East Midlands

This Dutch East Indies gold mounted tortoiseshell betel box hammered at £15,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium) on the opening day of the sale held by Mellors & Kirk in Nottingham on February 11-12.

Paintings depicting humble carpenter and not-so-humble locksmith benefit from market freshness

Two antiques centres operate at Cromford Mills in Matlock, Derbyshire.

A suite of three oak panelled bedroom pieces with original invoices from the Robert Thompson workshop were the stand-out lots at a recent sale at Gildings (24% buyer’s premium) of Market Harborough.

With new visitors, international buyers returning and a fresh look at events, the mood is upbeat

British comedy star Eric Morecambe’s (1926-84) lifetime collection of showbiz memorabilia and personal treasures are set for auction at Hansons on January 10-11.

Manual relating to church charity schools is the latest example of its type to impress in a saleroom

A cabinet cup and saucer decorated by perhaps the most skilled of all Sèvres painters was spotted for sale in Derbyshire.

An eight-page account of the famous football match played on Christmas Day in the First World War during an unofficial truce was a highlight of a remarkable album compiled by Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse Maude Alice Lineham (1883-1967).

A collection of miner’s lamps at Bamfords (24.75% buyer’s premium) in Derby included a pair of patent lamps by William Purdy.

The highest price at auction for a Bristol orphanage sampler was registered at Mellors & Kirk (24% buyer’s premium) in Nottingham.

Latest mid-level results for works by the incredibly prolific artist underline importance of sensible estimates

In his professional life, John McDowell (1935-2023) was a talented composer and music teacher who worked for many years at Stranmillis University College, Belfast.

The Derby porcelain factory specialised in cabinet-pieces in the 1790s.

Despite the catalogue note “would benefit from sympathetic restoration to exterior”, the overall appeal of a rare 19th century folk art dolls’ diorama of a kitchen was enough to take the hammer price to £7000.

Gordon Mitchell Forsyth (1879-1952) is best known as a ceramicist - specifically for his work as art director at the Pilkington’s Lancastrian factory from 1903-14 and his subsequent teaching career as superintendent of art instruction in Stoke-on-Trent.