Dreweatts

Books and works on paper specialist Forum Auctions has split from Dreweatts and parent company Gurr Johns.

The sell-off of works once owned by failed art gallery Trinity House Paintings has begun with Sir John Lavery’s portrait of Mrs Geoffrey Birkbeck being sold at a Dreweatts auction.

A modestly estimated Van Cleef & Arpels, 18ct yellow gold gem set charm bracelet from c.1960 did particularly well for Dreweatts.

The finest mourning jewels pertain to historical events, royalty, and well-known personages. A good selection has come to market in recent weeks

Artist survived a shipwreck but then spent a decade creating portraits and views of the local landscape

A George III cast bronze two-pounder sold on June 3 came from a group of 12 cast for a commission by second Viscount William Courtenay, most probably for his private yacht Dolphin in 1775. The cannon was later removed to Powderham Castle, Devon.

Talk of ‘mammoth’ sales usually entails a sizeable selection of lots.

Some ‘prisoner of war’ productions are now thought to have been made by skilled craftsmen

Matthew Boulton’s inventory of stock in 1782 lists “1 small figure of Minerva”, according to Nicholas Goodison’s Ormolu: the Work of Matthew Boulton, 1974.

As Forum Auctions enters its 10th year of trading, Rupert Powell reflects on a busy year

The top price of the recent sale of the Philip Astley-Jones collection came for a portrait with a strong Indian connection.

Possibly a pair with Franklin, but saleroom unable to trace another example depicting Washington