South-west England

Samantha and Richard Payne-Withers run two antiques centres in Bridport, a Dorset market town which offers quite a choice of antiques and vintage shops.

The three-day fair welcomed renowned photojournalist for a swish magazine showcase.

Among the most desirable of all ‘Prattware’ transfer printed wares are the series of very rare and highly decorative advertising plaques produced for firms such as Crosse & Blackwell and Huntley & Palmers.

Naive artworks that can also suit modern decorating taste are rising in popularity and price.

Lucy Burnett is a dealer at Market Cross Antiques in the Somerset town of Somerton, near Yeovil.

Nineteenth-century Grand Tourists and souvenirs from the Orient made for a highly successful outing near Bristol where micro-mosaic panels, intaglios and Chinese vessels led the way at Clevedon Saleooms (22% buyer’s premium).

Dealer Chris Watt opened Salisbury Antiques Centre nearly 30 years ago originally as a trade warehouse and despite upheavals down the years still believes "it’s well worth doing if sometimes all over the place”.

Organiser of Wembley and Cheltenham events takes over.

A little-known theatrical portrait painted by Johan Zoffany (1733-1810) towards the end of his career sold for £330,000 at auction in Dorset.

‘Overflowing’ is how you might describe The Vintage Bazaar held in the Cheese and Grain, a community events venue in Frome, Somerset.

While traditional antique furniture prices are still relatively cheap, contemporary and mid-20th century material continues to be an expanding market.

Although catalogued as Kangxi period, an ovoid blue and white vase offered by Stacey’s (20% buyer’s premium) on September 20 is a Transitional piece.

Vincent Pugh and his wife Lesley White have opened their fourth centre under the brand name of Antiques on High.

Two classic country house ‘garden’ form 17th century examples show their mettle

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

HMS Foudroyant, which served as Nelson’s flagship in the Mediterranean Squadron, had been touring English seaside resorts as an attraction when it was wrecked off Blackpool Sands on June 16, 1897.

Lay’s Auctioneers (previously known as David Lay) has expanded with a second saleroom in its home county of Cornwall.

This typically wintry scene by the prolific artist Rowland Hilder (1905-93) was the star lot of Mallams’ (25% buyer’s premium) Modern Living sale.

Simple, nature-inspired motifs and geometric shapes run through the work of St Ives artist Breon O’Casey (1928-2011).