South-west England

Plucked from a box of bric-a-brac brought in for a general sale, a Commonwealth gilt brass sealing wax box sold for £5200 at Lawrences of Crewkerne. A clever pun gives a clue to its maker’s identity - and perhaps his political leanings.

Fashion and textiles designer and former singer songwriter Pearl Lowe will stall out with some of her antique finds at The Vintage Bazaar in Frome on Saturday October 19.

The Long Gallery at Messums West – established as Messums Wiltshire in 2016 by Johnny Messum – originally functioned as an equine stable.

First printed book dedicated to the game took the intriguing form of a heroic clash on Leith Links

Recent picture highlights at auction include works by artist renowned for his poultry depictions and writing on the subject

The final day of Gardiner Houlgate’s latest guitar auction included a remarkable Victorian-era instrument: a rosewood and mother of pearl inlaid harp-guitar or ‘guitarpa’.

In November, Spink of London will offer a Spitfire pilot’s Battle of Britain group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer (later Squadron Leader) Ernest Mayne, No 74 (Tiger) Squadron, RAF.

Specialist auction house Onslows’ November 29 auction includes a rare group of British and Irish recruiting posters form the First World War and a near-complete set of the Parliamentary Recruiting posters.

An auctioneer who relocated to the West Country after working at a London saleroom for eight years has launched two antiques fairs.

This 18th century mahogany card table was part of a collection of furniture from Earnshill House in Somerset offered by Busby (25% buyer’s premium) in Bridport, Dorset.

Prices are on the rise for Yorkshire-born painter Anne Brooke (1916-2002).

The only known painting of London by an 18th century Irish female artist came for sale in Salisbury earlier this month.

An example of how a high-end fair can work very well in areas where such events are completely unknown is the biannual Enys House Antiques Fair at Penryn in west Cornwall.