South-west England

A menu celebrating a landmark in British aviation – the first flight from London to Brighton, accomplished in 1911 – sold for £750 at Bellmans.

While Americans demonstrated by throwing tea into the harbour, the British registered complaints by putting the leaves into suitably decorated teapots.

It was a case of the cows coming home after 30 years for one buyer at a recent auction.

Serving in the Glider Pilot Regiment was a tough task during the Second World War.

A recent sale at Wotton Auction Rooms (21.6% buyer’s premium) in Wotton-Under-Edge included this set of three yellow metal fobs set with carnelian intaglios.

A selection of four upcoming jewellery lots including a necklace comprising 21 cameos and intaglios previously owned by the Duke of Wellington.

The career course of Edith Robinson (1862-1929), a London art teacher and painter of chocolate box watercolours was changed in 1893 when she and her new husband, the Stamford artist Nelson Dawson (1859-1941) attended a series of lectures given by the enameller Alexander Fisher.

Works from the collection of Edward Croft-Murray (1907-80), former keeper of prints and drawings at the British Museum, provided plenty of sale highlights.

A legal dispute that explored how long it is ‘fair and reasonable’ to wait for a buyer to pay for a six-figure purchase has concluded.

The sale of the collection of Robin Simpson (1940-2020) was celebration of British commemorative ceramics.

Although apparently unmarked, this pair of twin-handled porcelain covered chocolate cups, covers and saucers are a Derby model from c.1790-95.

“There is roughly a 50/50 split of Cornish and ‘out of county’ dealers, which is great”, enthused Ralph Retallack, organiser of the annual 'Enys House Antiques & Decorative Fair'.

Although condition remains a pivotal factor in the Old Master market, a number of lots sold recently in the UK regions suggest increasing interest for works that represent a promising restoration project.

This iron model of a hawk above is a striking example of a jizai okimono – lifelike, articulated animal figures popular in the last decades of Edo-period and Meiji Japan.

A group of works by painter, printmaker and war artist Edward Ardizzone (1900-79) was offered at Lawrences’ latest picture sale in Crewkerne, with eight lots coming from the artist’s family.

When this triptych came in for examination at Gloucestershire saleroom Dominic Winter, it was difficult to distinguish certain areas of the painting.

The top-priced picture of the Dominic Winter sale on July 23 came for a print from a separate source to the Oliver Hoare prints.

The Cotswold Auction Company will offer a small lifetime portrait of the first American president as part of a pictures sale on October 19.

A classic ‘barn find’ piece, this somewhat dilapidated jukebox was spotted as a potential golden oldie at Gardiner Houlgate (22% buyer’s premium).

Group acquired by influential dealer Oliver Hoare brings solid demand