Features

As vintage wristwatches continue to dominate the watch market, finding interesting examples at reasonable prices has become a challenge. However, opportunities are out there

The London watch and clock maker Brounker Watts (c.1670-1717), an apprentice to Joseph Knibb, became a member of the Clockmakers Company in 1697.

Henry VIII, King of England 1509-47 was not a happy man on July 14, 1539, it seems.

A Queen Anne olivewood oyster, holly and walnut cabinet on stand offered by Dreweatts (27/26% buyer’s premium) in Newbury was among a number of lots sold recently showing the commercial boost that royal provenance can provide.

Robes and coronets worn by notable dignitaries invited to coronations are not uncommon sights at auctions but often prove popular.

A 17th century Safavid carpet on offer at Christie’s in London on April 30 is woven into the ceremonial life of the British monarchy in the early 20th century.

This copy of The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha (Cambridge: at the University Press, 1961) is signed in ink by Queen Elizabeth II on a mounted presentation plate, dated Christmas 1961.

Royal costumes and fashion have long been a source of fascination.

The unknown maker of this commemorative creamware mug produced for the coronation of King George IV seems to have been in a rush.

A record price will always stand out, but this comprehensive collection also boasted a much wider range of strong prices underlying a buoyant market

A rare surviving group of unseen early aviation photographs documenting the pioneering long-distance flights of Italian pilot Carlo Francesco ‘Francis’ Lombardi (1897-1983) was offered at Roseberys (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) in south London on March 11.

This British Aero Lubricants AMG No 1 motor oil can estimated at £100-150 sold instead via thesaleroom.com for a £1700 hammer price.

With the most sought-after Lalique glass car mascots making prices up to tens of thousands of pounds at auction, collecting in that market can become very expensive very quickly if you want a wide range.

First introduced by British Railways in 1962-64 and withdrawn between 1973-77, the short-lived Class 52 diesel hydraulic locomotive has gained something of a cult status among enthusiasts.

Inspired by developments across the Channel, 19th century English clockmakers quickly adopted this the portable timepiece known as the carriage clock. Today the finest examples from the 19th and early 20th century are in strong demand

The latest Special Antiques Sale at TW Gaze (22% buyer’s premium) in Diss included this rare Ralph Gout of London gilt brass horse-rider’s pedometer watch.

A longcase clock from the English Golden Age sold for £90,000 at Hutchinson Scott (25% buyer’s premium) in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

If the period from the 19th to early 20th century was the ‘golden age’ for carriage clocks, it was equally a superb age for pocket watches

While London throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries produced much fine watchmaking, Paris could also lay claim to some of the limelight.

Very little is known about the late-18th century London maker John Grantham other than that he made many watches for the Chinese market, one of which came up for sale at Cortrie (21% buyer’s premium) in Hamburg.