Auctioneers

A pair of neoclassical mahogany and ormolu demilune pier tables, believed to be John Hobbs-Buggins fakes, have sold for a tiny fraction of their original retail price.

An intriguing portrait of a black man in the uniform of a military bandsman and wearing a Waterloo medal drew strong competition after emerging at an auction in East Sussex.

Not only is this a fine and unusual example of pre-war Mouseman furniture but it comes with a remarkable provenance.

British comedy star Eric Morecambe’s (1926-84) lifetime collection of showbiz memorabilia and personal treasures are set for auction at Hansons on January 10-11.

This printed crepe paper ‘programme’ marks one of the key Suffragette rallies of the Edwardian era.

A group of seven mountainous landscapes by Hilda Marion Hechle (1886-1939) were the subject of a good deal of interest at a recent sale at Great Western Auctions (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow.

Classic Art Deco designs from a prime period for collectors capture the spirit and style of the period

Pair of scarce oils by an artist more familiar as a watercolourist emerge at auction in Essex

The autumn staging of Lyon & Turnbull’s (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) Modern Made sale at the Mall Galleries in London included one of the best-known designs by Gerald Summers (1899-1967): his armchair c.1933-34.

Royal Doulton design was produced on response to popular demand for eastern-style ceramics

This 20in (51cm) pottery figure of a rhinoceros is dated to the Tang (618-907AD) period.

Sculptor Naum Kongiser (1904-84) created the propaganda figure Radio for the Village for the State Porcelain Manufactory in 1927.

The spectacular Victorian and Edwardian firework displays conducted by the venerable Mitcham firm of James Pain & Sons were often accompanied by special silk souvenir programmes.

Among the most eagerly contested lots in a recent sale at Chorley’s (23.5/15/12.5/10% buyer’s premium) was a collection of early 20th century tattoo ephemera.

Manual relating to church charity schools is the latest example of its type to impress in a saleroom

It is said Louis Vuitton spent 17 years mastering the art of trunk making before establishing his eponymous company in 1854.

While the big hitter auction houses found the environment challenging, the mid-tier salerooms, dealers and fairs enjoyed a generally more positive experience this year

Generating a huge amount of international media coverage both before and after Reeman Dansie’s (25% buyer’s premium) November 5 sale titled Royalty, Antiques & Fine Art was a piece of fruitcake from the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Prince Philip of Greece on November 20, 1947.

The production of carved and painted pine toys in Erzgebirge, Bavaria, became a thriving cottage industry.