While care has been taken in compiling these previews, we strongly advise that you also check with the saleroom concerned in case of cancellations or postponements because of the latest Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions.
A casket covered in autographs of famous people from the 1930s (pictured top) is for sale at 1818 Auctioneers of Cumbria.
It belonged to autograph hunter Nellie Hartley who lived in the centre of Lancaster. She wrote to dozens of well-known people asking for their autograph. Unusually, she requested they signed an enclosed pewter tag which was then attached to a frame casket measuring 20½ x 23in (52 x 58cm). When there was no space left on the outside, she had the tags mounted on wooden panels inside.
Among the 92 plus signatures are Sir Malcolm Campbell, Bing Crosby, Walt Disney, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Neville Chamberlain and Lloyd George.
It is estimated at £300-500 in a timed online auction which closes on November 22.
This set of architect’s drawing instruments by Stanley in a brass bound, figured mahogany has a guide of £1500-2500 on November 19 at David Stanley’s auction.
This fine and large set of architect’s drawing instruments by Stanley in a brass bound, figured mahogany box is described by tool specialist David Stanley in Leicestershire as ‘the most complete named drawing set we have offered’.
It has a guide of £1500-2500 on November 19.
A pair of John Walton models of a lion and a unicorn crowned probably made to commemorate the accession to the throne of George IV in 1820 or William IV in 1830 is estimated at £1200-1800 in the Bonhams sale on November 24.
A pair of John Walton models of a lion and a unicorn crowned – the supporters of the royal arms – were probably made to commemorate the accession to the throne of George IV in 1820 or William IV in 1830.
With impressed Walton marks, the pair is guided at £1200-1800 at the sale titled Collections at Bonhams in London on November 24.
This English delft flower brick, c.1740, painted in blue with a stag in a chinoiserie landscape, has a guide of £250-350 at Toovey’s on November 19.
The sale of ceramics and glass at Toovey’s in Washington, West Sussex, on November 19 includes a private collection of tin-glazed earthenwares assembled by the late Prof Maurice Stacey (1907-94), a chemist at the University of Birmingham.
His scientific work included the first synthesis of vitamin C and the separation of uranium isotopes for the atomic bomb project.
Stacey was helped in the assembling of his collection by fellow University of Birmingham professor FH Garner, a great collector of delftware and author of some important books on the subject.
This English delft flower brick, c.1740, painted in blue with a stag in a chinoiserie landscape, has a guide of £250-350.
This Irish School pen, ink and watercolour of William Winter and his family most probably painted by a professional letter-writer while Winter was garrisoned in Dublin in 1816 with the 48th Regiment of Foot is estimated at £4000-6000 in Dreweatts’ November 24 auction.
Dreweatts in Newbury is offering the Pinkers Collection of British, American and European Folk Art on November 24. The collection of watercolours and oil paintings from the 17th to the early 20th century takes its name from a diminutive 17th century cottage on the Kent coast where it has hung and grown in size over the last 20 years.
Many of the lots have come from some of the most important collectors and dealers in folk art on both sides of the Atlantic including Robert Young, Denzil Grant and Charles Plante in England and David Wheatcroft, Joan Brownstein and Austin Miller in the US.
Acquired from Young in 1999 was this 7 x 12in (18 x 30cm) Irish School pen, ink and watercolour of William Winter and his family. It was most probably painted by a professional letter-writer while Winter was garrisoned in Dublin in February 1816 with the 1st battalion, 48th Regiment of Foot.
As the inscription along the lower edge implies, he commissioned it as a token of his affection for his family in Gloucestershire and he sent it to them with a letter, dated January 15, 1816, which accompanies the lot.
Estimate £4000-6000.
This Georgian firing glass, c.1750, engraved The Friendly Hunt, is estimated at £1000-1500 when bidding closes on November 22 in a timed online sale at Reeman Dansie.
This Georgian firing glass, c.1750, engraved The Friendly Hunt, forms part of a timed online sale at Reeman Dansie in Colchester. It is expected to reach £1000-1500 when bidding closes on November 22.
The Friendly Hunt was a Worcestershire meet connected with a local Jacobite society known as The Friendly Association.
This silver mazarine and cover with stylised bird finial designed by Harald Nielsen for Georg Jensen in the 1930s is estimated at £1500-2000 at Huntly Auctions on November 24.
This silver mazarine and cover with stylised bird finial was designed by Harald Nielsen (1892-1977) for Georg Jensen in the 1930s.
The platter measures approximately 18½in (46.5cm) and the cover just under 15in (38cm). Part of the effects from a Highland estate, it has a guide of £1500-2000 at Huntly Auctions in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, on November 24.
A pair of portrait sketches of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton that has only ever been part of private collections is going under the hammer at Charles Miller’s auction in London on November 24.
The bust-length pencil portraits by John Downman, dated 1802, show Lord Nelson in uniform while Lady Hamilton is depicted wearing a turban. They were the preliminary sketches for works exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1809 and were drawn from life.
The portraits were originally the property of the artist’s daughter Isabella Benjamin, who sold them to a private collector in 1825. Another collector, Henry Vaughan, then acquired them and they have remained in his family’s collection ever since.
Estimate £8000-12,000.
Two sailor’s valentine shell works each estimated at £800-1200 on December 9 at Plymouth Auction Rooms.
Fisherman Freddie Inch has lived in the Salcombe area all his life, as have generations of his family before him. Over the years, the family brought back various items from their travels across the globe.
Recently, Inch spotted a feature in the paper about an auction of a sailor’s valentine, sold at Plymouth Auction Rooms. He had two very similar works of art wrapped up in his basement.
Inch’s two shell works were brought home by his family while on board the ‘fruiter’ brigantine, the Lurline, which was built in 1870 in Salcombe by Harnden and Whiddon.
One is decorated with the words A Present from St Lucia and the other Home Again.
Each is estimated at £800-1200 on December 9 at Plymouth Auction Rooms.
Brass and leather four-draw telescope by S&B Solomons, estimate £200-400 at McTear’s on November 20.
This brass and leather four-draw telescope by S&B Solomons comes in its fitted case with a tabletop tripod and two extra lenses. It has a guide of £200-400 at McTear’s in Glasgow on November 20.
This early 17th century silver vervel or hawking ring – attached to the jesses around the bird’s feet – includes in italic script Kyng James and the quartered arms of the Stuart kings.
Found while searching with a metal detector near Angmering, West Sussex, in 2016, it was declared under the Treasure Act but disclaimed as no museum was in a position to acquire it at its valuation.
It now comes for sale at TimeLine Auctions in Harwich, Essex, on November 24 with a guide of £4000-6000.
Air Ministry air base scramble bell of the type made famous by the 1940 Battle of Britain, estimate £850-1275 at TW Gaze on November 26.
A militaria sale at TW Gaze in Diss, Norfolk, on November 26 includes this Second World War Air Ministry air base scramble bell of the type made famous by the 1940 ‘Battle of Britain’.
Estimate £850-1275.
Rare jester teddy, c.1904, very much in the style of Steiff but by the Wilhelm Strunz Felt Toy Company, estimate £2000-3000 at Special Auction Services on November 24-25.
This rare jester teddy, c.1904, is very much in the style of Steiff but was made by the Wilhelm Strunz Felt Toy Company. The firm was well known for copying Steiff toys, something that occasionally led to legal auction including a bitter dispute over the ‘button in the ear’ trademark in 1908.
This 20in (51cm) bear, in a red, yellow and green felt costume with brass bells identical to the one used by Steiff’s clown bear, was last sold at Christie’s South Kensington in 1997.
It has an estimate of £2000-3000 at Special Auction Services’ Dolls & Teddy Bears auction in Reading on November 24-25.
Late Victorian silver brooch by Hollis & Newman (Chester, 1890) engraved with an image of Stephenson’s Engine and initials for the Stockton & Darlington Railway, estimate £40-60 at Hansons on November 23-24.
This simple late Victorian silver brooch by Hollis & Newman (Chester, 1890) is engraved with an image of Stephenson’s Engine and initials for the Stockton & Darlington Railway and its opening date of 1825.
It has a guide of £40-60 at Hansons in Etwall, Derbyshire, on November 23-24.
This ebonised chess piece unscrews to reveal a small hidden ‘swinger’ type compass, within a neatly carved secret compartment. It would have been part of a full set, sent to German prisoner-of-war camps by the British Government to aid escape. It comes for sale at East Bristol Auctions on November 20 with hopes of £300-500.
It is part of the collection of the late Arthur Muggeridge (1919-2010), a Dunkirk veteran and collector of military spy and clandestine objects.
William and Mary walnut miniature chair with caned back and seat, estimate £250-350 at David Lay on November 19-20.
This rare William and Mary walnut miniature chair with caned back and seat stands just 13in (33cm) high. Similar to others on the market in recent years, it has an enticing guide of £250-350 at David Lay in Penzance on November 19-20.
Brooch or pendant made in the archaeological revivalist style by the Greek jeweller Ilias Lalaounis, estimate £1000-1500 at Dix Noonan Webb on November 24.
This brooch or pendant made in the archaeological revivalist style with filigree and granular goldwork and a central cabochon ruby is by the Greek jeweller Ilias Lalaounis (1920-2013).
It has an estimate of £1000-1500 at Dix Noonan Webb in London on November 24.
