South-east England

Launching on Sunday, April 3, in the West Sussex town of Midhurst is Phoenix Fairs’ vintage, antique and militaria fair.

Former champion jockey Joe Mercer 1934-2021) was a keen buyer of racing memorabilia.

With the discovery of the intact tomb of Tutankhamun in 1923, an Egyptian revival swept through the decorative arts. Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels were among the first to design jewels that mixed Egyptian motifs with the geometry and bold colours of the Art Deco era. But other French, British and US ateliers soon followed.

A white agate intaglio carrying the name of a giant of Georgian gem engraving surfaced at Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) in Wisborough Green, West Sussex, on February 22-24.

“It is with sincere uplifted spirits that I can confirm without any doubt that the Benson Antiques Fair will take place on Sunday, March 20.”

Petersfield Antiques Fair returns to the Hampshire town’s Festival Hall after two years’ absence, due to the NHS using the venue for Covid vaccinations.

Aided by the skills of the Alsatian jeweller Georges-Frédéric Strass (1701-77), the boundaries of what could be achieved with paste jewellery were pushed back in the 18th century.

A set of the four volumes that make up William G Johnstone & Alexander Croall’s 'Nature-Printed British Sea-Weeds' of 1859-60 was offered in a December 21 sale at John Nicholson’s (20% buyer’s premium) in Fernhurst, Surrey.

Marriage or betrothal rings of the Byzantine period depict the bride and groom with Christ who performs the marriage rite.

An example of the work of northern artist Norman Cornish (1919-2014) appeared down south at Canterbury Auction Galleries (22.5% buyer’s premium).

Chinese export bowls such as this one, decorated in the mandarin palette with famille rose foxhunting scenes, were popular both with the British and American markets in the last quarter of the 18th century.

Qing period embroidered satin throne-back cushion covers can be seen still in situ in a number of the buildings in the Forbidden City including the Hall of Supreme Principle and the Palace of Eternal Spring. Others are held by institutions and collectors throughout the world.

A couple of dog portraits by leading Victorian canine painter John Emms (1844-1912) brought a flurry of bids at separate auctions held just a day apart.

Five years ago Lewis Walduck was a 13-year-old horology-mad schoolboy when he took over the small monthly antiques fair held in the village of Brill in Buckinghamshire.

Snapshot of the successful Sunbury event that has been around for over 40 years

A collection of 20 watercolours and drawings by American artist Joe Stefanelli (1921-2017) formed an intriguing part of Ewbank’s Modern picture sale.

Egyptian antiquities and Rolex are a hit in first sale of the year held at Surrey golf club

Multiple editions by the pop art pioneer mean many works are available for under £1000