UK

The traditional pre-Christmas Old Masters auctions in London were something of a mixed bag this year.

A sledge and flag from the first expedition to the Antarctic led by Ernest Shackleton have been saved for the nation.

The mixed-owner element of a recent Onslows’ sale included a William Russell Flint (1890-1969) LNER poster showing Bamburgh Castle.

This 1930s Soviet travel poster promotes Trans Siberian Express Shortest way between Europe and the Far East, for Intourist Moscow, Hotel Metropol represented by all main travel bureaus of the world.

Estimated at £800-1000 at Adam Partridge (20% buyer’s premium) but sold at £10,000 was this International Watch Company Luftwaffe pilot’s watch, c.1940.

A notable source of ancient coins and historical jewellery appearing on the market in 2020 has been the soil. It is the success of the Portable Antiquities Scheme that finders of ‘treasure’ are now encouraged to declare discoveries and share the proceeds of sales with the landowner.

A Chinese export reverse painted mirror plate in a carved George III frame is one of the highlights at the 'Mayfair Antiques and Fine Art Fair'.

‘Tis the season to indulge and give a little back and at James Hyman Gallery’s online charity sale you can do both.

Four lots of French railway posters attracted a good deal of attention at Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) on December 9-10.

Bristol auction house sells mirror with an intriguing link to Marie Antoinette

Australian species pack into a Rowland Ward taxidermy tableau sold for £4000 in Guernsey auction.

Surviving records for the London instrument maker Smith & Beck state this superb microscope from the brass and glass era was purchased on September 2, 1853, by Francis Herbert Wenham (1824-1908) – the British engineer who became a key figure in the improvement of the microscope.

Simple folk art depictions stuffed full of charm prove highly attractive to buyers at Dreweatts' auction.

An array of affordable alternatives to the blue-chip names in Modern British art generated strong bidding at Roseberys' (25% buyer’s premium) auction.

Selection of skiing posters focused on winter sports and travel is on offer at Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull.

In playing condition but with enough problems to be catalogued as ‘sold as seen’, a Nicole Frères brass inlaid music box was one of the unexpected stars of the first three-day sale to be held at Ripon auction house Elstob & Elstob (22% buyer’s premium).

A year like no other certainly produced more than a few significant challenges for the art and antiques trade but determination and flexibility – and, of course, the internet – have been key factors in businesses surviving and some even doing very well, as the ATG team reports

A ‘superb connoisseur’s collection’ of classic travel posters underlined the appeal of rare works from the biggest names of this genre

Our weekly selection of previews from UK and Irish salerooms.