West Midlands

How do you end up selling antique weapons and can you do it full-time to make a living? From swords and sabres to pistols and machine guns, we spoke to six arms dealers who attended the International Birmingham Antique Arms & Militaria Fair in September to find out how they got into the trade and how their business is faring

City and United player once mired in a bribery scandal but who played until 49 is today a major draw at auction

The Antiques & Interiors two-day sale at Fieldings (26% buyer’s premium inc VAT) of Stourbridge included this 9ct, 18g gold runner’s-up medal awarded to Jack Banks of West Bromwich Albion after the 1895 Football Association Challenge cup final against Aston Villa.

A roster of around 115 dealers and long waiting list demonstrates the importance of the Birmingham fair

It’s always heartening to hear about the repurposing of old buildings, particularly when they become antiques businesses.

Auction house Fellows has a new owner, with 100% of the business - previously owned by the Whittaker family - having been sold to a private investor.

This official ticket allowed admission to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of George III on September 22, 1761.

Biannual Herefordshire fair now in its 12th year is held in a large marquee at country house location

An exhibition at the Spode Museum devoted to the near-ubiquitous Willow pattern is bringing together two world cities bound by a unique shared heritage

Halls’ (24% buyer’s premium) Militaria, Naval and Aviation Auction included a medal group with an intriguing link to a famous figure of the First World War, British nurse Edith Cavell.

It was announced on September 6 that the University of Staffordshire has partnered with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to house the Thornhill collection of predominantly Chinese ceramics at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley, with the aim of exhibiting it to the public for the first time since the 1980s.

That Willow became the most popular and persistent of the many transfer-printed landscape patterns was in part due to a stroke of 19th century marketing genius.

Halls’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest Militaria, Naval and Aviation Auction in Shrewsbury offered a tempting selection of lots such as First World War uniforms in decent condition.

Easy to display and made in multiple variants, glass petrol pump globes are a popular choice at auction.

A rare work by Royal Worcester’s near-legendary craftsman George Owen (1845-1912) led a sale at Philip Serrell (20% buyer’s premium) in Malvern, Worcestershire, this summer.

I enjoyed perusing your recommendations of museums’ special exhibitions to see in your annual Summer Supplement a few weeks ago (ATG No 2699).

Etymologist buys a glossary which provides a rich seam when it comes to English language changes

Just a month after a rare Christian Dior (1905-57) musical brooch was sold Tajan in Paris, two more examples appeared for sale at Fellows’ (30% buyer’s premium inc VAT) Handbags & Accessories auction in Birmingham on June 24.