UK

A museum in the Netherlands has bought a Dutch Golden Age portrait from dealer Johnny Van Haeften.

Found at a flea market, this tin-glazed earthenware mug sold for £12,000 (plus 19.5% buyer’s premium) at Claydon Auctioneers.

Eye-catching bijouterie attracted international buyers to Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) 320-lot European Works of Art sale.

A portrait of a noblewoman catalogued as by a follower of Frans Pourbus the Younger, dated 1615, emerged as one of the highlights at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge.

Thought by the auction house to be an early copy, a letter that details the horrors of the ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’ in 1756 was sold for £2900.

M Charpentier has been trading for more than 30 years, started by the late Maggie Charpentier in the 1980s and is now run by her daughters, Alix and Camilla.

An antiques fair which was traditionally held on New Year’s Day in Winchester since 1985 has moved to a new venue.

Special showcase at the winter edition centres on very collectable shop advertising signs and fixtures

Collection amassed by the popular TV magician leaves bidders spellbound as nearly all items get away

Carved c.1880 and acquired in Shanghai during the 1930s, the opal cameo shown here was the choice of pre-Christmas jewellery offered in a Somerset sale.

Another slice of the collection which brought a Christopher Wood record comes up in Gloucestershire saleroom

I would like to express my sadness on the closing of Eric A Bird Jewellers of Lincoln (Fairs, Markets, Shops & Centres, ATG No 2574).

Our regular listing of UK and Irish book auctions.

A late 19th century novelty silver teapot offered at Halls (22% buyer’s premium) was made by US silversmith Gorham of Rhode Island.

Les Portes Fermées ou Les Doubles Surprises, a rare and tiny French work of c.1820, sold for £1600 at a Newcastle auction.

Highlights from London auction also include art historian’s collection and extraordinary Orwell oddity

Discovered by a metal detectorist on Dorset land once owned by Sir Thomas Brook, the late 14th century diamond set gold love ring captured hearts and international interest at Noonans’ (24% buyer’s premium) Mayfair rooms.

Among a wealth of English furniture consigned from a Wiltshire country house the outstanding items were a George I japanned bureau-cabinet and a pair of George III carved giltwood girandoles.