West Midlands

Shrewsbury sale offered rare opportunity to bid for a letters by the great writer and lexicographer

The series of relatively austere wares made by Moorcroft in the 1930s are, today at least, not the factory’s most commercial designs.

A handful of lots featuring communications between an actress, Miss Alice Bowes (1889-1969), and George Bernard Shaw featured in a Mullock’s (20% buyer’s premium) sale.

A new fair will launch at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in April next year.

Stourbridge saleroom Fieldings Auctioneers has had a change in ownership.

Chipped to both elements, a Spode cup and saucer made for use on White Star liners sold online for £6000 at Richard Winterton (22% buyer’s premium).

Among the works on paper causing a stir in the regions during the early part of 2023 was a group of four 19th century topographical studies of Afghanistan

This relatively modest pair of gold and of granite dress studs tell a good story.

Topping Fellows’ sale of Antiques, Fine Art & Collectables, a timed online event closing on March 3, was this impressive 19th century Italian giltwood and micromosaic centre table.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” comments Fellows’ watch specialist Kes Crockett. “Jaeger LeCoultre is the best watchmaker in the world. Rolex is without question the most well-known manufacturer and Patek Philippe has produced some of the most collectable watches on the market. However, JLC arguably has a richer and more important horological history than both.”

Brothers often share many things together while growing up. Over at Richard Winterton Auctioneers, brothers Tom and Ben Winterton also share the rostrum.

Medals awarded to a gallant soldier who was gassed in the First World War were sold at auction just a few minutes’ walk from the house where he was born.

A dealer in 18th to 20th century decorative pieces who launched a shop in the Worcestershire town of Alcester, near Stratford-upon-Avon, in October to complement his online business says business is brisk.

A late 19th century novelty silver teapot offered at Halls (22% buyer’s premium) was made by US silversmith Gorham of Rhode Island.

The record-setting piece of Beswick pottery at a recent sale at Potteries Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) – a rare variant of a shire horse model that fetched £11,300 (ATG No 2569) – was not the only lot bringing notable demand.

Helen Yourston of B2B Events is gearing up for the first Malvern Flea of the year on Sunday, January 15, at the Three Counties Showground where bookings are healthy at 250 traders.

Art & Antiques for Everyone, the fair held three times a year at Birmingham’s NEC, has been scrapped for 2023, raising concerns that it will never return.

A small drawing by John Constable of a tree in his birthplace of East Bergholt sold for a triple-estimate £31,000 (plus 22% buyer’s premium).

Comprehensive sewing kit, playing cards, mirror and pocketknife are among the attractions at Warwick sale