Pick of the Week

The etching 'A View in America in 1778' is a satire on the progress of the American Revolution.

Stands and side tables were a prominent feature in many large Georgian houses and were used for a variety of quite specific purposes. However, it is extremely rare to find a piece of furniture designed specifically to take a goldfish bowl.

Among the more extraordinary forms of French furniture is the ‘machine pneumatique’ – a device used in the Age of Enlightenment to demonstrate the mysterious properties of the vacuum or ‘the energy of the nothingness’.

The pages of ATG have included many antiques stalls over the years but not many that measure just over 2ft long.

The Fine Sale on March 26 at Cheffins in Cambridge included a group of pictures consigned by a descendant of the artist known as Philip Villamil of Jamaica (1814-78).

Among the most desirable of all Scottish garden ornaments are the Garnkirk urns, a pair of neoclassical vases first made for the Great Exhibition of 1851.

The velocipede is considered the direct forerunner to the modern bicycle, especially a series of French examples produced with pedals, cranks and handlebars in the 1850s-60s.

Born in London, artist Tom Roberts (1856-1931) became famous on the other side of the world painting the people and landscape of Australia.

Turned down by several publishers, Beatrix Potter shouldered the expense of privately printing The Tale of Peter Rabbit with Strangeways Printers in December 1901.

The fashion for eye miniatures – or lover’s eyes – is said to have begun with a politically and socially unacceptable royal affair.

Chanel No 5 was perfected in the late summer and autumn of 1920 by the French-Russian chemist and perfumer Ernest Beaux.

Even when set against the standards of royal pageantry, the crowning of George IV at Westminster Abbey on July 19, 1821, was a lavish affair.

Unless you are a golfer, the name Harry Vardon is probably not a familiar one.

Not only is this a fine and unusual example of pre-war Mouseman furniture but it comes with a remarkable provenance.

A forgotten moment from the engaging story of the Martin family of potters is told through a teapot sold at Woolley & Wallis’ British Art Pottery & Design auction on December 3.

It was overshadowed by the James Bond doll when it was released in 1966 and was granted a shorter production run, but the Kissy Suzuki doll from the film 'You Only Live Twice' was star of the show at C&T Auctioneers.

When an Irish antiques sleuth paid under £200 on eBay for what appeared to be a cigar case, information about its origin was sketchy at best.