Europe

The coin sale staged by David Guest Numismatics with Numismatica Ars Classica in Zurich on November 19 includes two rare medals issued by the Royal Humane Society.

Frances Allitt and Laura Chesters report on business developments in Paris, London and Dorset

Artists’ portfolios prove popular as Swiss auctioneer’s own firm disperses items from his personal library

One of the biggest attractions at the Exposition Universelle, held in Paris in 1878, was Le Grand Ballon Captif, a huge tethered balloon, constructed by Baptiste Henri Jacques Giffard, a pioneer of airship travel.

A pair of monumental silver candelabra with a royal provenance is going under the hammer at German auction house Wendl on October 28-31.

No self-respecting clock enthusiast was going to let an early 19th century precision longcase clock get away for the guide of €1000 in an auction held by Historia (27% buyer’s premium) in Berlin.

The Bavarian artist Adam Albrecht (1786-1862), head of a family of successful painters, was known primarily for his depictions of battles, several of which he had experienced first-hand.

Chillida and Giacometti compositions are sought after by bidders

An early ceramic work by Otto Lindig was one of the stars at a recent sale at Mehlis (24% buyer’s premium) in Plauen.

Kilkenny auction house Fonsie Mealy is holding a contents sale at Newport House in Newport, County Mayo, on October 20-21.

Paintings by the Dutch artist Rachel Ruysch seldom make it to market and when they do, regularly command six-figure and on occasions even seven-figure prices.

Vending machine and music box could once be found on railway station platforms to serve passengers

Since 1925 the Deutsches Museum in Munich has been exhibiting a complex and highly decorated 18th century calculating machine that bears the inscription Braun Invenit – Vayringe Fecit.