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Made within 20 miles of Halls’ (23% buyer’s premium) Shrewsbury rooms, 76 lots of mid to late-18th century Caughley soft paste porcelain from two local collections attracted countrywide bidding.

Among 83 lots of film and entertainment memorabilia offered at Lacy Scott & Knight (20% buyer’s premium) in Bury in St Edmunds was a British quad-size poster for 'Dr No', the first James Bond film starring Sean Connery released in 1962.

Across the past 13 months Gorringe’s (21% buyer’s premium) in Lewes has dispersed the remarkable assemblage of English porcelain formed by the collector and academic Dr Dennis G Rice.

Freeman’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) of Philadelphia opened its latest Design sale with a Meissen Whiplash dinner service designed in 1903-4 by Henry Van de Velde, the Belgian Art Nouveau architect and designer.

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Frank O Salisbury portrait.

This set of 10 detective novels is by ‘Jim Dollar’, the pseudonym of Soviet author Marietta Shaginian (1888-1982), whose writing is described as ‘satirical fantasy fiction’.

The latest Fine Interiors sale at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) included among the opening lots this large 22in (54cm) high maiolica storage jar.

Set of Euripides plays was once owned by Sir Robert Peel sold at Forum sale which also includes two first English editions of works by Fyodor Dostoevsky

MADAM – I have recently polled our PBFA members to assess the state of the antiquarian book trade and asked in particular about any positive outcomes of the lockdown.

On Friday, May 1, Michael Bloomstein of Brighton was paying the following for bulk scrap against a gold fix of: $1673.05 / €1526.43 / £1332.08

Jeffrey S Evans’ spring sale of 18th and 19th century glassware and lighting takes place in Mount Crawford, Virginia. It includes a collection of more than 100 18th and 19th century English drinking glasses, to be offered unreserved on May 20.

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from May 5-16, 2020. All sales are now held online due to the coronavirus alert.

MADAM – Because I am so old my hen-pecking children have had me in lockdown since the beginning of March.

From Ewenny to Llanelly, Nantgarw and Swansea, ceramics produced in the region over many years is a strong feature of this market.

Schmidt’s Antiques’ next ceramics auction in Ypsilanti, Michigan, will be on June 6 and features a wide range of English and Continental pottery and porcelain from Britain, Continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

By tradition, Count Heinrich von Brühl (1700-63), chief minister and favourite to Augustus III, was a man famed for his fashion sense. His tailor was thus an important part of his entourage.

One of the side-effects for the art market of being in a lockdown is that people have more time to discover works that they might have otherwise missed or overlooked.

The UK and Australia have a strong connection, highlighted by commemorations such as the recent Anzac Day (April 25) to remember Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought in the First World War.

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period April 23-29,2020. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

Ceramics, both English and Continental from the 18th century through to modern pieces, were one of several elements featured in the most recent Style auction held by Sotheby’s (25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) in New York.