Europe

From the 14th century onwards, locksmith guilds were well established in major cities throughout Europe.

Mid-17th century piece of furniture bought in a Berlin saleroom in 1928 sells again in the German capital

Depictions of birdcages on Delft tile-pictures or plaques are not exactly common, but they are not nearly as rare as actual ceramic cages from the Dutch manufacture.

Around 1621, the Flemish painter Frans Francken II created a type of Who’s Who of mythological couples, when he painted his 20in x 2ft 1in (50 x 64cm) 'Triumph of Love' on a copper panel.

In the 18th century, it was common practice for English watchmakers to spend several years in Paris where they were able to learn from the greatest craftsmen of the day, before returning home.

An early work by Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) will be offered by Ader at the Drouot auction centre on November 26.

Christie’s Exceptional sale format offers works across a wide range of different categories that are notable for their quality, rarity, provenance or a combination thereof.

On October 31 Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr of Paris will be holding the second instalment of its dispersal of Meissen porcelain from the collection of Hadrian Merkle.

Old-fashioned contents sale from a château helped Drouot autumn season kick off with a strong start

Tajan is to offer a rare early pioneering maritime atlas/encyclopedia in its Paris rooms on November 27.

The star of a recent auction held by Pousse-Cornet (21.8% buyer’s premium inc tax) in Blois was a particularly interesting still-life painting by the artist Alexandre-Francois Desportes (1661-1743).

Aguttes (26/23% buyer’s premium) held a 66-lot sale in Neuilly on October 8 of a collection of watches spanning the 17th to 20th centuries formed by a doctor and horological enthusiast.

An ornate 17th century cabinet with pietre dure inlays and gilt bronze mounts heads to Lisbon auction house Veritas on October 21 with an estimate of €80,000–120,000.

On October 26, Cologne saleroom Lempertz is holding a sale in Berlin devoted to the collection of some 100 paintings amassed by a German connoisseur from the 1980s onwards.

Our selection of lots from five sales taking place in Germany this season