Features

A “very fine” bronze helmet of Corinthian type, c.350BC, hammered from a single sheet, with a domed crown, almond-shaped eye cutouts and a prominent nose guard, sold for £32,000 at Apollo Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in London on July 27.

Second World War airborne memorabilia is another in-demand section of the militaria market.

Halls’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest Militaria, Naval and Aviation Auction in Shrewsbury offered a tempting selection of lots such as First World War uniforms in decent condition.

Sold at £250, this brooch probably commemorates the opening of Hill House Military Hospital, also known as School Hill House Hospital, in Lewes.

The first auction staged as a partnership between two renowned specialists produced a wide range of encouraging results

Following the recent trend of 18th and 19th century helmets making strong prices at auction, this striking example hammered at £5200.

This fine pair of early 18th century flintlock pistols by John Harman of London are part of a collection of firearms and militaria that goes under the hammer at Catherine Southon on September 17 in Chislehurst, south-east London.

The weird and wonderful brass, bronze and marble clocks produced by French inventor Guilmet take many forms that are all highly collectable

A fine George II period bracket clock by Gray and Vulliamy came for sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) of Dorchester as part of a summer auction.

The horology sale at Dreweatts on September 9 features the Michael Finnemore collection of clocks, barometers, scientific instruments and mechanical music.

A rare US trench watch emerged for sale at Eastbourne Auctions (27% buyer’s premium) in East Sussex.

The Longines Weems stainless steel cased pilot’s wristwatch was invented in 1935 by US naval officer and navigation pioneer Philip van Horn Weems.

A simple Edwardian open face silver pocket watch used on the Trans-Antarctic Expedition sold for £2600 at Kinghams (26% buyer’s premium) in Moreton-in-Marsh.

It’s not often that a group of medals offered at auction includes two that were in fact officially revoked. However, a lot that appeared at an East Yorkshire auction house on June 27 reflected a notorious tale of colonial corruption.

A robe worn by magician and comedian Tommy Cooper (1921-84) during the performance in which he which he suffered a heart attack and collapsed on stage has been sold at a North Yorkshire auction.

Even unboxed, this Matchbox Superfast 3c Porsche 911/930 Turbo with BP shield on the door motored away from a £100-150 estimate to hammer at £1900.

Railway locomotive nameplates can bring large sums in the saleroom, even when they are included in general rather than specialist auctions.

A fine Indian Kashmir shawl of intricate traditional design offered in Colchester included a sewn label 'Horatia E Erskine, June 26th 1861 (Indian) from H.M. Queen Victoria'.

A “very rare” First World War pair of medals and memorial plaque to a female casualty of the SS Lusitania came up for auction at Mayfair saleroom Noonans (24% buyer’s premium) on July 16.