UK

MADAM – With visitor numbers growing steadily, above expectations despite the pandemic, and a successful reopening under its belt, The Bowes Museum is now looking for new trustees to help reshape it, to ensure its continued success.

A Grana Ministry of Defence wristwatch – the hardest to find of the so-called ‘Dirty Dozen’ watches made by 12 Swiss manufacturers for the British army– sold for £18,000 at Thomas Miller in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Essex saleroom disperses superb pipe collection amassed over more than 50 years.

Collection of hotelier, broadcaster and food writer includes many early works.

A collection of pictures and letters by Modern British artists drew solid interest at the latest Cheffins (22.5% buyer’s premium) Art & Design sale in Cambridge.

The white ‘rooks’ to this 19th century carved and turned wood chess set, offered by TW Gaze (18% buyer’s premium) in Diss in August 12, are stamped Calvert 189 Fleet Street to their bases.

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

Meg Andrews was as disappointed as many others by the cancellation due to the pandemic of the Textile Society’s antique and vintage textiles fair at Chelsea Town Hall earlier this month.

The Modern British art sector is now one of the most vibrant in the market and represent a good slice of business for both auction houses and dealers

This 1930 white-line colour woodcut, Amarylis, by US artist Blanche Lazzell (1878-1956) is among the works on offer at the first hybrid fair staged by the International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA).

Two pieces of Moorcroft Pomegranate pattern made exceptional sums within a matter of 24 hours at the end of September. Both were early versions of the popular pattern and dated 1912 – the year William Moorcroft left his studio at James Macintyre to run his own factory in Cobridge.

Sotheby’s has opened a new shop in its Bond Street galleries retailing art, design and luxury items.

Estimated at £20,000- 30,000, a façon de Venise gilded, enamel led and engraved vase and cover sold for £70,000 (plus 27.5/25% buyer’s premium) last week.

The invention of the gauger’s slide rule in the 1680s is generally credited to one Thomas Everard of Southampton.