South-east England

In a relatively short period from 1959-64, the Spanish-Italian Realist Xavier Bueno (1915-79) created his most recognisable works: a series of melancholic and haunting portraits of children. For Bueno these ‘Bambini’ portraits symbolised a “humiliated and oppressed humanity”.

This pair of green stained ivory cufflinks offered by Dreweatts (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) of Donnington Priory was made by Child & Child after a design by the eminent Pre-Raphaelite painter and jewellery designer Edward Burne-Jones.

This rare American scene by noted railway painter Terence Cuneo (1907-96) turned up at Canterbury Auction Galleries (20% buyer’s premium) in Kent.

Associations including Queen Victoria’s daughter help to boost 17th century manuscript.

Following “unprecedented demand”, a popular antiques and collectors’ marquee is set to return to this year’s three-day New Forest Show in Hampshire after it was not included in last year’s event.

Italian sculptors were the hottest property as garden statuary flourished at summer sales in the Home Counties.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

An “extremely rare” grouping of military items including a British 1899 issue leather hobnail boot with a shrapnel hole sold for £6500 at a Buckinghamshire auction on July 3.

As a reminder of the days when a piece of quality furniture could be expected to top a wide-ranging provincial sale, a George II giltwood and gesso occasional table led the way at Dawson’s (20% buyer’s premium) 550-lot event in Maidenhead.

Art and romance from 19th century Italy, industrialised agriculture from England – two national stereotypes were honoured in triplicate at the Canterbury Auction Galleries (20% buyer’s premium).

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Two events taking place in the north and south of England offer array of vintage delights

In market terms, ecclesiastical gates are not the subject of mass appeal but examples by major 19th century designers certainly had their devotees at two June sales.

This c.1800 flintlock pistol below by James Wilkinson, London, was used on packet ships to protect the General Post Office mail.