UK

The outstanding jade offered in the regions in the October-December period was this pale celadon teapot and cover that came for sale at Duke’s in Dorchester on December 8 from a Dutch private collection where it had been since the 1980s.

Bezoars (from the Persian pād-zahr meaning ‘poison antidote’) are the calcified concretion found in the stomachs of some animals. Prized for their supposed medicinal properties, until the Enlightenment science at the beginning of the 18th century they could sell for more than their weight in gold.

After 48 years dealing from a shop on New Kings Road in Fulham, dealer John Clay is closing his doors.

In 1602 the Dutch painter and printmaker Jan Saenredam made an engraving of a whale that had been washed ashore near the town of Beverwijk.

A 19th century sea otter amulet in walrus ivory and baleen fashioned as a mother and her pup sold for £24,000 at Woolley & Wallis (25% buyer’s premium).

Grand Canal sketch has provenance to artist’s student who became a renowned collector

Edinburgh dealer Anthony Woodd has joined forces with James Harvey, pooling their combined 70 years of dealing experience to open Harvey & Woodd.

Original French text, translated by Caxton, then illustrated by 1930s engravings

Leading a recent Woolley & Wallis' (25/12% buyer’s premium) sale in Salisbury were two scroll paintings by well-known 20th century Chinese artists that came by descent from Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell (1883-1950).

Qianlong moon flasks of this type are based on Ming dynasty prototypes that in turn were inspired by early Persian drinking vessels traded along the Silk Road.

Early Japanese porcelain models of animals are very rare, and this elephant form koro, c.1700, offered for sale as part of the Woolley & Wallis (25/12% buyer’s premium) Japanese works of art sale appears to be unrecorded.

This Japanese cloisonné casket bears the mark for the Ando Company of Nagoya.

Gallery hopes single-owner collection shows will boost profile of a prodigious talent

A selection of paintings by Yorkshire artist Owen Bowen (1873-1967) is exhibited on the stand of Walker Art Galleries at this month’s 'The Pavilions of Harrogate Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair'.

Back in 2019 we ran a story on Nicola and Kris Brown who had opened an antiques business called Nics Nacs next to their off-the- beaten-track farmhouse at Rixton outside Warrington.

Appealing to a range of different types of collectors, Victorian and Edwardian animals pin cushions have their own niche in the novelty silver field.

The market for Chinese furniture has come on leaps and bounds in 20 years.

This Kangxi (1662-1722) period blue and white brush pot was offered at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) in Stansted Mountfitchet.

Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy ballgown as worn in the 1957 film 'Love In The Afternoon' was the star of the December 7 sale at London fashion specialist Kerry Taylor (25% buyer’s premium).