UK

A ‘real tennis’ racquet dating from the reign of King Louis XV of France, used by the first of the great players whose achievements are on record, is being served up at auction.

After moving to a farm at Cropton, North Yorkshire, over the next 25 years Ian David Smith assembled an extensive private collection of horse-drawn vehicles and associated items.

As early details about this year’s Frieze Masters have been released, dealers have also started sharing some key pieces of stock they will have on show.

Beatrix Potter was a pioneer of character merchandising. Two years after the publication of the first of her ‘little books’ she designed, fabricated and patented her own Peter Rabbit stuffed toy in 1903 – making him the first ever licensed character.*

This bespoke 19th century fairground steam-powered confectioner’s vendor cart, to make ice cream and popcorn, tempted bidders at John Rolfe (20% buyer’s premium) in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

Dedicated anniversary sale devoted to Robert Thompson centres on three private collections

This watercolour by Herbert Menzies Marshall (1841-1913) showing Ludgate Hill, London, is among the items on sale at Chris Beetles Gallery’s Summer Exhibition.

One of the most poignant images in suffrage historian and dealer Elizabeth Crawford’s latest book, 'The British Women’s Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects', is a lily carried by Agnes Kelly at the funeral in 1913 of Emily Wilding Davison – who famously was killed as she stepped in front of the king’s horse on Derby Day that year.

Southwold shop moves to Suffolk site nearby where another dealer had traded for 35 years

Two fairs in Birmingham are joined by new Greater Manchester event before another in Scotland

An Elizabethan or early Stuart diamond cluster gold ring found in Wormington, Gloucestershire, in November 2024 was among 14 metal detected jewels offered at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium) in Mayfair.

Clockmaker Brockbank & Atkins of St John’s Square, Clerkenwell, was known as a supplier of mahogany and silvered brass eight-day wall clocks for lighthouses.

Just a few hours after the Treasure House Fair opened to the public, London jeweller Wartski announced the sale of a major highlight from its stand.

A collector’s cabinet sold by Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury on June 30-July 1 was from a small group of furnishings fashioned from the Waterloo Elm.