International

Falling-ball or falling-globe clocks are great horological rarities; only about 30 examples are thought to have survived since their construction in the second half of the 17th century.

In the extensive sale of October 22-25, Wendl in Rudolstadt will be selling the second tranche of the porcelain collection amassed by Kurt Adelsberger.

A late 19th century marble figure of David with the Head of Goliath at his feet was one of the stars at Neumeister (30% buyer’s premium) in Munich this autumn.

Example made in Gujarat or Goa goes to a Portuguese buyer

Among the countless designs that Josef Hoffmann, the Viennese architect and multi-talented driving force behind the Wiener Werkstätte, executed during his long career was a bowl with two scroll handles, sometimes described as a centrepiece.

US auction house Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) enjoyed great success with its event titled Select Rarities: Exceptional Books & Manuscripts Sale.

On January 1, 1901, the German inventor Eduard Thürey applied for a patent for his typewriter design, the layout of which was completely different to all previous forms of writing machines.

In the 1950s-60s, the Yamazaki Gangu company, which traded under the internationally more recognisable name IY Metal Toys, was one of the leading Japanese producers of tinplate toys.

A scarce 1928 US first edition of The House at Pooh Corner hammered for $5000 (£3720) against a guide of $500-700 at Copake Auction (25% buyer’s premium).

Although the tradition of wood-carving existed in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) in eastern Germany since the 1100s, it was not until the 19th century that the production of intricately crafted wooden folk-art became a fully fledged house industry.

Influenced by the English drape suits favoured by the Duke of Windsor, the zoot suit was all the rage among disfavoured youths in Second World War-era USA.

A remarkable silver oyster tureen with cover and stand hammered for $26,000 (£19,150) at Leland Little (20% buyer’s premium) in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab is perhaps the most notorious of all mid-century toys.

US bidders show great appetite for early 20th century display slabs hailing from the UK

Good sales and happy exhibitors as France’s showpiece fair moves from November to mid-September

This English mahogany hall bench dating from the first quarter of the 19th century sailed well above estimate at a sale in New Milford, Connecticut.