London

The launch of a new high-end summer art fair in London has been hailed with several major dealers aligning themselves with the event just hours after the announcement.

An unidentified but engaging portrait of a young boy that was bought by art dealer Rupert Maas at a regional auction last year has been restored and fully attributed to Harold Knight (1874-1961).

The LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair has signed up more than half of the stands for its autumn event this year, just four weeks after confirming the new dates.

An unusual visitor to UK shores last year was this gold ‘Liberty head’ quarter eagle (two and a half dollars) from 1830.

South London event benefits from extra business after the string of recent fair cancellations

Struck c.1500 in Lisbon from Guinean gold provided by the explorations of Vasco da Gama, the 10 cruzados piece or Portugués do ouro of Manuel I (1495-1521) is a coin synonymous with the Age of Discovery.

Sixteenth century work edited by Hakluyt aimed to encourage English expansion and influence

The Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross offered by Morton & Eden (20% buyer’s premium) on July 20 was awarded to Master George Bell Chicken, a civilian volunteer attached to the Indian Naval Brigade.

Henry III (1216-72) issued his ‘gold penny’ for probably less than a year from August 16, 1357.

The sale at Hansons (25% buyer’s premium) in Teddington on January 28 included what was marketed as ‘Queen Victoria’s post box’.

A summary of news and events from around the trade

Handel & Hendrix in London cares for and presents to the public the homes of two of the greatest musicians ever to have lived in London.

Instituted by Maria Dickin, the founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), in 1943, the Dickin Medal has been awarded on 71 occasions – 32 of them going to pigeons, 34 to dogs, four to horses and one to a cat.

The sale of gallantry awards held by Baldwin’s (20% buyer’s premium) on September 15 included this Edward Medal Exchange George Cross awarded for bravery at the Hedley Pit in 1930.

This oil on board by Willie Rodger (1930-2018), 'Burnley' from 1998, is included in Panter and Hall’s latest edition of its annual Scottish Show.

To one side of this gold aureus struck in Rome in 180-83 is a sensually draped portrait of the goddess Venus.

Of only 26 flying Victoria Crosses issued to date, four were awarded for the Malayan campaign in December 1941-February 1942.

Many of the best-sellers at Roseberys’ (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) auction of Modern British and 20th century art in south London came from the collection of former Wall Street banker Geoffrey Elliott (1939-2021) and his wife Fay.

A sale of Banknotes at Noonans included this One Rupee note issued by the Banco Nacional Ultramarino in Goa in 1917. The rare first issue note took £13,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium).