Features

A hat-trick of six-figure prices was achieved for England 1966 World Cup hero Alan Ball’s (1945-2007) winner’s medal, cup final shirt and World Cup cap.

An abstract painting by Bryan Wynter (1915-75) was discovered a stone’s throw from Knightsbridge auction house Kings Russell (28% buyer’s premium).

Collectors are responding positively as dealers put overlooked female artists in the spotlight

This wartime portrait of the writer Amelia Defries shows her in the role of an ARP warden in Kensington.

The authorities in Qatar may not think so, but beer and sport can perform rather well together.

The soaring demand for sport memorabilia is evident from the result for the shirt of a player who did not even make it on to the pitch for a famous game.

The Panini company, founded by two brothers in Modena in 1961, began life producing football cards of Serie A teams.

A group of 24 works from the collection of Wilfred and Jeannette Cass provided a boost to Bellmans’ (22% buyer’s premium) latest Modern British and 20th Century Art auction.

The Higgs Deliverer ‘rake iron’ club was an attempt to solve a tricky golf problem: how to hit the ball out of sand, high grass or similar terrain.

A happy football fan in Texas – quite possibly with Caledonian roots – is now the proud owner of the first jersey to come to auction from Rangers’ 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup triumph over Dynamo Moscow.

Works by Surrealist artist Ithell Colquhoun (1906-88) have been rising in popularity.

Murray Rose (1939-2012) became the youngest Olympian to win three gold medals during one Games, aged just 17 in 1956.

Anthemion (20% buyer’s premium) in Cardiff offered an extensive selection of Olympic Games memorabilia at auction.

Female artist at centre of early British Surrealism scene now fetches sizeable sums

William Nicholson (1872-1949) is known today for restrained and sensitively handled still-lifes but in his day he found more success with his portraits.

One of the most eyecatching consignments of Modern British art outside London was a private collection of 14 paintings by David Bomberg (1890-1957).

Amid relief at pandemic restrictions being lifted and encouraging news of auction houses expanding, event organisers faced challenges of rising costs and the trade tackled increasing regulation and restitution demands

Forget names such as Palitoy, Britains, Dinky, Sindy, Bing and Marklin for a moment – recent auctions have shown the demand that can exist for lesser-known manufacturers and brands in the toys world.

This Japanese ‘Super Car’ tinplate vehicle is an unlicensed model, probably based on the Supercar vehicle from Gerry Anderson’s 1960s UK television series.

Nomura was one of the biggest Japanese toy makers post-war and is now particularly renowned among collectors for mechanical toys such as robots.