Leeds

A MASSIVE Queen Anne cistern, which set a new auction high for English silver when it sold for £2.2m in 2010, is now on display at the Tudor mansion Temple Newsam in Leeds after it was acquired for the nation.

Gary Don Auctioneers of Leeds was the first subject of Keep It In The Family, a new series of four documentaries that follows a different family business with a succession dilemma each week.

Two medals awarded to the same man during the Crimean War, but separated for many years in different collections, have been reunited after selling to the same buyer at Smith & Wilde’s March 21 auction of militaria at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

After over 30 years at Hepper House, Bonhams have relocated in Leeds.

SO successful have been the three vintage fashion fairs organised by Sally Woodhead and Sam Tankard at the Queens Hotel in Leeds that they are moving to one of the city’s finest Victorian buildings, the town hall, with their first vintage fashion fair there being held on Sunday, February 4.

This Regency figured and gilded rosewood writing table with gilt brass mounts attributed to the Royal furniture-makers Morel and Hughes and once owned by former Prime Minister Earl Grey (1764-1845), has become the newest attraction on show at Temple Newsam House, Leeds.

THERE is still a chance to book tickets for the RICS conference in Leeds from October 15-17.

THIS year’s RICS art and antiques conference promises three days of tours, talks and enjoyment in and around Leeds.

AN ambitious project to record every oil painting in public ownership across the UK has started with the backing of leading lights of the art world.

Following the last minute cancellation of Bonhams’ July 8-9 sale on the premises at Moynes Park in Essex, the nearest thing to a traditional English house sale this summer is likely to be the contents of Branton Court House in Yorkshire which Bonhams are offering in three parts at their Hepper House saleroom in Leeds on July 16, July 23 and August 6.

Like tea caddies in furniture sales, teapots have their own following in ceramics sales like the one at Phillips Leeds, where the 51/2in (14cm) Minton majolica Japanese Actor model, above right, date-coded 1874, made a within-estimate £1100 which took into account some damage to finial and spout.

NOT one of the best silver and jewellery sales ever to have been held at Phillips, Leeds – most entries sold at under £1000 – there was nevertheless some keen buying with a very satisfactory 89 per cent success rate and the occasional prized item.