Crewkerne

Tory politician acquired the artist’s watercolours before London dealer raised the profile

Outside the John Patten collection at Lawrences of Crewkerne on October 12 were several other good-quality pictures boosting the bottom line.

Ceramics by Hans Coper (1920-81) and Lucie Rie (1902-95) have been assimilated into the collecting sphere of Modern British art with spectacular effect.

Leading the sale of Fine Furniture, Works of Art & Clocks at Woolley & Wallis (25/12% buyer’s premium) in Salisbury on October 6 was a very fine pair of blue john and ormolu perfume burners by Matthew Boulton and John Fothergill.

The sale at Lawrences of Crewkerne on October 12 includes a collection of studio ceramics formed by Lord and Lady Peyton of Yeovil.

Estimated at £3000-4000, this 9½ x 12in (24 x 30.5cm) albumen print by Julia Margaret Cameron of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, is offered in the Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photography auction on September 15 at Lawrences of Crewkerne.

This Worcester teapot, offered for sale at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) in Crewkerne, dates from the first decade of factory production: c.1755-57.

A portrait of a young man once thought to be a self-portrait by the Milanese artist Andrea Solario (1460-1524) attracted keen enquiries ahead of sale.

Although, thanks in part to Bram Stoker’s Dracula (first published in 1897), bats have acquired a reputation as ‘creatures of the night’ in many cultures they are viewed as symbols of luck or reincarnation.

This example of the well-known Nelson memorial vinaigrette made by Matthew Linwood of Birmingham in 1805 sold for £2800 at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne.

This impressive carved and painted wooden half-block model of a salmon measures an impressive 4ft 10in (1.48m) across.

Strong prices do not always have to be seven, six or even five figure sums.

Spotlight on honours sold recently includes courageous lifesavers from civilian backgrounds.

Pair sold at Somerset saleroom spark a debate on where and when they were made

The view of the Acropolis shown here is part of a three-section, folding litho panorama found in Selina Bracebridge’s Notes Descriptive of a Panoramic Sketch of Athens…

For many years the largest city outside London, Norwich had its own silver assay office during three periods from 1565-1702.

The Etruscan, Renaissance and Byzantine revival jewels made by the Civilotti family (Carlo, Antonio and Giuseppe) in Rome are less numerous and less well known than those of the Castellani dynasty.

The furniture and works of art sale at Crewkerne auction house Lawrences (25% buyer’ premium) on January 21 included a set of George II walnut seating furniture with an excellent provenance.

Intriguing lot offered paintings as central element and elaborate border section combined

The potent mix of China, horseracing and the 1851 Great Exhibition yielded a strong price for this splendid ‘export’ silver trophy at auction.