Auctioneers

One of the highlights at the timed online of Modern and Contemporary Art Auction at Halls of Shrewsbury, which closes on May 2, is a large painting of sunflowers by John Bratby (1928-92).

It was a white-glove result for the sale of works from the collection of André Mourgues at Sotheby’s Paris (25/20/10.9% buyer’s premium plus 1% overhead premium) where the 79 lots raised a premium-inclusive total that was just a shade under €10m.

The catalogue cover lot for the sale of Contemporary Art at Aguttes in Neuilly on April 28 will be this 2ft 7in x 2ft 5½in (78.5 x 75cm) acrylic on panel from 1983 by Victor Vasarely (1906-97) titled Pereg.

A previously unrecorded family archive relating to Richard Grindall (1751-1820), an able seaman aboard Cook’s Second Voyage, surfaced for sale in London last week with spectacular results.

Christie’s is to trial moving art works by sea rather than air, with the aim of drastically reducing its carbon emissions. It estimates that the switch could reduce the environmental impact by 80%.

The master wood carver and furniture maker copied out missing Bible pages when aged just 13.

The Modern British Art sale at Woolley & Wallis on May 31 offers family photographs that come by descent from the war poet Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967).

This 19th century albumen print is by the pioneering French photographer Gustave le Gray (1820-84).

Toadstones are understood to be the button-like palatal teeth of lepidotes, an extinct genus of ray finned fish from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

The story of the Poniatowski gems provided one of the great art scandals of its day.

The 19th & 20th Century Photography sale at Dominic Winter on May 18 includes several works by Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-79).

The inscription “To dearest Clare from her affectionate P.B.S….” proved key to the price achieved by an 1812, two-volume Venetian edition of the Poesie toscane of the lyric poet Vincenzo da Filicaja (1642-1707).

Scottish artist Joseph Farquharson (1846-1935) is best known for his snowy landscapes with sheep that earned him the nickname ‘Frozen Mutton Farquharson’.

These two salt prints from waxed paper negatives by Roger Fenton (1819-69) carry an estimate of £1000-2000 at Cheffins in Cambridge on April 28.

As this illustration of the title-page shows, a 1549 London edition of the Bible offered in a timed online sale ending on March 13 held by East Bristol Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) had its shortcomings where condition was concerned.

Visitors to the Furniture, Works of Art and Clocks sale at Woolley & Wallis on March 31 were the first in the auction house’s new viewing gallery at the Castle Gate premises.

The Fine Photographica sale at Flints in Thatcham, Berkshire, on April 23 includes this Ansco Photo Vanity 'spy' camera, estimated at £800-1200.