Auctioneers

Established in 1687 by James II (also James VII of Scotland), membership of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is in the personal gift of the sovereign, just as it is with the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit.

This 1642 silver medal by the German medallist Sebastian Dadler (1586-1657) celebrates the arrival in the Netherlands of Princess Mary (1631-60), eldest daughter of Charles I and sister of the future Charles II.

Along with August, January is traditionally the quietest month in terms of regional auctions.

Group lot shows how a shared interest in communication linked Louis Mountbatten and a telegraphist

‘Coal’ is a dirty word in today’s world of increasingly clean energy but in terms of a model offered at auction it can still generate a strong price.

The citation for a Distinguished Flying Medal awarded to Act F/Sgt BG Tucker RAF stated he had “completed many outstanding sorties against such heavily defended localities as Berlin, Essen and Hanover.

Visitors to London at the end of the 17th century needed to take care: banditts, adamtilers and fencing-cullies were out looking to prey on unwitting buzzards, fat culls and fuddlecaps.

This array of jewels formed part of the first tranche of a remarkable private collection sold by Catherine Southon (23% buyer’s premium) in Chislehurst.

A group of five pictures by Clifford Hall (1904-73) came to Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Farnham sale courtesy of the daughter of a collector who used to paint with the artist.

This pair of late Georgian silver spurs are hallmarked for London 1812 and carry the maker’s mark JA, probably for the specialist buckle maker John Atkins.

Cambridge auction house Cheffins marked its 200-year anniversary by raising £270,596 for charity in the region – exceeding its original bicentenary fundraising pledge by over £70,000.

A handsome 19th century kingwood and ormolu decanter box offered by Hutchinson Scott (25% buyer’s premium) in Skipton, North Yorkshire was of particular note for its armorial and an inscription to the lock reading Maharaja Duleep Singh.

So I’ve found something coming up at auction that I might be interested in, next question: will they post it to me if I win the bidding?

Greek mythology provided François Boucher with an endless source of inspiration. One tale he returned to on several occasions was that of Ariadne and Bacchus.

Fresh batch of material related to artist Anne and husband Hezekiah brings extra family detail

A late 16th century Iznik pottery dish will surely attract bids at Nagel’s sale titled Six Continents in Stuttgart on February 25.