West Midlands

Underwear soars above estimate at a Richard Winterton auction

Another tranche of items from the Dudley Ollis collection of playing cards was offered at a recent Dominic Winter auction.

Showing little sign of their huge popularity slowing down, Star War figures made a significant contribution to a two-day TV and film-related auction.

Not everything offered in the model railway market has to involve a glamorous name such as Flying Scotsman to make a good result.

Sasha dolls are named after their Swiss designer, artist Sasha Morgenthaler and were made in the UK and Germany from the mid to late 1960s.

An antiques fair with a country twist is on offer at Ludlow Racecourse from Two C’s fairs over the weekend of Saturday, and Sunday, July 1-2.

After the early and busy days of July, dealers usually finalise recent sales, wrap up final paperwork and – maybe – have a holiday.

Although catalogued simply as an 18th century English School miniature, this portrait of an Indian prince is discretely signed and dated JS 1793.

Home pop-ups are now a big thing.

Mittens worn by British Everest expedition leader Sir John Hunt in 1953 have been reunited 70 years later following a successful auction bid, it has been revealed.

The Fine Jewellery auction at Fellows in Birmingham on June 15 includes this Arts & Crafts silver blue gem and bluster pearl foliate pendant.

Led by the multi-estimate £90,000 bid for an intaglio carved with the portrait of a Roman Caesar (see ATG No 2590), the strong market in the glyphic arts was evident among other lots offered at Fellows 25% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham on April 13

A left-hand cotton mitten owned by John Hunt (1910-98), leader of the successful British Expedition to the summit of Mount Everest, sold for £3200 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Hansons in Bishton Hall, Staffordshire, on May 10.

A group of signed drawings by royal fashion designer Norman Hartnell (1901-79) was offered at Richard Winterton (22% buyer’s premium) on February 15.

The Asian art sale at Halls in Shrewsbury on May 11 features this 10½in (27cm) pink ground famille rose vase.

Pictured here is a signed photo-portrait of the 20-year-old future Queen Elizabeth II and her then 15-year-old younger sister, Princess Margaret.

A garnet intaglio ring was bid to 450-times estimate at an auction in Birmingham after speculation that it could be one of the ‘lost’ Marlborough gems.

The biannual Antiques in Tents has its first outing of the year on Friday and Saturday May 12-13 with some new faces in the 60-dealer line-up.