North America

Among the major dealers in portrait miniatures are Elle Shushan and Philip Mould & Company.

The Age of Jazz figures issued in 1930 are among the most desirable of all Clarice Cliff models.

A Wedgwood Fairyland lustre rarity – an original work on paper design by Daisy Makeig-Jones (1881-1945) – featured among the top lots in the July 12 auction at Lion and Unicorn (28% buyer’s premium).

Brilliantly coloured design in the Chinese manner caught the eye of famous collector and connoisseur

The heyday of Dutch and English tinglazed earthenwares coincided with the reign of William and Mary.

This Loetz Klostermühle vase romped past its $600-1200 guide to hammer for $8500 (£6340) at World Auction Gallery (25% buyer’s premium) in East Meadow, New York.

A sale of items from the holdings of a pioneer ‘craft’ collector at Rago-Wright in Lambertville, New Jersey, was topped by a Cycladic arrow form by Hans Coper (1920-81).

A Gorham Martelé silver punch bowl made for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis sold for $120,000 (£89,700) at Freeman’s in Chicago.

An 1860s musical manuscript by German composer Johannes Brahms (1833-97), entirely in his hand, came for sale at Lion Heart Autographs (22% buyer’s premium).

While Winnie-the-Pooh works by the renowned illustrator generate most demand, others for Grahame books are also very desirable

Made c.1880, this Wedgwood majolica model of a kingfisher is a ‘rara avis’, with only a handful known.

A fine and rare example of Cassandre’s advertising work came up at Swann Auction Galleries (32/27/17% buyer’s premium) of New York.

A recent sale at Andrew Jones Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Los Angeles included a textbook George II parcel gilt and black japanned bureau cabinet.

A portrait of Hannah Rhea Caldwell (1767-1825) by artist Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) was among the standout lots in a three-day late June sale at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries (25% buyer’s premium).

“During the 1890s, when bicycles were one of the most advertised products in the poster world, the fantastic concept that a bicycle was powerful enough to propel a rider into space was used surprisingly often.”