International

The antiques trade might have a darker side but there is also a certain black humour to it all.

Science fiction and fantasy were among the lifelong principal collecting interests of the late Stanley Simon, a postal worker from Queens. In a recent 19th and 20th century literature sale held in his home city of New York a number of his books brought record bids.

One of the better reflections of the art world’s global reach is the tribal art market. No longer the preserve of a handful of aficionados or avant-garde early 20th century artists, the artefacts of non-European cultures are now the subject of worldwide interest and appreciation.

Bid to $1.5m (£1.11m) in a record-breaking comic and comic art sale in Chicago was a Frank Frazetta artwork.

Comic strip artworks to be offered as part of the June 5 ‘Illustration Art’ sale at Swann Auction Galleries will include a 1970 'Peanuts strip' by Charles Schulz estimated at $20,000-30,000.

Burgundy beckons enthusiasts for tribal art this week with the third edition of the Bourgogne Tribal Show.

The David and Peggy Rockefeller auction at Christie’s New York earlier this month was significant as a new high for a single-owner sale, with a series of noteworthy results such as a $102m (£75m) Picasso.

Tyr Baudouin Lowet de Wotrenge is gallery director at Galerie Lowet de Wotrenge. The Antwerp gallery is among those exhibiting during London Art Week (June 29-July 6) and will be at 37 Bury Street.

Dogny Auction in Lausanne will be offering this portrait by Albert Anker (1831-1910) as a highlight of its June 5 summer auction.

A work bought by a dealer at a Christie’s Old Master day sale in London in December 2016, where it was catalogued as ‘circle of Rembrandt (1606-1669)’, has now been attributed to the hand of the master.

Arthur Conan Doyle’s autograph manuscript of one of the 13 short stories that in 1905 were gathered together in book form as The Return of Sherlock Holmes was offered in New York recently.

Around 50 lots of French porcelain from the collection formed by Nadia Ortiz Patino of the famous collecting family are to be offered in a June 6 sale at Drouot, to be held by Thierry de Maigret under the expertise of Hervé de la Verrie.

Once again it was Harry Houdini who topped the bill in the most recent magic memorabilia auction held by US specialist Potter & Potter Auctions (20% buyer’s premium).

A rare James II ‘gunmoney’ half-crown sold for €10,500 (£8850) at Whyte’s sale titled the Eclectic Collector in Dublin.