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More evidence that Chinese lots can leave auctioneers sitting pretty came in sales north and south.

Two sales that dispersed the personal effects of famous film stars, Audrey Hepburn and Vivien Leigh, marked the start of the new London auction season – and scripts, letters and books featured in both.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

In our continuing series looking through the keyhole of ‘bricks and mortar’ shops in 2017, ATG talks to Patrick Sandberg, owner of the eponymous shop specialising in English furniture and works of art. Sandberg is one of the dealers exhibiting at the Winter Art & Antiques Fair Olympia (October 31-November 5).

Cornelia Perquin of Precious Flora deals in floral vintage and antique jewellery. She stands at art and antique shows as well as floral events. Her next event is the 'Winter Art & Antiques Fair Olympia'.

The UK rules around judging export licence applications for art works need to be more straightforward...

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Albert Irvin (1922-2015) is known as one of the few UK artists to work in abstract expressionism and his paintings are popular among collectors and the public.

A new fair in a favourite Parisian location opens this month. Devoted to drawings, paintings and sculpture from the 16th century to today, Fine Arts Paris (FAP) will be staged from November 8-12 in the Palais Brongniart on the Place de la Bourse.

A dispute over two 4th century BC Grecian vases offered at Frieze Masters in London by a Swiss dealer is the latest case highlighting the complexity of the ownership of antiquities.

A good-conduct guide for princes and rulers that focuses on the government of self, the family and the civil authorities proved particularly topical at a New York auction on October 17.

Science, fantasy and horror was the principal theme of a PBA Galleries (20/15% buyer’s premium) sale of October 5, though there were also books to appeal to broader literary tastes.

Paris Photo also serves as an opportunity for Paris auction houses to mount their own photo fest. Sales taking place during early November to coincide with the event at the Grand Palais include dedicated auctions at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and various firms at Drouot. Like the fair itself, the material on offer will range from contemporary works by living photographers through to pieces by some of the earliest pioneers.

As the popularity of the vintage home look soars, so too do the events which focus on them. Judy Berger founded her Vintage Furniture Fleas seven years ago and credits their success to a tried and tested formula.

Edge Hall, near Malpas in Cheshire, has been a home to members of the Dod family since the reign of Henry II, but the library – sold by Forum Auctions (25/20% buyer’s premium) on October 12 – was formed in the 19th century and is typical of country house libraries.

Golf tournament programmes in Mullock’s (19% buyer’s premium) sale of golf and other sporting memorabilia of October 18-19 included the one shown here, issued for the 1933 Ryder Cup, played on the Southport and Ainsdale courses in 1937.

While the French capital says hello to the new Fine Arts Paris fair, over in Namur in Belgium organisers are gearing up to mount the 41st staging of Antica Namur.

A double portrait by Federico Beltran Masses (1885-1949) attracted a flurry of bids at Bonhams’ (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) 19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist art auction on September 27.

With impressive bids from UK, Continental and US buyers on lots from paperweights and 17th century oak carvings to snuff boxes, and surprisingly high bids on fine English furniture, the Autumn Fine Sale at Gorringe’s (21% buyer’s premium) topped the £1m hammer mark.