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Toby Campbell of Rafael Valls specialises in Old Master paintings. The gallery, in London’s Duke Street, St James’s, stands annually at TEFAF Maastricht, which next runs from March 16-24, 2019.

A rare Sampson Mordan gilt-mounted porcelain scent bottle features at the next Galloway Antiques Fair, which takes place at The Majestic Hotel in Harrogate from January 4-6.

The two-day Big Brocante held at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood, near Maidstone in Kent, is organised by Katrina Palsager and her family who also run the well-regarded 150-dealer annual Firle Vintage Fair at Firle Place near Lewes.

A notable feature of the end-of-year book sales in 2018 was the number of online auctions held by the major salerooms.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair takes place at Battersea Evolution in the new year, offering a wealth of objects from early oak furniture to fine art to 20th century design.

MADAM – Re: ivory ban. I would very much like to add my tuppence worth to this ongoing issue.

"In 2018 we have not seen a great deal of movement in the price of gold and silver, but things could change considerably as we move into 2019," says precious metals dealer Michael Bloomstein of Brighton.

While the market shows increasingly discerning tastes, quality definitely counts at auction.

Packed with a varied selection of precisely 1000 lots, a very thick catalogue rounded off one saleroom’s year in a December 11-12 sale.

Showing hardly any signs of wear and signed by JK Rowling – and originally acquired at a special signing at Harrods, as revealed by a laid-in ticket – a near pristine first issue copy of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' of 1997, appeared at auction earlier this month.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

More female talent emerged at Roseberys in the form of this fiery piece of Abstract Expressionism below by American painter Grace Hartigan (1922-2008).

The Victorian Conservative politician Lord Coventry is believed to have commissioned this portrait of favourite hounds Rambler and Marksman.

This seasonal watercolour of figures ice skating in the Lake District (below) sold for a mid-estimate £3600 at local Cumbria saleroom Mitchells (20% buyer’s premium) on November 28.

An antiques dealer for nearly 40 years and the long-time owner of Below Stairs in Hungerford, Stewart Hofgartner, pictured below, is a colourful character.

MADAM – Have we lost the plot? Recently the ATG letters page has been taken over by debating whether one television show about antiques is better than the others available.

High-priced luxury handbags and other luxury goods made the most money at Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) sale of Costume, Accessories and Textiles at Leyburn but collectors’ interest was more focused on a private collection of hat pins.

Early works from artist known as Marevna is key feature of family collection sold in London.