Lawrences of Crewkerne

Shortly after the production of the first batch of his jasperware abolitionist medallion, Josiah Wedgwood sent a package to Benjamin Franklin with a covering letter dated February 1788 saying: “I embrace the opportunity to inclose [sic] for the use of your Excellency and friends, a few Cameos on a subject I am happy to acquaint you is daily more and more taking possession of men’s minds on this side of the Atlantic as well as with you.

A deceased estate in Dorset that yielded a notable collection of Old Masters provided a fillip to Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s latest mixed-category auction.

A mandolin musical box by François Nicole (b.1766) delighted bidders at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne, selling for £22,000 against a £8000-12,000 estimate.

Latest mid-level results for works by the incredibly prolific artist underline importance of sensible estimates

The Scottish printer David Bryce (1845-1923) said that when he “descended to the miniature, mite and midget size” he had “many a scoff and jeer as to the absurdity of the production”.

A recent sale at Claydon Auctioneers (21.5% buyer’s premium) in Buckinghamshire included a suite of aluminium bedroom furniture by the HG Hawker Engineering Company.

Plucked from a box of bric-a-brac brought in for a general sale, a Commonwealth gilt brass sealing wax box sold for £5200 at Lawrences of Crewkerne. A clever pun gives a clue to its maker’s identity - and perhaps his political leanings.

Strong bidding emerged at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne for a Swedish portrait of Ellen Wester (1873-1930), a pioneering female translator and journalist.

Archive sold in Somerset and bugle offered in Dorset reflect the first organised cycling clubs

Varied group of items related to the poet appeared for sale in Somerset

A French three-colour gold snuff box was a highlight of the silver and vertu section of Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s recent winter sale.

This Russian 1881/1908 pattern dragoon officer’s shaska is estimated at £2600-3200 among a wide array of militaria on offer at Lawrences of Crewkerne on November 22.

Lawrences’ (30% buyer’s premium) summer sales series in Crewkerne included a Charles II period stumpwork casket.

Three equestrian silver groups made by different London firms over the space of a century took centre stage in three separate sales in July.

Testing the market for still-lifes by Bloomsbury school favourite Duncan Grant (1885-1978), a painting by the artist emerged fresh from a notable source in Somerset.

Once thought to have been produced in the Black Forest region of Germany, chess sets like the one offered at Ewbank’s (30% buyer’s premium) on June 23, used to be called Luther sets.

Recent results for the Bloomsbury Group artist show how his prolific output creates a wide price range

The standout signature to an autograph album compiled by a boy scout in 1919 was that of Lawrence of Arabia.

Forgotten today, a collection sold in Somerset remembers a multi-talented showman and author