Auctioneers

Charles Hanson, the indefatigable Derbyshire auctioneer, is making his first move into the London market, with the launch of Hansons London in January. Here he tells ATG why the time is right for his expansion down south and how he'll differentiate the business from London rivals

Jades popularity within Chinese art remains, although the market has become selective. The quality and colour of the stone is of increasingly importance – and buyers are wary of sophisticated fakes.

Judging by the number of coin proof sets that have been issued in Elizabeth II’s reign, they have become very popular with collectors. But these Royal Mint sets date much further back and are now sought-after at auction.

Footwear is always topical at this time of year thanks to careless Cinderella and her mislaid slipper. So it’s a perfect chance to bring news of a couple of intriguing items sold at Derbyshire saleroom Hansons.

A 17th century Old Master by Artemesia Gentileschi (1593-1652) depicting St Catherine of Alexandria has set a new auction record for the artist in Paris.

A rare complete mammoth skeleton from Siberia dating from the late Pleistocene era sold for a hammer price of €430,000 (£380,530) in a sale held by Aguttes in Lyons.

Heritage Auctions has withdrawn from sale ‘the world’s oldest Nobel Prize medal ever offered at auction’ after doubts were expressed over its authenticity.

A copy of the second folio of William Shakespeare's plays from 1632 was among the star attractions at the sale of the library of the late Richard Adams (1920-2016), the author of ‘Watership Down’.

The psychedelic posters produced to promote the likes of Bob Dylan, Cream and Jimi Hendrix encapsulate the spirit of the Sixties – and can catch the eye at auction, such as the Batemans sale this month.

The Marquis de Sade’s manuscript, 120 Days of Sodom, and André Breton’s Surrealist Manifestos have been declared national treasure by the French government and have been withdrawn from a planned auction tomorrow.

William O’Reilly has joined Dickinson in New York.

The highlight of the latest modern art sale held at Nagel in Stuttgart was a small bronze figure of Auguste Rodin’s 'Le Baiser' (The Kiss).