UK

Thought by the auction house to be an early copy, a letter that details the horrors of the ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’ in 1756 was sold for £2900.

M Charpentier has been trading for more than 30 years, started by the late Maggie Charpentier in the 1980s and is now run by her daughters, Alix and Camilla.

An antiques fair which was traditionally held on New Year’s Day in Winchester since 1985 has moved to a new venue.

Special showcase at the winter edition centres on very collectable shop advertising signs and fixtures

Collection amassed by the popular TV magician leaves bidders spellbound as nearly all items get away

Carved c.1880 and acquired in Shanghai during the 1930s, the opal cameo shown here was the choice of pre-Christmas jewellery offered in a Somerset sale.

Another slice of the collection which brought a Christopher Wood record comes up in Gloucestershire saleroom

I would like to express my sadness on the closing of Eric A Bird Jewellers of Lincoln (Fairs, Markets, Shops & Centres, ATG No 2574).

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

A late 19th century novelty silver teapot offered at Halls (22% buyer’s premium) was made by US silversmith Gorham of Rhode Island.

Les Portes Fermées ou Les Doubles Surprises, a rare and tiny French work of c.1820, sold for £1600 at a Newcastle auction.

Highlights from London auction also include art historian’s collection and extraordinary Orwell oddity

Discovered by a metal detectorist on Dorset land once owned by Sir Thomas Brook, the late 14th century diamond set gold love ring captured hearts and international interest at Noonans’ (24% buyer’s premium) Mayfair rooms.

Among a wealth of English furniture consigned from a Wiltshire country house the outstanding items were a George I japanned bureau-cabinet and a pair of George III carved giltwood girandoles.

Cissie Kean (1871-1961) dedicated her life to painting after sustaining a severe injury during a riding accident as a young adult.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Keeley Rosendale is giving up the vintage home fairs she has run as Discover Vintage since 2012 in Leeds, London and Manchester to spend more time with her family and concentrate on other projects.

Two new dealers join the latest London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair (LARTA) this month.

Collectors of Staffordshire have noted a number of higher prices of late and further evidence of a more active market came when a pair of Victorian Staffordshire flatback figures was offered by Lacy, Scott & Knight (22.5% buyer’s premium).

“All things considered, it’s been a pretty good year and we have high hopes of 2023 being a cracker”, enthused Richard Burgoin, director of Arthur Swallow Fairs as he looked back at its fairs and markets in 2022.