Features

Dealer Tim Bryars previews this year’s London Map Fair with an eye on current collecting trends

Though it is the pineapple that is most prominent, it is the assortment of creatures that flutter around, climb or emerge from its leaves that are the principal attraction of this coloured plate, below.

If social media makes you feel like Big Brother is watching you, and if truth occasionally feels stranger than fiction, then like many bibliophiles you might be exploring books that suggest models for society and the role of the individual.

The six lots described here are drawn from a hugely successful sale of comics and comic art held in Dallas by Heritage (20% buyer’s premium) over four days, from April 7-10.

This Victorian ‘Language of Flowers’ fan was published by Robert Canton c.1875 and is on offer at The Ephemera Society Summer Fair.

But Brexit red tape is the talk of the trade as favourite fair returns to Old Town Hall

Spirit of Ecstasy has adorned the bonnet of every Rolls-Royce motor car since February 6, 1911.

The sale of Japanese works of art at Woolley & Wallis on the morning of May 17 is led by this 8in (20cm) high silvered bronze okimono of a cockatoo.

Led by Asian art specialist Lee Young, Dore & Rees will conduct a sale of Fine Asian Art in Frome on May 16.

The You Can Be Sure Of Shell adverts are some of the most familiar and renowned examples in British graphic design.

‘Significant damage and rust’ was spot on as a catalogue description when it came to an enamel sign sold at Cotswold Auction Company (22% buyer’s premium) on February 8. It was a mess.

This 19th century Tibetan conch shell ritual trumpet, known as a dung-dkar, forms part of the Tony Bingham collection of musical instruments.

The Asian art sale at Duke’s of Dorchester, scheduled for May, has been moved back to June 15 to incorporate a significant late consignment.

Top price among a selection of car mascots offered in Newcastle came for a design in honour of the French aviator George Guynemer.

The sale of Important Chinese Art at Sotheby’s on May 11 includes this monumental Kangxi famille noire vase estimated at £220,000-280,000.

French illustrator Robert Falcucci (1900-89) was famous for his graphic works of the Art Deco era – particularly the Monaco Grand Prix posters.

Ewbank’s (24% buyer’s premium) held a dedicated Cars, Motorbikes, Scooters & Automobilia auction on December 2 in Send, Woking.

Lyon & Turnbull’s Fine Asian & Islamic Works of Art auction includes this Longquan yuhuchun vase with carved decoration from the early Ming period.

Chiswick Auctions holds three sales on May 16-17: Asian Art Part I and Part II and a catalogue titled The Chinese Art of Monochrome.

This London Transport poster for the Motor Show that took place from October 17-26, 1935, in Olympia, west London, was designed by Heather Perry – known as Herry Perry (1897-1962). It was printed by The Dangerfield Printing Co, London.