South-west England

If you are a birdwatcher, you need a good pair of binoculars.

British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill memorabilia in the form of slippers, brandy balloon and cigar box.

John Faber’s mezzotint version of a portrait by John Vanderbank of Nicholas Saunderson (1682-1739), a celebrated blind scientist and mathematician, was bid to 10 times the high estimate in a Dominic Winter (20% buyer’s premium) general clear-out sale.

The postponed January auction at Gloucestershire saleroom Chorley’s will take place on March 23-24.

Bolstered by a strong melt price of over £15 an ounce, domestic silver hollowwares and flatwares are selling strongly. However, it is the pieces of collectable value – novelties, provincial rarities and the work of the best Georgian, Regency and Victorian smiths – that continue to perform best in the market

British Studio Ceramic is Messums Wiltshire’s third annual show.

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

This eye-catching 19th century Ceylonese ebony and inlaid breakfast table came with intriguing stories about its provenance in an auction catalogue.

A tankard said to be made from the hide of Oliver Cromwell’s warhorse was the toast of an auction in Dorchester.

In poor condition but made in the coveted Yongzheng (1722-1735) period, this pair of Doucai porcelain cups attracted bids from China, Canada, Scandinavia and Spain as well as the UK.

Collection in Cheltenham auction is latest in a series of valuable consignments with Ford family distinguished provenance

Bumper selection of lots offered in Gloucestershire auction house Dominic Winter provides wide-ranging array

With all 80 lots getting away – 79 to a single UK collector – a group of walking sticks totalled more than £40,000 at Charterhouse (25% buyer’s premium).

A recent sale at Cotswold Auction Company (22% buyer’s premium) included a single-owner collection of antiquities from Lionel Walrond (1927-2020).

A group of works from the estate of West Country artist Michael Morgan (1928-2014) drew bidding at a recent sale at Atkins Auctions (15% buyer’s premium) of Axminster, Devon.

Although now known as Gainsborough chairs, generous walnut and upholstered armchairs were often referred to by contemporaries as ‘French’ chairs, as the most elaborate styles were based on French rococo.

Quartet of West Country works featured in the same sale as our £105,000 cover star

Miles Wynn Cato, a specialist in traditional Welsh and British art, is closing his gallery in Ludlow and relocating to Cheltenham.

The highest auction price for 12 years for Beryl Cook (1926-2008) was posted at David Lay’s recent fine art sale.