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Following on from last week’s comments from three fairs and markets organisers on how 2024 has been for their businesses, here is the take from Europe’s largest antiques centre, a fair organiser who is packing them in and a booksellers fairs’ association with a £1m sales figure from just one event.

The hugely versatile Christopher Dresser sold 37 different designs to the Sheffield firm of Dixon and Sons from 1879-82.

Gambling today - particularly card playing - is a largely sanitised affair, occurring in luxurious settings under strict observation in town centre casinos.

On Friday, January 3, Michael Bloomstein of Brightonwas payingthe following for bulk scrap against a gold fix of: $2656.10 / €2580.06 / £2142.02

A stand-out lot of Bellmans’ (25% buyer’s premium) biannual Fine Clocks auction on December 5 was a chronometer made for the 1874 British expedition to observe the transit of Venus.

Two sales in London offered personal collection of the Hobarts including artists they had championed

Jewellery dating to c.1960 was once owned by well-known women in New York and Palm Beach

Patrick Boyd-Carpenter is an established fine art dealer with over 40 years’ experience in handling paintings, drawings, sculpture and works of art. He is based at Grays Antique Market, London W1

British artist Charles Haslewood Shannon (1863-1937) is closely associated with the Bloomsbury Group, the collective of writers, intellectuals, and artists in early 20th-century London.

Initially conceived of and worn by Madame de Montespan, Louis XIV’s most prominent mistress, to conceal her pregnancies, the robe à la française or sack-back dress became a dominant form of fashion in the mid- to late-18th century.

Pin cushions, including an early 19th century example made from a silk dress believed to be worn by Caroline of Brunswick (1768-1821), were a major feature of a recent auction at Warwick-based Bleasdales’ (20% buyer’s premium).

Sotheby’s is to roll back the commission structure it introduced just a few months ago. The flat-rate buyer’s premium and fixed vendor fees applied since May failed to disrupt the market as hoped and will be axed in favour of fees closer in line with Christie’s, Phillips and Bonhams.

A better second half of the year and strong private sales helped Christie’s make the best of a difficult 2024.

‘Twas just 10 nights before Christmas when this ancient Egyptian faience figure of a rodent sold at Apollo Art Auctions in London.

A bronze bust of Pope John Paul II (1920- 2005) by Arthur Fleischmann (1896-1990) has been stolen from storage in north London.

This oak panelled back armchair can be firmly dated to the Commonwealth period.

Unless you are a golfer, the name Harry Vardon is probably not a familiar one.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including news of Hansons taking over Barbara Kirk's former premises in Penzance.

Portrait of artist's wife stands out among works by more famous names in Salisbury saleroom