Bath

A small portrait of a woman that was pitched at £100-150 drew a bidding battle that carried it over 10 times estimate.

A recent sale at Aldridges of Bath (20% buyer’s premium) included a fine George IV period mahogany extending dining table.

This early 17th century harpsichord is inscribed to the name baton for Andreas Ruckers, Antwerp, 1614.

Mary Hossack Decorative Antiques was among the many exhibitors enjoying a successful trade day at the recent Bath Decorative Antiques Fair, selling a 20th birdcage modelled on the Sacré Coeur for £1300 among many other items.

At a mid or high-end art and antiques fair buyers can comfortably get round all the stands in a day and have time to browse, consider and discuss with expert dealers. Such events have a more relaxed and social vibe to them: dealers invite their clients along and hope to meet new buyers by attracting them onto their stands with eye-catching items and displays.

The original artwork for Queen’s A Day at the Races sold for £21,000 (estimate £5000-10,000) at Gardiner Houlgate (22% buyer’s premium).

Traders look forward to fairs such as Bath after numerous challenges of sourcing new items

The pre-Christmas market organised by Bath Vintage and Antique Markets this year runs on Sunday, November 28.

Relaxed atmosphere of event held in the historic city wins praise from traders.

Naomi Knight is back with her Sunday monthly and popular Bath Vintage & Antiques Markets with the next on August 29.

Copy of the 1931 Golden Cockerel edition of The Four Gospels illustrated with woodcuts by Eric Gill stars in Bath auction.

Nine months after the last Shepton Flea was held at the Royal Bath & West Showground the market returns on Sunday May 30.

Joy O’Meara of Jay Fairs is disappointed but sanguine about the news that the parish hall in the Oxfordshire village of Benson will close for refurbishment from June to October, thus causing her to cancel her monthly antique and vintage fairs at the venue.

This rare 1940s Longines British military issue is appropriately nicknamed the ‘tuna can.’

The latest Clocks & Watches sale at Gardiner Houlgate (20% buyer’s premium) in Corsham, near Bath, was topped at £16,000 by this large iron two-train turret clock movement by Thomas Cooke (1807-68) of York. The estimate was £1000-2000.

Dealer says the market for vintage items such as biscuit tins is holding up well

A Rolex Submariner 5512, bought for around £70 by its original owner in 1964, has sold for £175,000 at auction in Wiltshire.