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The auction calendar has been much changed by Covid 19 restrictions. However, as indicated by these lots offered for sale in May, some UK auctioneers continue to transact behind closed doors holding ‘live online’ sales with bids taken via bidding platforms such as thesaleroom.com or over the phone. Typically purchases can either be collected safely and couriered, or stored by the auctioneers until the current government guidance is lifted.

Dealers might not be on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis but many are trying to do their bit through charity sales. Here is a quick look at some of the businesses pledging proceeds to good causes.

Two consignments of works directly from artists' estates added a distinctive flavour to Chiswick Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Modern & Post-War British Art sale.

Despite their apparent fragility, early English drinking glasses have survived in relatively large numbers. They have a long collecting pedigree – the idea of collecting them as objects of interest goes back at least to the 19th century.

A selection of four 18th century drinking glasses appearing at auctions in May 2020.

A 1902 calendar from Hasegawa, Tokyo, filled with colourful illustrations and verse was among the sales at the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association’s (PBFA) first virtual fair.

Over nearly four decades, a collector in Copenhagen acquired works of art to furnish and decorate a patrician residence in the Danish capital. Part of his eclectic collection is on sale at Lempertz in Cologne on May 29-30.

A long time ago, a poster costing $1.75 launched a series of films set in a galaxy far, far away. Forty-four years later, that series has become the phenomenally successful Star Wars blockbuster and a rare example of that same design sold at auction for £4000.

Among the major changes to Sworders’ auction calendar because of the coronavirus lockdown is the addition of a monthly sale of jewellery, watches and objects of vertu.

Work thought to be by studio assistant is regarded as accessible alternative to famous master

On Thursday, May 7, Michael Bloomstein of Brighton was paying the following for bulk scrap against a gold fix of: $1688.65 / €1564.99 / £1366.92

The cult following that surrounds publicity-shy Joel Arthur Rosenthal continues to grow. Secondary market prices for JAR fashion jewellery are reaching new heights.

This vessel with its cluster of bottles around a central conical vase is one of several well-known Dresser-Linthorpe models that owe a debt to pre-Columbian art.

Extensive collection of books and other material comes to auction from rare book shop duo.

Top lot in a recent sale conducted by Galerie Bassenge (23% buyer’s premium) of Berlin, at €140,000 (£121,800), was a 1687 first issue of Newton’s 'Principia mathematica….'

As a rule, musical boxes, which were the favoured mode of reproducing music by mechanical means in the salons of Europe and the US during the 19th century, were more or less portable mechanisms.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including 'Firsts, London’s Rare Book Fair 2020' being cancelled and replaced with a digital version.

At Keys (20% buyer’s premium) in Aylsham a lot catalogued as ‘a patinated bronze group of a lion attacking a horse’ drew – and to an extent commanded – much attention.

A gold winner’s medal awarded for the 1893 FA Cup – Wolverhampton Wanderers’ first major trophy – sold for £8000 at Mullock’s (20% buyer’s premium) on April 29-30.

Our regular listing of British and Irish book auctions - all being held online only for now because of the coronavirus alert.