Auctioneers

Working horses painted by the Australian artist Harold Power (1878-1951) starred at Charles Ross Fine Art (17.5% buyer’s premium) on August 19 in Woburn, Bedfordshire.

Tryggve Gran (1888-1980) – polar explorer and First World War aviator – was a man whose achievements and adventurous life were recognised in two lots offered by Christie’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) on July 12.

A lavishly produced 'Souvenir...' book published in 1899 to benefit a Charing Cross Hospital bazaar held at the Royal Albert Hall included contributions from distinguished writers, painters and composers, along with their photographic portraits.

Sold for £420 in an August 24-25 sale held by Keys (17.5% buyer’s premium) was a 1939 first of Maurice Gorham’s 'The Local', with its 15 coloured litho illustrations by Edward Ardizzone.

Originally considered just another 20th century burr oak tallboy among a stack of material from a house clearance brought into the Hazel Grove rooms of Maxwells (15% buyer’s premium), opinions changed when a carved mouse was noticed on the lower left leg.

Views created by vessel’s captain envisaged a kinder end to its career than a tragic collision...

MADAM – Some would say ‘at long last’… Auctioneers throughout the country have started to take Boningtons’ lead and withdraw the two weeks – or, in some cases, 30 days – credit traditionally offered to many silver and furniture dealers in exchange for their regular attendance at sales.

Shown here is the central medallion of a patchwork and appliqué quilt believed to have been produced by some patriotic sewer to mark the 1815 marriage of Princess Charlotte, the Prince Regent’s daughter, to Prince Leopold of Saxe- Coburg-Gotha.

A cavalry guidon (pennant) from the late 18th century is always likely to be rare – and rarer still if it is painted rather than embroidered.

Christie’s has reacted quickly to rival Sotheby’s announcement of a new premium structure (ATG No 2306) by increasing its own buyer’s premium.

Two slightly different versions of Fortunino Matania’s (1881-1963) desirable Southport Lido poster topped a July 7 online auction at Onslows (20% buyer’s premium) of Dorset.

So much more successful than their 18th century forebears, today’s Jacobites go from strength to strength.

Just the two outer panels of what had once been a six-part world map remained in a cartographic lot offered at Christie’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).

Last offered at auction at Sotheby’s (25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) in 1971, a pair of EH Shepard’s original ink drawings for Winnie-the-Pooh returned to their rooms to sell at £55,000.

Not quite perfect but always likely to exceed the £300-350 estimate, a Lalique powder bowl was one of the top sellers at Bamfords’ (19.5% buyer’s premium) August 2 sale at Derby.

Medal groups awarded to two members of the same family on offer at auction are not unknown but three together is definitely unusual.