South-west England

‘Charming’ view by the Cornish artist lacking his usual dominant figures takes top spot in Penzance sale

The Parisian workshop of Henri Picq does not have quite the name recognition of Cartier or LaCloche, but it was nonetheless responsible for supplying both houses with some of the most exceptional jewellery of the early 20th century.

Most Tudor and Stuart embroidered bindings that have survived from the 16th and 17th century cover Bibles, prayerbooks, and other devotional texts.

Annual fair held at the city’s Assembly Rooms since 1986 starts afresh in Pavilion venue this July

Porcelain from the Staffordshire factory takes up half a sale – and it’s just the first part of a huge collection

Pair of rare and early French examples offered separately create a bidding frenzy despite condition issues

More paintings on offer in Dorest saleroom from the Cornish ‘school’ show the market strength

The opening section of Duke’s latest Art & Design post 1880 sale was devoted to the ‘forgotten’ artist Kathleen Muriel Scale (1913-2006).

Show held for the first time last year returns at same location and is fully booked

Stephen Switzer (1682-1745), gardener, author, landscape designer and seedsman, was apprenticed in 1699 to George London, the senior partner of Brompton Park Nurseries.

Strong bidding emerged at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne for a Swedish portrait of Ellen Wester (1873-1930), a pioneering female translator and journalist.

Simon Lamb of The Swan Gallery in Sherborne works with his wife Kristina and their son Chris specialising in oil paintings and watercolours 1800-1950, along with antique prints and early maps.

Recognised as the ‘Father of Geology’, in 1815 William Smith was the first to map the geology of England and Wales, with part of southern Scotland.

Medal group sold for £43,000 at a Devon sale recognised the bravery of a medic who cared for others

“It was no surprise that a single-owner sale of noble provenance and with royal connections was such a success”, said Thomas Jenner-Fust.

When it comes to the portraits of the Swiss artist Firmin Massot (1766- 1849), it tends to be depictions of young female sitters shown either full length of ‘jusqu’aux genoux’ (as far as the knees) – a format he often favoured – that attract the most attention commercially.

Archive sold in Somerset and bugle offered in Dorset reflect the first organised cycling clubs