Auction Reports

Specialist Bleasdale says his sewing antiques and Tunbridgeware timed online sales are working out well

A copy of Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy album signed by all four members of the band sold to a phone bidder for £15,000 .

A highly decorative example of Japanese lacquer provided one of the highlights of Tennants’ (24/20% buyer’s premium) July 15 summer sale.

The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers was a British charitable organisation established in the decade after the First World War ‘to foster the noble Art and gentle and healthy Pastime of froth blowing among Gentlemen of-leisure and ex-Soldiers’.

Lawrences’ (30% buyer’s premium) summer sales series in Crewkerne included a Charles II period stumpwork casket.

Sporting specialist saleroom highlights include wicket-keeping gloves, bat and even a soup tureen

This 19th century watercolour on ivory portrait miniature depicts Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Seton (1814-52) of the 21st Fusiliers.

Three equestrian silver groups made by different London firms over the space of a century took centre stage in three separate sales in July.

By the mid-18th century, as the fashion for the pannier dress reached its peak, some women wore dresses measuring 7ft (2.13m) wide.

This 19th century carved Siena marble inkstand is fashioned in the form of an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

England cricketer Sir Ian Botham sold a group of memorabilia from his international and club career at auction on July 15.

With its long and varied production lines Moorcroft remains a stalwart of Design auctions.

The best of nine snuff mulls consigned by a titled long-standing client to Minster Auctions (16% buyer’s premium) was a treen example carved as a ram’s head with glass eyes.

While a few examples survive from the 17th and the very early 18th century, teacups and saucers are a rare form in Georgian silver.

A fine example of Viking metalworking was offered at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium) in Mayfair on July 18.

William Lenthall (1591-1662) was chosen as Speaker of the Houses of Commons at the beginning of the Long Parliament in 1640.

Most terracotta plank figures from Bronze Age Cyprus have been found in Lapithos, a once important coastal centre on the north of the island.

The ivory-made launching mallet and silver casket from the ill-fated RMS Empress of Ireland came for sale at McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow.

Ornate creation from Gothic fantasy comes for sale as part of the Bayreuth collection

The Vinyl Cape Jawa was the first Star Wars action figure to assume mythic status among collectors.