London

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.

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

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.

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

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).

The major draw for the Great Enfield Vintage and Collectables Fair’s new location is the free parking, said organiser Claudia Deutschmann.

The full fall-out from the record-breaking Dr John P Driscoll sale of British studio ceramics is yet to be understood.

While the Tiepolo drawing caused the biggest stir at the Roseberys (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) November 17 sale (see separate story in this edition), there were several other notable results, writes Jonathan Franks.

The Decorative Fair becomes first major event to be held in 2022 after others are postponed.

A midweek monthly antiques and vintage market which was launched in London last October by the organisers of Portobello Green Antiques Market has its next outing in Wembley Park’s vast ‘Pink’ car park on Wednesday, January 26.

It is thought that Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) executed at least a hundred drawings featuring the Punchinelli, the hook-nosed, humpbacked clowns which were central to the commedia dell’arte. Jonathan Franks reports.

Vintage fashion collective launched downstairs at a Portobello Road antiques centre.

On November 25 Dix Noonan Webb sold the first tranche of banknotes from the enormous collection of the late Gus Mac Amhlaigh of Dublin.

Trademark colourful picture features people depicted with a distinctive style of limbs.

In 1946 the artist Laura Knight (1877-1970) was commissioned by the War Artists’ Advisory Committee to create a painting of the Nuremberg Trials.

This story was updated on January 6 following an announcement from the organiser.