Auctions

A seminal proto-modernist metalwork design by Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) emerged for sale in Edinburgh on October 14.

Kicking off the Frieze week auctions in London, Christie’s dedicated evening sale of works from the collection of British fashion magnate Peter Simon, the founder of the Monsoon fashion chain, raised £107.5m including premium.

Once part of the contents of Skibo Castle, an exceptional Louis Napoleon gilt-bronze surtout de table suite by Ferdinand Barbedienne comes under the hammer at Tennants.

Rare specimen banknotes from around the world donated to a British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop in Edinburgh have raised £85,860 in total at auction to help fund research.

A group of 18th century English furniture bought at Christie’s in 1992 provided an interesting measure of today’s market when it returned to auction at Spicers (20% buyer’s premium).

This 17th century Irish marriage locket was probably a gift from Robert Coppinger to his new wife Margarett in 1660.

One of the biggest attractions at the Exposition Universelle, held in Paris in 1878, was Le Grand Ballon Captif, a huge tethered balloon, constructed by Baptiste Henri Jacques Giffard, a pioneer of airship travel.

Special piece comes from historian’s collection including items linked to the family home in Derbyshire

Among the most eagerly contested lots in the Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera sale at Spink (22.5% buyer’s premium) in London was one including two letters written by a sailor while aboard HMS Northumberland when she carried Napoleon Bonaparte into exile in 1815.

Making tiled tables was something of a tradition in the Bell family.

A pair of monumental silver candelabra with a royal provenance is going under the hammer at German auction house Wendl on October 28-31.

When it comes to the prints of Norman Ackroyd (1938-2024), his dramatic monochrome depictions of natural locations – such as St Kilda in Scotland, Skellig Michael and Achill Island in Ireland, or of the Yorkshire Dales – tend to command the most interest.

No self-respecting clock enthusiast was going to let an early 19th century precision longcase clock get away for the guide of €1000 in an auction held by Historia (27% buyer’s premium) in Berlin.

Copy of revised 1633 edition of Gerard’s famous botanical work The Herball stands out in west London

The Bavarian artist Adam Albrecht (1786-1862), head of a family of successful painters, was known primarily for his depictions of battles, several of which he had experienced first-hand.

Our selection of lots from upcoming auctions

Two trademark prints by Anthony Fry (1927-2016) posted high auction sums for graphic works by the artist at a recent single-owner sale held by Dreweatts (28% buyer’s premium).

A rare scissorwork diorama depicting Napoleon captive on St Helena was among the curios included in Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Out of the Ordinary sale.