Print Edition

One of the many memorable scenes in Charles Dickens’ 'Bleak House' was the portrayal of the apparent spontaneous combustion of Mr Krook, leaving “the cinder of a small charred and broken log of wood sprinkled with white ashes”.

It is safe to say that the canvas 'Panorama of the River Scheldt with the Silhouette of Antwerp', executed by the Flemish artist Mathieu Ignace van Bree (1773-1839) in the late 18th century, will not be the most expensive painting sold in Germany this year.

Second-dibs sales at regional salerooms – those that follow after a major London auctioneer has cherry-picked the contents of a stately country house – can sometimes acquire the slighting epithet of ‘crumbs from a rich man’s table’.

Our weekly selection from salerooms.

Dealer Robert Young is taking bids on a work of folk art of his own creation.

This well-fitted maple wood artist’s box comes with numerous watercolours, mixing bowls and a small folding easel.

Irish provincial silver is always sought after. The c.1790 silver sauceboat pictured below by John Nicholson of Cork is a rare example.

The spread of coronavirus may have halted the auctions at this year’s 'Asia Week New York', but dealers are going ahead with the event as planned, bringing together more than 35 exhibitors and nearly 20 talks.

Sarah Colegrave is an art dealer and consultant working in London and Oxfordshire. She carries a stock of mainly British 19th and 20th century paintings, drawings, watercolours and sculptures. She next stands at the Wilton House Antiques Fair (March 6-8) and The Open Art Fair (March 18-24).

'Moon Gold Hare' (2008) by Barry Flanagan (1941-2009) is offered at the Waddington Custot exhibition Alchemy of the Theatre for $725,000.

This octagonal brass box, decorated with 17 micro-mosaics featuring subjects from classical antiquity, was created by Augusto Castellani of the famous firm of Roman jewellers founded by his father Fortunato.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s magnetism remains as forceful as ever in UK salerooms.

Scottish Colourist George Leslie Hunter (1877-1931) is best known for his strong and vibrant still-lifes but landscapes also feature significantly in his oeuvre – and collectors will spend big to acquire the highest-quality examples.

Our regular listing of British and Irish book auctions.

Silver dealer Michael Baggott has published a book of spooky tales for the trade: 'The Hawthorn Cross & other Antiques Ghost Stories'.

Alison Davis and Alan Old of So Last Century Vintage and Retro Fairs run their London events in suitably historic and interesting buildings.

Forty-plus dealers will be converging on the Holt Hotel at Steeple Aston, near Oxford, to stand at Antiques@The Holt on Saturday and Sunday March 14-15.

Briefly catalogued, but accurately estimated, this bronze and ivory dancing couple was the outstanding star at Featonby’s (18.75% buyer’s premium) recent sale in North Shields.

MADAM – I was intrigued by your two-page spread on money laundering (ATG No 2430).

MADAM – I feel sure that the auction house Andrew Smith & Son has a fine reputation. An established reputation attractive enough for the owner of the fine antiques depicted on your Letters & Opinion page to send the photograph for appraisal (ATG No 2431).