UK

The Chinese government has written to a UK auction house to demand a halt to the sale of a silver hunting flask, taken from the Summer Palace when it was sacked by British troops in 1860 during the Second Opium War.

A strong turn-out of collectors at the patron and curator evening of Masterpiece London and a busy preview day helped exhibitors to achieve significant early sales as the fair returned after a two-year pandemic-induced break.

A string of top-end consignments of British works boosted the latest London sales of Modern and Contemporary art.

Alan Elliot’s professional life – he ran a world-class provider of time management and communication systems for many years – overlapped with his private interest in collecting clocks.

Abraham Barachin became the last silversmith to use the Hull town mark of three ducal coronets.

A sale held by Sotheby’s (26/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) to disperse natural history works from the library of Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Baron Fairhaven, contained a good many lots that brought six-figure bids, but the one featured here was one that proved a surprise.

The Sykeses of east Yorkshire made their fortunes in the 18th century not only from cloth but from the flourishing Baltic trade in crude iron.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

Platinum jubilee excitement combined with an emotive back story and a royal connection to create the perfect conditions to sell an Elizabeth II brooch

A Victorian sapphire, diamond and pearl brooch-pendant was one of two pieces with Indian roots offered for sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium).

Dreweatts offers a private collection of work by Gerald Benney, perhaps the key figure in the revival of British silversmithing in post-war Britain.

Exhibitions in London, Cornwall and Edinburgh cover artists who worked in the town

The founder of Toovey’s Auctioneers has been appointed Deputy Lieutenant for West Sussex.

This Art Deco turquoise, rock crystal and black enamelled silver necklace carries the maker’s mark of the celebrated French atelier René Boivin.

The Summer Sale at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter on July 13-15 includes this mid-Victorian colour change sapphire and rose-cut diamond pendant.

Lovers of Blue & White, the antique printed British pottery dealership of that name, is available to acquire as its owners prepare to retire.