Ewbank's

Covid-19 crisis has launched the art and antiques world into technological exploration

Auctions may be down in number but pre-lockdown sales provided some positive market signs

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a pencil and watercolour by Russian artist Vladimir Polunin.

An early coastal scene of Australia sold for more than five times its top estimate to an online buyer from New South Wales at Ewbank’s anniversary sale.

A copy of JRR Tolkien’s 'The Hobbit' offered in a recent Surrey sale was a first-impression one of 1937, but essentially defined by its truly sad and defective condition.

Unique artwork created to feature on film posters is proving to be a strong aspect of the popular entertainment collecting field.

Concert posters from the earliest days of bands that later became famous are particulary sought-after at auction. Leading this selection from recent sales is a five-figure example from 1964 which promotes one of the first Rolling Stones tour performances, but many others are available at a lower price range announcing appearances at venues with evocative names such as Bridlington Spa Hall, Basildon Locarno Ballroom and Barnston Women’s Institute.

The market for both film and music posters is booming but original artwork for such designs can also be a very collectable option for buyers.

As well as painting sunny pictures of children on the beaches of Cornwall, Dorothea Sharp (1874-1955) frequently turned her paintbrush to still-lifes.

The English artist, illustrator and author Christopher ‘Kit’ Williams (b.1946) is best known for the book 'Masquerade', the pictorial storybook which contained clues to the location of an 18ct gold jewelled hare buried somewhere in the British countryside. It created quite a sensation in 1979.

Ceramics, furniture, glass and figure highlights from a range of sales under same banner.

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Stanley Spencer sketch.

This 21 x 15in (54 x 39cm) watercolour, below, probably depicting the New Julfa quarter of Isfahan, is by the Armenian-Iranian painter Sumbat Kiureghian (1913- 99).

Boosted by the ‘wrong therefore rare’ factor – so important in the world of collectables – a 1977 British quad film poster for the first Star Wars film took top billing in a 250-lot specialist sale at Ewbank’s (24% buyer’s premium).

A selection of silver lots coming up in the salerooms.

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales at £700 or under, including social history scenes.