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Tree or not tree, that is the question

23 October 2026

The top of this Regency pollard oak table features 52 oyster-veneered panels of mulberry wood, purportedly from the tree in William Shakespeare’s garden in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Watercolour by Henry Scott Tuke

Highest sum for a Henry Scott Tuke watercolour for five years

21 October 2026

Newporth beach was pretty much the ideal setting for Henry Scott Tuke (1858-1929) to paint nude figures en plein air.

Mary Best watercolour portrait

Rare collection of works by female Victorian artist produces Best results

16 October 2026

Billed as ‘an extremely personal group’, a collection of works by Mary Ellen Best (1809-1891) drew considerable demand at Bellmans (25% buyer’s premium) this month.

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Being an event organiser is quite a battle

11 September 2026

Ardingly warfest returns with re-enactors and militaria dealers as well as an ‘unforgettable finale’

Transfer printed dish

Durham Ox dishes up at auction

04 September 2026

A 20in (51cm) transfer printed pearlware dish picturing the Durham Ox sold for £3000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at an Antiques & Interiors sale at Bellmans in Billingshurst, West Sussex, on September 1-2.

Allan Scott

Collection from Scottish scriptwriter and whisky specialist Allan Scott comes to auction in Sussex

26 August 2026

A collection of decorative arts put together by scriptwriter Allan Scott, and his wife former actress Kathleen Breck, will be offered at Bellmans.

The Tent Family by David Bomberg

Demand for ‘Tents’ reflects rising prices for Bomberg

14 August 2026

Underlining the growing demand for David Bomberg (1890-1957) over recent years, a work on paper titled ‘The Tent Family’ recently appeared at auction for the third time in 10 years, selling for a greater amount on each occasion.

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Cabinet on stand is linked to Gerrit Jensen

26 June 2026

Working in St Martin’s Lane, London, from 1680 until his death in c.1705, the Flemish-born cabinetmaker Gerrit Jensen is often associated with marquetry furniture from the William and Mary period.

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Bidders show their zest for zinc Louis Vuitton trunks

05 June 2026

West Sussex firm has made the trunks something of a speciality after four five-figure sales in a decade

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Tiny pill box packs a €15,000 punch

05 June 2026

This early 20th century Russian silver and cloisonné enamel pill box measuring just 1½in (3.5cm) across bears marks for Fabergé and Feodor Ruckert (1840-1917).

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Going back to the origins of Crystal Palace and Arsenal – postcards capture club pioneers

29 May 2026

The two images of 1907-08 shown here are from a group of nine postcards relating to Crystal Palace FC that were given a modest estimate of £50-80 in the Paper Collectables sale at Toovey’s (25% buyer’s premium) on May 20.

Side table

Side table takes centre stage with a £26,000 bid

22 May 2026

This Indo-Portuguese ivory inlaid rosewood side table had last been sold in 1950 when it was bought by the ceramicist Eric James Mellon (1925-2014) while an art student in London.

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A master of martial arts and expert in Japanese martial arms and culture

22 May 2026

Focus on a dedicated auction in Sussex that dispersed the single-owner collection of an Anglo-Norwegian who became fascinated by combat in the Far East

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US buyers target British sporting guns

22 May 2026

Amid tariffs and Trump uncertainties, recent stories have concentrated on the difficulties of doing business with the US. However, the April 29 auction held by Gavin Gardiner (25% buyer’ premum) revealed all is not lost.

Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk

Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk sells to US buyer at West Sussex auction

19 May 2026

Toovey’s of West Sussex sold another zinc covered Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk on May 14 – the fourth the firm has handled in recent years.

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The name’s Bondt, Jean-Thierry Bondt

15 May 2026

The Fine Jewellery & Watches sale in Bellmans in Billingshurst on May 21 includes this Boucheron yellow guilloché enamel and brilliant cut diamond flower brooch.

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Petworth dealer explains why having a gallery is so important to business

15 May 2026

For its summer show this year, Ottocento packs its Petworth gallery with the works of Modern British masters: John Nash, Henry Moore, David Bomberg, Peter Lanyon, Ben Nicholson, and more besides.

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Quentin Blake originals bring back fond memories at auction

08 May 2026

Arabel and her anarchic pet raven, Mortimer, were first introduced in 1974 on the children’s television show Jackanory.

Pocket watch

Vendor ‘shocked and delighted’ with Swiss pocket watch auction result

01 May 2026

The watch-makers in the Vallée de Joux in Switzerland were a textbook 19th century cottage industry – typically self-employed men, and some women, working either in the ateliers based in the hamlet of Crêt-Meylan or at home. Seldom did they receive credit for their great skill.

Police cordon

Police called to Ardingly fair after suspected live shell discovered by dealer

28 April 2026

One of the dealers stalling out at the two-day Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair last week was shocked to discover a Second World War shell among his possessions.