Auctioneers

Sometimes it pays to look a little further afield.

One of the earliest items of football memorabilia to appear at auction emerged at Bonhams in Knightsbridge: an England international goalkeeper shirt from 1879.

Chinese export bowls such as this one, decorated in the mandarin palette with famille rose foxhunting scenes, were popular both with the British and American markets in the last quarter of the 18th century.

This blue and white ewer with a Qianlong mark offered at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge as part of an Interiors sale is of a type modelled on a Zhou bronze ritual wine vessel or 'he'.

Qing period embroidered satin throne-back cushion covers can be seen still in situ in a number of the buildings in the Forbidden City including the Hall of Supreme Principle and the Palace of Eternal Spring. Others are held by institutions and collectors throughout the world.

Early works by Harold Knight (1874-1961) are not seen very often at auction but a group of six appeared at Mellors & Kirk of Nottingham at the end of last year.

A collection of Chinese snuff bottles offered in two sessions stands out among an intriguing selection of Asia Week New York auctions and dealer shows.

During the Victorian era the Rev Henry Moule (1801-80) of Fordington in Dorset was doubtless considered something of a zealot.

A look at exhibitions staged to coincide with the international day of celebration

Works also sold in Penzance but not for six figures help to understand this market

Mary Queen of Scots, Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley lots feature in Edinburgh auction

Two Soloman Island clubs were catalyst to amassing of more than 10,000 artefacts

Leading the sale held by Thomson Roddick (18% buyer’s premium) in Rosewell, Edinburgh, was a 7in (18cm) high Qing iron red bottle decorated with chilong dragons amid stylised clouds. It had apparently been rejected by ‘a more prestigious auctioneer’.

This porcelain beaker from the Baltic Service was the highlight of a timed online sale held by 1818 Auctioneers (22.5% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Cumbria.

A couple of dog portraits by leading Victorian canine painter John Emms (1844-1912) brought a flurry of bids at separate auctions held just a day apart.

A four-day US sale of comics and comic art produced some extraordinary results – with 4900 would-be buyers registered and every one of the 1333 lots sold to bring a premium-inclusive total of $23.76m (£17.34m).

The third and final part of the collection of 19th century silver trade tokens formed by John Akins was offered by Dix Noonan Webb (24% buyer’s premium) in London as part of its February 1-2 sale.