Auctioneers

Members of the trade had plenty to say this week - only some of it serious - in response to the government’s announcement of a general election. Others reacted to revolving doors at the major auction houses and the presence of top-quality pieces at provincial auction houses.

Aston Martins are associated with glamour and glitz. The car of James Bond. But the example coming up in a classic car auction in Essex on May 7 is more muck than mystique.

Ladybird books, or rather some of the artworks produced for the much-loved, original pocket-size books, are to be offered by Tennants of Leyburn in two auctions this year – the first on April 28 as part of a sale of books, maps, manuscripts and prints.

In Eccles near Manchester in the Sixties, artist Harold Riley enjoyed the food so much at an Italian restaurant he discovered that he gave the proprietor one of his paintings.

Constantin Brancusi’s (1867-1957) sculpture of a sleeping muse, widely acknowledged as a modern masterpiece, is to appear at auction for the first time at the Christie’s New York sale of Impressionist and Modern Art in May.

A late 18th century Rajput miniature with an excellent provenance is to be offered at auction next week at Mallams in Cheltenham.

“Remember the Alamo!” It was the battle cry that spurred the Texans on to victory during their 1836 revolution, recalling the sacrificial last stand of a few heroic men during a brutal siege by the Mexican Army.

Christie’s has wooed back its former US president only months after he joined rival Sotheby’s.

Boneshakers and Penny Farthings were the forerunners of the bicycle we know now but were hardly practical as everyday transport for the masses. Step (or pedal) forward the ‘safety bike’.

A new auction record was set for modern British painter Sir Cedric Morris (1889-1982) at Chichester’s Henry Adams which hammered down the still life oil on canvas ‘Wild Flowers’ at £130,000.

Two visiting books that belonged to the Duchess of Cambridge are being offered at Halls’ country house auction later this month.

Phillips has hired Christie’s Lilly Chan to become managing director of its Asia business.

A 200-year-old Chinese figure of Buddha previously owned by the secretary to the Viceroy of India will appear at auction in Folkestone next month.