London

This summer was something of a feast when it came to the Modern British art auctions in London.

To get an idea of the healthy nature of the medals market at the moment, consider the Victoria Cross sold at Spink (20% buyer’s premium) this summer.

Bearing as its title ‘Certain Directions for the Sending of Men and Comodities, & Cattle to Virginia’, a 10pp secretarial manuscript thought to date from c.1609 proved a major attraction in a July 14 sale held by Forum (15/20/12.5% buyer’s premium).

Between reserving various pieces to museums, Guy Peppiatt was pleased to sell a large watercolour of Yorkshire by Peter de Wint (1748- 1849) during the latest London Art Week (LAW).

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

Unique medal combinations will always catch a collector’s eye, particularly when accompanied by a highly emotive backstory.

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

A small group of highly personal works by Henry Lamb (1883-1960) provided an intriguing insight into his life and work at the Modern British art sales at Bonhams this summer.

The two cut-out and trimmed coloured initials illustrated here are part of a group of six, taken from two manuscripts of 12th century French origin, that made up a lot sold for £10,000 in a July 6 sale held by Bloomsbury Auctions (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).

Two more London fairs are on the cards for next year.

Gastronomy-themed books spanning five centuries were offered in a London auction.

Popular toys event returns after Covid disruption and includes ex-Woburn Abbey festival

This unusual Grand Tour paperweight shown here is made from fragments of Roman mosaic, millefiori, spiral twist and reticelli glass.

Sales abounded at TEFAF Maastricht and Masterpiece London this summer.

A group of medals awarded to the great scientist, explorer and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) was fiercely contested at auction last week, hammered down for a £273,000 (or £327,600 with buyer’s premium) total against a high estimate of £80,900.

Special report on Masterpiece and TEFAF Maastricht – both held in summer this year

When a new client with an interest in Roman marbles visited Charles Ede at TEFAF, they liked what they saw but thought they would come back.