

Briefly catalogued as a 19th century French cabinet embellished with gilt metal mounts and a jasperware plaque, this highly decorative piece shown below was a stand-out offering at Rayleigh auction house Stacey’s (20% buyer’s premium).

Dog pictures with charisma, personality and plenty of naturalism are a driving force in the secondary market for canine art, judging by a recent string of buoyant prices in the regions.

A good dose of sporting art is practically a prerequisite for any country house dispersal.

“When I come to look back at my career, I think this sale will have been the highlight,” said auctioneer Guy Schooling, 40 years at the rostrum, after selling the contents of Hertfordshire country house North Mymms Park.

The increasing market interest in modern designer silver was well catered for among the contents of North Mymms Park offered at Sworders.

Given the GlaxoSmithKline link, it was not a surprise to see four apothecaries’ cabinets among the contents of North Mymms Park sold at Sworders.

Among the silver from North Mymms Park lots offered at Sworders, a couple of 18th century classics, a c.1735 Scottish bullet teapot and a pair of John Cafe London 1775 table candlesticks, were eclipsed by the surprise success of a scantily catalogued Oriental teapot.