Auctions

Appropriately enough, the very first lot offered in a sale called Eureka! was one that focused on scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century, was an autograph manuscript of seven pages of annotated design drawings by Thomas Edison relating to his work on light bulbs.

Although hampered by Covid-19 and the ongoing issues surrounding imports of Chinese works of art, the September series of Asian art auctions in New York appears – like most sales in the US – to be remarkably unscathed by recent geopolitical events.

This 11in (28cm) high French automaton black marble and gilt bronze ‘quarter deck’ clock has a figure of a sailor and a captain at the stern.

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period August 27-September 2, 2020. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

Two very different Chinese vases took the limelight at a recent sale Fieldings (24% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Stourbridge.

An intriguing Indian miniature portrait drew strenuous competition against an estimate of just £30-50 at Clarke’s (18% buyer’s premium) in Shaftesbury, Dorset.

This three-piece painted cast-iron garden seating set dated to the third quarter of the 19th century is one of the lots from the Collection of A Connecticut Gentleman that is to be offered for sale by Freeman’s of Philadelphia, on September 15.

Included in Hindman’s September 15 sale of Jewellery in Chicago will be a group of pieces designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. Among them is this green beryl and diamond ‘Bird on a Rock’ brooch.

A two-day sale of works from an Atlanta estate home, White Oaks, will take place at Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta, Georgia on September 12-13 featuring a wide range of European and American fine and decorative art.

This Mintons Pâte-sur-Pâte plaque, dated to c.1900, decorated by Marc-Louis Solon will feature in Weschler’s Capital Collections auction to be held in Rockville, Maryland, on September 18.

This lustre vase decorated by Richard Joyce for Pilkington Royal Lancastrian dates from c.1915.

This George III Sheffield plated tea machine from c.1790 comprises a hot water urn with a domed cover and a telescoping finial with steam vent, as well as a pair of tea urns, all engraved with the Clan Colville crest and motto 'Oblier ne puis'.

So-called ‘Black Forest’ carvings don’t get much better than this walking stick stand modelled as a seated hound next to a tree stump offered by Hannam’s (23% buyer’s premium) in Selborne, Hampshire.

Manuscript was brought to Italy from Constantinople and later printed in Vicenza

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from September 8-19, 2020.

This Machine Man lithographed tinplate Japanese battery powered robot is the rarest of the post war group of so called ‘Gang of Five’ robots made by Masudaya.

Sixteen upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

On October 6 Susanin’s in Chicago will be offering a 132-lot auction of British and American studio ceramics from the Estate of Patricia Nicol Barnes featuring works by a wide range of different artists.

This George I provincial silver coffee pot c.1720, offered by Elstob & Elstob (22% buyer’s premium) in Ripon on August 20, is a great rarity.

In the hierarchy of Royal Worcester fruit painters Frank Roberts (1857-1920) comes close to the top.