Pick of the Week

The top lot in Stair’s (31% buyer’s premium) Americana sale had a distinctly British profile.

Elektro was built in 1937 by industrial giant Westinghouse in Mansfield, Ohio, for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York: the first robot in the world that could walk, talk and even count on his fingers.

Remarkably, given Chelsea FC’s modern-day huge spending and multi-year lucrative contracts, two of the squad who helped to win their first-ever league title in 1954-55 were amateurs.

A sale of items from the holdings of a pioneer ‘craft’ collector at Rago-Wright in Lambertville, New Jersey, was topped by a Cycladic arrow form by Hans Coper (1920-81).

A Gorham Martelé silver punch bowl made for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis sold for $120,000 (£89,700) at Freeman’s in Chicago.

Bonhams offered the Contents of Monreith House: A Historical Seat of Clan Maxwell in two July sales from its Edinburgh saleroom.

A “seminal document of Parliamentary history” has been purchased at auction by dealership Philip Mould & Company for a hammer price of £62,000.

The so-called Biscuit Tin Episode in the life of author Charles Dodgson left behind a great collectable: the W&R Jacob & Co lithographed tin, one of which was offered by Hartley’s on June 17.

The two opening lots of Chorley’s Modern Art & Design sale on June 2 were a walnut and ebony secretaire cabinet and a dresser designed and made by Arts & Crafts titan Sidney Barnsley (1865-1926).

The cuerda seca (dry cord or kashi) technique of decorating tiles was developed in Central Asia during the latter part of the 14th century.

A British ‘Dandy Horse’ bicycle made c.1819 was the earliest among a group of four rare 19th century examples on offer at Lewes saleroom Gorringe’s.

A rare 18th century medal issued to commemorate the death of explorer James Cook is to become part of an exhibition marking the 300th anniversary of the explorer’s birth after being sold at auction.

The watch-makers in the Vallée de Joux in Switzerland were a textbook 19th century cottage industry – typically self-employed men, and some women, working either in the ateliers based in the hamlet of Crêt-Meylan or at home. Seldom did they receive credit for their great skill.

The first Australian sporting team to tour internationally included players Johnny Mullagh (traditional name Unaarrimin), Harry Bullocky (Bullchanach), Dick-a-Dick (Jungunjinanuke), Johnny Cuzens (Zellanach) and Twopenny (Murrumgunarriman).

The Mickey and Minnie Mouse motorcycle made by Tippco, c.1932, is the most desirable of all the German tinplate clockwork toys from the immediate pre-war period.

In the latter half of the 19th century, French society stood at the crossroads of progress.