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This week members of the trade spoke about Charles Dickens as “a young blade” and, thanks to a collection of silver, “Christmas come early”. Read all our quotes of the week about the art and antiques market for the week that was.

The latest series of Modern British art auctions in London generated a £47.2m total including premium which was significantly up on the equivalent sales last year.

Antiques dealer and TV presenter Paul Martin took a break from his busy television filming schedule to host a book launch for his memoir of the last 17 years on BBC’s 'Flog It!', the daytime antiques show that was axed last month.

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights that sold at auction in the last week, including a 16th century landscape by the artist known as ‘The Master of the Female Half-Lengths’, and a pair of children’s shoes with connections to Russian royalty.

Art galleries AntikBar, Signet Contemporary Art and Tanya Baxter Contemporary are among the more than 20 businesses who have joined the new King’s Road Curve.

Dealer and Fake or Fortune? presenter Philip Mould has rediscovered a portrait miniature of Charles Dickens which will now go on public display.

A 200-year-old saltwater pearl, later mounted in a Belle Epoque necklace, has sold at a hammer price of £150,000 at Roseberys in West Norwood (plus 25% buyer’s premium) to a London phone bidder.

A look at upcoming stand-out lots in poster sales held around the world, along with a round-up of recent highlights – including a hammer horror classic sold by a London dealer and an Edward Wadsworth design at a Dorset auction.

Francis Outred, Christie’s chairman and head of post-war and contemporary art in Europe, is leaving the auction world after 20 years to take a break and pursue a new career away from Christie’s.

The fingerprints of Old Master artist Rembrandt van Rijn have been discovered on a 17th century oil sketch by auction house Sotheby’s.