Auctioneers

Clothes, letters and photographs of the last queen of Madagascar are to return home after the Madagascan government bought the collection at a south London auction.

The latest Specialist Collectors’ Sale at Cuttlestones in Wolverhampton included a little bit of 20th century ceramics history.

The Anschluss of 1938 between Nazi Germany and Austria had a devastating effect on Vienna’s Jewish population.

This pair of life-size bronze busts depict the tragic young figures Publius Septimus Geta, son of emperor Septimus Severus, and his sister-in-law Plautilla.

One of the last Georges de la Tour (1593-1652) paintings in private hands was sold by Cologne auction house Lempertz on December 8.

A propellor hauled up by a fisherman proved to have an important link to Dambusters leader Guy Gibson and is now coming up at auction, as ATG reports in a wider look at the militaria market

Sixteenth century book-maker’s creativity makes maths and astronomy more accessible

This original oil painting of a California grey squirrel is by John Woodhouse Audubon, younger son of John James Audubon of Birds of America fame.

Four lots between them raised $1.5m including premiums to rack up more than half the total at an online sale in New York.

Always popular at auction, always great to write about – so no excuses needed for featuring a selection of the weird and wonderful Second World War spy and sabotage gadgets and ingenious escape devices which do appear often in sales.

This small carved boxwood domed box features in the sale of antique furniture and works of art at Aguttes in Neuilly on December 21.

After a somewhat chequered period before the war, during which his employment ranged from gold-digging and sailing the South Sea Islands to running a camel racing team and a betting shop, Lt Hubert (Ted) Carse of the the Royal Australian Naval Reserve ended up as a hero.

Two Victoria Cross medals awarded during the Indian Mutiny offered by Morton & Eden (20% buyer’s premium) in London sold to the same buyer.

Something of a recurring theme at auctions this year has been the increasing volume of bidders registering for sales during the pandemic.

The market for William Roberts (1895- 1980) has expanded significantly in the last two decades and the performance of two small watercolours at Bonhams suggested demand is still healthy.

Hughie Green (1920-97) is well known as star of film, radio and TV, such as Opportunity Knocks – and a colourful personal life such as being father to Paula Yates. However, he also had a long and eventful career in aviation.

The Falklands War was 38 years ago now. However, for medal collectors the conflict is very much in mind, as evidenced by two six-figure results recently at London saleroom Dix Noonan Webb (24% buyer’s premium).