Metalware

On November 25, Gloucestershire auction house Chorley’s is selling the personal collection of Ray Leigh (1928-2025), one of the more significant figures in post-war British design.

A 9in (22cm) high vase Tiffany Studios copper and enamel vase sold for a surprise $20,000 (£14,800) at Roland Auctions (30/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) on September 21.

In the 16th century, so-called double mazer goblets were highly treasured works of art.

The Gordon Russell Design Museum in Broadway, Worcestershire ran a successful campaign to purchase a Lygon brass alms dish by the English designer and craftsman that came to auction in West Sussex last week.

The market for Tiffany’s Japonesque style demonstrated its strength at Heritage Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

A pair of wrought iron Arts & Crafts sunflower andirons were offered at Copake Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) in Copake, New York with an appealing guide of $150-250.

This unusual 19th-century Indian enamel-on-copper footed bowl soared to 26 times its top estimate at Lindsay Burns (22% buyer’s premium) in Perth.

Some ‘prisoner of war’ productions are now thought to have been made by skilled craftsmen

A rare example of 17th century Newcastle silver holloware sold for £7500 at Chiswick Auctions’ (26% buyer’s premium) latest specialist sale of Silver and Objects of Vertu.

Cellars and attics at famous Norfolk estate are cleared out as part of ‘housework’ to allow guided tours

Even when set against the standards of royal pageantry, the crowning of George IV at Westminster Abbey on July 19, 1821, was a lavish affair.

Market for imperial Russian works of art appears to have shifted to US given global circumstances

During the 1860s the South Kensington Museum in London (now the Victoria and Albert Museum) campaigned to have electrotypes made of important historic artefacts.

The hugely versatile Christopher Dresser sold 37 different designs to the Sheffield firm of Dixon and Sons from 1879-82.

A bronze vase by the Parisian goldsmith Lucien Gaillard caused a stir at Dobiaschofsky (25% buyer’s premium) in Bern.

A small collection of Hester Bateman silver appeared Stateside at Lewis & Grant (25% buyer’s premium) in Newport, Kentucky.

A Gorham Martelé covered silver tankard hammered for $7500 (£5875) at Grogan & Company (25% buyer’s premium) in Boston at its September 26 Silver and Decorative Arts sale. It was estimated at $2000-3000.

From the 14th century onwards, locksmith guilds were well established in major cities throughout Europe.