Oxford

A medal awarded to Pre- Raphaelite Brotherhood artist William Holman-Hunt (1827- 1910) has been purchased by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford from dealer Tregeagle Fine Art.

More than 70 lots of paintings, works on paper and antiques assembled by the well-known auctioneer and collector Paul Whitfield (1942- 2018) went under the hammer at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford on May 17.

The professional goldsmith and jewellery designer was not the first woman in such a role but received significant prominence in the Victorian era under her own name

Mallams regained the record for a pot by Jennifer Lee (b.1956) on May 18 when a large asymmetrical vessel from c.1990 sold at £40,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium).

This untitled work from c.1945 by Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) comprises a mahogany relief applied with oil paint. It was offered at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) of Oxford on May 17-18 as part of its Modern Art & Design sale.

French artist Louis Tesson (1820-70) is best known for his genre paintings in the Middle East and north Africa.

Tom Lintern-Mole, co-organiser with John Martin of PBFA’s book fair at Oxford Brookes University on Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23, said he is looking forward to 75 dealers standing.

A flurry of bids emerged at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford for a particularly fine 17th century portrait of a young woman.

Featured in an Oxford sale was a copy of the 1893, Kelmscott Press edition of The History of Godefrey of Boloyne and of the Conquest of Jerusalem.

Early example note from Sir Christopher Wren issue takes group lot to high four figure price

Bidders who missed out on a version of Gerald Summers’ 1933-34 plywood armchair sold for £20,000 as part of a collection of Simple Furniture at Lyon & Turnbull last October did not have too long to wait for another to appear for sale.

Cissie Kean (1871-1961) dedicated her life to painting after sustaining a severe injury during a riding accident as a young adult.

British watercolours are reliant not just on subject matter but also on market freshness, condition and a good pitch

An edition of Queen Victoria’s Leaves from the Journal of our Life on the Highlands… took £550 at a Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) sale of September 23.

The owl had been a symbol of wealth and wisdom since the days of ancient Greece and inspired designers such as Lalique.

Sealed wine bottles possess a powerful sense of time and place. For some collectors it is the regional connections that appeal most.

Recent biography, major show and strong auction prices suggest younger Nash is on the rise.

Among recent sales with a lyrical element was Mallams’ (25% buyer’s premium) Art & Music auction on April 6 in Oxford.

Among the works by 19th century Italian artists generating interest at recent UK auctions was a landscape by Giovanni ‘Nino’ Costa (1826-1903).

While the market for post-war wares by Thompson’s of Kilburn – particularly the animal and figure carvings – has grown substantially in recent years, the ‘prime period’ for Mouseman collecting remains the 1920s-30s.