Oxford

A couple of cat pictures made bidders’ whiskers twitch of late.

A lucernal microscope is a rare survivor.

A group of Victorian rowing memorabilia generated plenty of bidding at Claydon Auctioneers (19.5% buyer’s premium) in Buckinghamshire on June 25-26.

A medal awarded to Pre- Raphaelite Brotherhood artist William Holman-Hunt (1827- 1910) has been purchased by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford from dealer Tregeagle Fine Art.

More than 70 lots of paintings, works on paper and antiques assembled by the well-known auctioneer and collector Paul Whitfield (1942- 2018) went under the hammer at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford on May 17.

The professional goldsmith and jewellery designer was not the first woman in such a role but received significant prominence in the Victorian era under her own name

Mallams regained the record for a pot by Jennifer Lee (b.1956) on May 18 when a large asymmetrical vessel from c.1990 sold at £40,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium).

This untitled work from c.1945 by Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) comprises a mahogany relief applied with oil paint. It was offered at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) of Oxford on May 17-18 as part of its Modern Art & Design sale.

French artist Louis Tesson (1820-70) is best known for his genre paintings in the Middle East and north Africa.

Tom Lintern-Mole, co-organiser with John Martin of PBFA’s book fair at Oxford Brookes University on Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23, said he is looking forward to 75 dealers standing.

A flurry of bids emerged at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford for a particularly fine 17th century portrait of a young woman.

Early example note from Sir Christopher Wren issue takes group lot to high four figure price

Featured in an Oxford sale was a copy of the 1893, Kelmscott Press edition of The History of Godefrey of Boloyne and of the Conquest of Jerusalem.

Bidders who missed out on a version of Gerald Summers’ 1933-34 plywood armchair sold for £20,000 as part of a collection of Simple Furniture at Lyon & Turnbull last October did not have too long to wait for another to appear for sale.

Cissie Kean (1871-1961) dedicated her life to painting after sustaining a severe injury during a riding accident as a young adult.

British watercolours are reliant not just on subject matter but also on market freshness, condition and a good pitch

An edition of Queen Victoria’s Leaves from the Journal of our Life on the Highlands… took £550 at a Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) sale of September 23.

The owl had been a symbol of wealth and wisdom since the days of ancient Greece and inspired designers such as Lalique.

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