Decorative Art

A tankard said to be made from the hide of Oliver Cromwell’s warhorse was the toast of an auction in Dorchester.

Hugo de Groot, also known as Hugo Grotius, was a Dutch philosopher, political theorist and theologian. His publication 'On the Law of War and Peace' in 1625 earned him the status as the ‘father of international law’.

The Madoura pottery founded by Suzanne and Georges Ramié in Vallauris, a village in the south of France renowned for pottery production, was a popular place for many artists in the post-war years. From 1948-55 Pablo Picasso lived in Vallauris and divided his time between painting and creating ceramics at Madoura.

A cigarette box engraved with the facsimile signature Captain Falcon Scott may have been a piece the Antarctic hero gave to a fellow explorer he offended.

This Liverpool creamware transfer-printed frog mug was produced by the short-lived Herculaneum factory c.1830-33 just after the 1829 Rainhill Steam Trials.

This silver teapot has London hallmarks for 1792 and a maker’s mark for silversmith Michael Plummer who worked out of Gutter Lane, London, from 1791-95.

In the absence of face-to-face contact, 2020 was a difficult year for the numismatics market as a whole... but the auction business found a way to thrive.

The Cluny Museum in Paris, dedicated to works of art from the Middle Ages, pre-empted two items in a Pierre Bergé & Associes sale of Haute Epoque in Paris.

The auction firm Peschetau-Badin (22.5% buyer’s premium) is known for holding dedicated ceramics sales and offered a two-day auction of European ceramics.

American pieces understandably dominated the Rago (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) early 20th century Design sale in Lambertville, New Jersey, on January 21.

This French cased set of four decanters and 16 glasses dated to the Napoleon III period will feature in the 367-lot February 17 sale at Auction Life.

The February 26-28 sale at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries offers a wide selection of fine art and antiques of American and international interest.

Despite lockdown restrictions Bonhams' traditional Oak Interior offerings performed very well

The Mallams (20% buyer’s premium) two-day Jewellery, Watches and Silver sale in Oxford included some exceptional silver lots.

A Winter Estates Sale at Neal in New Orleans from February 5-7 opens with just under 200 lots from the estate of journalist, author and hostess Julia Reed.