Shropshire

This large oak Orientalist carving, 'Eastern Slave Girl', is by the Victorian woodcarver Thomas Henry Kendall.

One of the highlights at the timed online of Modern and Contemporary Art Auction at Halls of Shrewsbury, which closes on May 2, is a large painting of sunflowers by John Bratby (1928-92).

The master wood carver and furniture maker copied out missing Bible pages when aged just 13.

Scottish artist Joseph Farquharson (1846-1935) is best known for his snowy landscapes with sheep that earned him the nickname ‘Frozen Mutton Farquharson’.

Floral decorator tasked her assistant to develop a range which was fired by Fulham Pottery.

The distinguished military career of Major General Sir George Ridout Bingham (1777-1833) included service in the Peninsular War during the years 1809-14.

A collection of works by the Victorian woodcarver Thomas Henry Kendall has been consigned for sale next month.

This 18ct gold and enamel medal was awarded to Reginald Arthur Whitcombe (1898-1957) for winning the 1936 Open Golf Championship of Ireland.

Halls (23% buyer’s premium) offered the Enid and Bruce Moulder collection of toy teawares via a timed online auction that closed on November 23.

Francis Towne watercolour was one of his many works to have gone through Agnews

Angling and fishing fans will be familiar with the firm Hardy of Alnwick. In 1872 William Hardy set up shop as a gunsmith.

Handed in by miners at the start of a shift in exchange for a Davy lamp, colliery tokens, tallies or checks provided vital information in the event of fire or explosion.

The eclectic collection of Alison Barker (1951-2021) of London and Chichester was sold by Trevanion in Whitchurch, Shropshire on January 12.

Bid to to £400 in an October 6 sale held by Halls (20/12% buyers premium) of Shrewsbury was a simple, partly printed receipt in the sum of three guineas with autograph additions and signature that date it to April 24, 1806.

Pictured here are two early English pottery tankards – both of them documentary pieces.

Among the Charles Tunnicliffe works drawing the most attention at Halls’ sale on September 15 (see main story) were pictures bought by the vendor directly from the artist’s family, with whom they were acquainted.

Excellent selection of the artist’s wildlife works had been wrapped up and kept pristine.

This ventriloquist’s dapper dummy was one of the surprise star turns at Halls’ (23% buyer’s premium) Shrewsbury auction.

It was when the book was in the process of being catalogued by Bretells (19% buyer’s premium) of Newport, Shropshire, that a second impression copy of Tolkien’s The Hobbit was seen to bear the author’s signature.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.