Plymouth

Stock and private collection of Cornwall dealer brings the crowds back to Plymouth

Back in July 2008 a rare Bristol delftware plate surfaced for sale. Decorated in the bianco sopra bianco style, it featured a bold image of a man on horseback and was inscribed 'A. Bosavern, Looe 1763'.

Dealer’s art and antiques being dispersed at auction includes Newlyn School works and Clarice Cliff

One of the highest prices for a figurative work by Maxwell Ashby Armfield (1881-1972) came at an early spring sale at Plymouth Auction Rooms (20% buyer’s premium).

A sword presented to one of only three Jewish winners of the Victoria Cross in the Second World War has sold for a hammer price of £7200 at Plymouth saleroom Eldreds (20% buyer’s premium).

A signed copy of Novello’s original octavo edition of Edward Elgar’s The Kingdom appeared in Plymouth Auction Rooms’ (20% buyer’s premium) New Year’s Day Collectors timed online sale.

A gold-mounted garnet intaglio ring depicting the handsome Greek youth Antinous was taken to a multi-estimate £24,000 at Busby’s (25/10% buyer’s premium), triggering speculation it might be one of the lost ancient Marlborough gems.

Michael Ramsey (1904-88) who served as the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961-74, curated his own personal visitor book that tracked his career from 1942-87.

Recent picture highlights at auction include works by artist renowned for his poultry depictions and writing on the subject

At Frant there dwells a Man of fame. By trade a Tailor, Smart by name.

Queen Victoria gave many gifts to family, friends and servants, often commemorating notable events in her life.

Relatively few gallantry medals available for what was short self-contained conflict, heroic stories involving highly collectable regiments, a relatively morally unambiguous backstory (for British collectors at least)… the Falklands War can generate high demand at auction.

A study of a figure wearing a robe and turban drew a fierce bidding battle at Eldreds (25% buyer’s premium) in Plymouth at the end of last month.

When people think of the Newlyn School, most commonly it is pictures of Cornish fishermen, farmers and miners that spring to mind.

Among the most traditional of antiques, the William and Mary oyster veneered walnut chest of drawers remains a welcome visitor to the saleroom.

The Church of England was Geoffrey Garner’s vocation in life – collecting military badges his hobby

The Box, a museum, gallery and archive set to open in Plymouth in May, has acquired a ‘colossal and extraordinary grotesque grinning crab’ by the Martin Brothers.

Inspired by LS Lowry, the self-taught Mancunian artist Fred Yates (1922-2008) set out to paint pictures about the lives of ordinary people. These canvases – ranging from the industrial architecture and street life of Manchester to the sunnier scenes he painted after his move to Cornwall in 1969 – attract a loyal following on the secondary market.