UK

Pub names can provide a snapshot of British history. Many years ago now, while subsisting on cheese on toast at a university hall of residence in south London, I was fascinated by the name of a nearby boozer called the George Canning.

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week include a pencil collection, a rare candlestick and an Arts and Crafts brooch.

An unusual painting of a fishing boat by Egon Schiele (1890-1918) will be auctioned at Sotheby’s in London next month.

Here are five examples of modern jewellery that were sold yesterday in Birmingham. Earlier this week we previewed this auction. Now we review the hammer prices for the five items we chose.

The University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries has acquired a rare 15th-century French Gothic coffer – one of the largest-surviving examples of a late medieval box used for transporting precious books.

A copy of a previously unheard studio recording made by a young David Bowie comes up for sale at auction next week.

The latest dispersal of objects from the collection of the late Christopher Martin-Zakheim and his shop Iconastas Gallery went under the hammer at Dawson’s Auctioneers of Maidenhead last weekend.

A south Indian Bidri pear-shaped tray dating from the 17th century has been temporarily blocked from export from the UK by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The “stunning” contents of a 16th century London house owned by a collector of art and antiques is coming to auction next month. Chiswick Auctions will offer more than 110 lots in the sale called A Private London Collection on February 5.

On any shortlist of iconic jewellery designers of the 20th century, few would disagree with the inclusion of brands such as Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany and Cartier. But what of the next tier of designers from the past 100 years and how affordable are they to collect? ATG asked Nicola Whittaker of Fellows' London office to pick five 20th century designers in the auction house's January 24 sale, from household names to rising stars.

A ‘Moonraker’ laser rifle and letter from Roger Moore are among sales highlights at a James Bond auction in the Midlands as Surrey auction house Ewbank’s prepares for its Bond and Beyond memorabilia sale.

South London’s Forum Auctions will hold its latest sales in its usual venue of The Westbury Hotel in central London with highlights including a Lowry pencil on paper and a rare lithographic poster for the legendary ocean liner SS Normandie.

Founded in 1804, The Royal Watercolour Society has been in existence for over two centuries and includes famous names such as John Singer Sargent, Samuel Palmer and Edward Burne-Jones among its past members.

While Booker White is usually not the first bluesman who comes to mind, the musicians he inspired are instantly recognisable: the likes of Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones.

With estimates from £250 to £12,000, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.