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A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including the death of François Tajan, the deputy chairman of the Paris-based auction house Artcurial, who died aged 57 after suffering from food poisoning.

One of the many memorable scenes in Charles Dickens’ 'Bleak House' was the portrayal of the apparent spontaneous combustion of Mr Krook, leaving “the cinder of a small charred and broken log of wood sprinkled with white ashes”.

It is safe to say that the canvas 'Panorama of the River Scheldt with the Silhouette of Antwerp', executed by the Flemish artist Mathieu Ignace van Bree (1773-1839) in the late 18th century, will not be the most expensive painting sold in Germany this year.

Second-dibs sales at regional salerooms – those that follow after a major London auctioneer has cherry-picked the contents of a stately country house – can sometimes acquire the slighting epithet of ‘crumbs from a rich man’s table’.

Dealer Robert Young is taking bids on a work of folk art of his own creation.

This well-fitted maple wood artist’s box comes with numerous watercolours, mixing bowls and a small folding easel.

The spread of coronavirus may have halted the auctions at this year’s 'Asia Week New York', but dealers are going ahead with the event as planned, bringing together more than 35 exhibitors and nearly 20 talks.

'Moon Gold Hare' (2008) by Barry Flanagan (1941-2009) is offered at the Waddington Custot exhibition Alchemy of the Theatre for $725,000.

This octagonal brass box, decorated with 17 micro-mosaics featuring subjects from classical antiquity, was created by Augusto Castellani of the famous firm of Roman jewellers founded by his father Fortunato.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s magnetism remains as forceful as ever in UK salerooms.

Scottish Colourist George Leslie Hunter (1877-1931) is best known for his strong and vibrant still-lifes but landscapes also feature significantly in his oeuvre – and collectors will spend big to acquire the highest-quality examples.

Our regular listing of British and Irish book auctions.

Silver dealer Michael Baggott has published a book of spooky tales for the trade: 'The Hawthorn Cross & other Antiques Ghost Stories'.

Briefly catalogued, but accurately estimated, this bronze and ivory dancing couple was the outstanding star at Featonby’s (18.75% buyer’s premium) recent sale in North Shields.

MADAM – I was intrigued by your two-page spread on money laundering (ATG No 2430).

A momentous letter of July 6, 1776, in which President of Congress John Hancock announced the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, was the most expensive lot in a printed and manuscript Americana sale on January 27.

Several surprises emerged in the tribal art sale held by Cologne auction house Lempertz (24% buyer’s premium) in a recent sale held in Brussels.

Auction prices are on the rise for the late Norfolk artist Gwyneth Johnstone (1914-2010), daughter of the artist Augustus John and niece of the Welsh painter Gwen John.

This late drawing by Karl Hofer (1878-1955), the German Expressionist painter who was branded a creator of ‘degenerate art’ by the Nazis, was one of dozens consigned by his family to Taunton saleroom Greenslade Taylor Hunt (19.5% buyer’s premium).