Features

At first glance this early 18th century British-made sporting flintlock is nothing particularly out of the ordinary, despite being impressively engraved and relief carved.

Once thought to have been made in antiquity, bucklers are now understood to have been late medieval or Tudor small shields.

Top result from the October 26 arms and armour auction at Munich saleroom Hermann Historica (25% buyer’s premium) was a 5ft 6in (1.67m) two-hand sword made by the acclaimed bladesmith Wolfgang Stantler II of Passau, c.1580.

On account of its extraordinary appearance, the Nock seven-barrelled flintlock volley gun has become something of an icon of warfare in the Age of Sail.

This Victorian purse gun was designed by Oscar Frankenau from Nuremberg and patented in both the UK and the US in 1876.

The Stroud engineer Edwin Beard Budding (1796-1846) is considered the inventor of the lawnmower (1830) and the adjustable spanner (1842).

A pair of ornate presentation flintlock pistols made in London and later owned by an American patriot sold for $55,000 (£46,200) at a US saleroom.

A ‘Siege of Louisbourg’ powder horn belonging to one Ranger Abijah Smith sold for $17,500 (£15,200) at Bonhams Skinner in an auction on September 28 in Massachusetts.

Estimated at just £60-90, this English Civil War-era mortuary sword sold for £2300 at Unique Auctions (22.5% buyer’s premium) in Lincoln on October 22.

Chris Wynne dedicated his collecting energies to early guns by a London maker that became an international brand

The pandemic forced more buyers online and the trend has continued.

An unpublished group of works by the French sculptor Germaine Richier (1902-59) that have remained with the artist’s family are to be auctioned.

Since Britain left the EU on January 31, 2020, and the transition period ended on December 31 that year, the way goods are moved between the UK and the EU has changed – costing more money and time.

The art and antiques sector is already regarded as ‘green’ due to the items in question having been ‘reused’ and ‘recycled’ rather than created new each time.

Modern and Contemporary art collectors are increasingly willing to consider sculpture, creating a strong and dynamic market

In the last decade sculptures, as well as paintings, by Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu (1917-94) have become a valuable proposition.

This 1966 work by the Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro (b.1926) will feature in Koller’s Post War and Contemporary sale on December 1 in Zurich.

Two sculptures of well-known 20th century British cultural figures drew attention at different regional sales recently.

A welding course was to have a lasting effect on the artistic development of the British sculptor Lynn Chadwick (1914-2003).

Special report on how art and antiques shipping and packing firms are meeting the challenges of festive deadlines, postal strikes, going green and Brexit.