Auctions

Many of the pieces will go to the Far East after London auction held by Alistair Gibson

When a collection of invitation and admission cards, menus and related items linked to Glasgow and shipping interest came up at auction estimated at £100-150 the resulting bidding battle took the hammer price to £2800.

The second designated Islamic & Indian Art auction held by Lyon & Turnbull (26/25% buyer’s premium) in London included a group of market-fresh Indo-Portuguese mother-of-pearl vessels.

A look at some of the numismatic lots that caused a stir in 2024, starting off with a scarce example of Civil War coinage

Credited with saying “an army marches on its stomach”, Napoleon Bonaparte knew the value of eating well, both at home and on the road.

Palitoy was a major player in the British toys scene.

This group of three Meissen models of hares ranges in size from 3in (7cm) to 6in (16cm).

Less-than-pristine paints and brushes from the studio of Lucien Freud (1922-2011) were sold by University Archives (23% buyer’s premium) in Wilton, Connecticut.

An inheritance influenced Boston dealer duo to turn their collecting interest to a different market

An oil on board titled 'Portrait of a Donkey', painted and signed in 1881 by the noted French animalier Rosa Bonheur (1822-99), performed with gusto at Helmuth Stone Gallery (25% buyer’s premium).

Most surviving rocking horses by FH Ayres of London date from 1880-1940 - made in the era when the safety stands (first patented by Philip Marqua of Cincinnati in 1880) had become the norm.

A deceased estate in Dorset that yielded a notable collection of Old Masters provided a fillip to Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s latest mixed-category auction.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales