UK

In May 1789, as the political and financial situation in France grew ever bleaker, Louis XVI was forced to summon the three estates – the clergy, nobility and commoners – who had the power to levy taxes and implement reform.

Called shuttles, but a world away from Blake’s dark satanic mills, the two sewing tools illustrated here were hand tools used by elegant ladies doing polite tatting work. The use of luxury materials was designed to reflect their status.

ATG’s weekly selection of items on sale at auctions and dealerships.

Two Mayfair exhibitions starting this month feature modern art, one focusing on British sculpture, the other on French painting.

Lawyers and accountants have drawn up documents laying out the issues facing the art and antiques trade to inform government as it negotiates the terms of Brexit.

By serendipity rather than design, Dawson’s (20% buyer’s premium) August 26 sale in Maidenhead, Berkshire, included several fine Indian works of art. Just the type of entries appealing to a broad and informed audience that can help put a fledgling saleroom on the map (Dawson’s held its first sale this January).

Breathing quality, this 22ct gold, pocket watch, below, was by an apparently unrecorded maker but nevertheless pitched at a positive £3000-3200 at Tamlyns’ (18% buyer’s premium) sale at Bridgwater on August 30.

Artist’s Resale Right, the royalty payable by a buyer to an artist or an artist’s estate for a painting resold for €1000 or more, is likely to be adopted by the UK along with other EU laws after Brexit.

Coin enthusiasts have plenty to think about as they arrive in London for the annual Coinex fair.

Tim Sutton organises the successful annual two-day Urban Art Fair in Brixton in July, where this year around 15,400 visitors spent nearly £15,000 buying works from 200 artists. Art was strung out along the railings and on stalls in Josephine Avenue.

One of the less commonly known facts about Sir John Bernard Partridge (1861-1945), the lead cartoonist at Punch magazine, was that he had a spell as an actor in his youth.

A collection from someone with a famous relative will normally prick up the ears of any self-respecting auctioneer.

Five years ago I wrote a piece about Essex dealer Guy Chevenix-Trench of Antiques by Design who was standing at the 'Salvo' fair.

The new art hub at Cromwell Place plans to host exhibitions by international museums, release specially developed technology for art-world professionals and provide flexible working spaces and art storage, it was revealed last week.

Launched in March in the characterful setting of the former fire engine workshops of the London Fire Brigade, the monthly Vintage Vauxhall Market is building dealer numbers and public interest.

The sale at Fellows (23/15% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham on July 31 included this Arts & Crafts pendant designed by Charles Robert Ashbee (1862-1942).

This 19th century gold, turquoise and peridot pomander is exceptional both in terms of size and quality.