Dorset

Among the most eye-catching pictures that emerged at the summer auctions around the country were a couple of early 20th century portraits of young women.

The British engineering company formerly known as Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds can trace its origins back to 1759 and the birth of the industrial revolution

A fine George II period bracket clock by Gray and Vulliamy came for sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) of Dorchester as part of a summer auction.

From a deceased estate in Christchurch, this Attic black-figured terracotta neck amphora sold at £23,000 (estimate £3000-5000) at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) of Dorchester.

During his career at Doulton Lambeth, George Tinworth was celebrated for his series of New Testament scenes modelled in terracotta.

The A 1971 Austin J40 pedal car is a relatively common sight at auction and the best tend to make around the £3000-5000 mark. For an example to make more than that it would have to be something very special.

Auctions like this don’t come along often these days.

Serendipity had it that two Regency pollard oak and ebony inlaid desks attributed to George Bullock (c.1762-1818) came for sale within a matter of hours on June 12.

Talk of ‘mammoth’ sales usually entails a sizeable selection of lots.

Ship models ruled the waves but railway toys were certainly on track too as two sales held either side of the Pond offered the collection of the late Tony Cuff.

A single-owner private collection of pre-Second World War Bassett-Lowke maritime electric, motor, clockwork and live steam model boats is for sale on April 11-12.

Recent auction sales shone the spotlight on pioneering photographers active in the first days of the art

Based in workshops near the Place des Bergues in Geneva in the 1850s-60s, the jeweller Auguste Dutertre (1798-1866) found a niche making so-called ‘bijoux à montres’ - watch movements concealed in notebooks, powder-boxes or, as here, a pair of lorgnettes.

Estimated at £200-300 but sold for £4200 at Charterhouse (25% buyer’s premium) in Sherborne, Dorset, were two design books from the Royal Doulton workshop floor.

A scarce First World War recruiting poster proclaiming Irishmen Avenge the Lusitania has sold to a London museum as part of a large collection offered at Dorset saleroom Onslows (29% buyer’s premium inc VAT).