London

Lots from the Royal Society of Medicine boost Christie's sale result to best of its type since 2016

A highlight of the sale of European Works of Art, Objects & Silver at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in west London was The Gunner by Scottish monumental sculptor Alexander Carrick (1882-1966).

London Art Fair stands out as a key early opportunity to showcase works to a domestic audience

Bought for just £40 last year, two rare bronze buttons designed by Alberto Giacometti for Elsa Schiaparelli hammered for £48,000 at the latest Modern Decorative Art & Design sale at Bonhams Knightsbridge.

One of the eight York Rose brooches given by Prince Albert to the bridesmaids who attended his marriage to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 sold for £15,000.

This imposing pair of 3ft 8in (1.09m) high hexagonal form vases combine both early 19th century Chinese and later 19th century French craftsmanship.

It is rare to find a well-preserved example of a 19th century 'palepai'.

A group of works by George Richmond (1809-96) offered at auction at the end of last year showed plenty of life remains in the market for the London-born painter.

One standout offering at The Decorative Fair this month unites two pieces of early 20th century technology: the dreadnought battleship and the mass production of the crisp.

James Boswell (1740-95), later renowned as the biographer of Samuel Johnson, arrived in London in 1762 at the age of 22.

These two pages of working lyrics for the Jimi Hendrix song Room Full of Mirrors (which later appeared on his 1971 album Rainbow Bridge) are handwritten on Londonderry Hotel, Park Lane, stationery.

If you are visiting the Decorative Fair in Battersea, which runs from January 20-25, check out the many antiques shops in the area and a visit to the Northcote Road Antiques Market in Battersea might also be a good suggestion (nearest rail station: Clapham Junction).

A round up of news from three London dealers

Illustrator famous for helping to bring alive the beloved bear preferred his other commissions

Market freshness and good provenance have always been key components in the Old Master sector, and the latest series of auctions in this category underlined how heavily dependent the market remains on the supply of works that have these qualities.

With the first hardback Philosopher’s Stone at stratospheric sums, the soft cover value is rising steadily