Metalware

This sector comprises artefacts made from both base and precious metals. Many antique items were originally used for domestic purposes but are now collected on account of their craftsmanship, decorative quality and social interest.

Items can range from include pewter jugs, tin pots, brass bells, copper weathervanes and cast iron benches.

While this area offers plenty of affordable material, rare historical survivors can command high prices.


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Art Nouveau & Art Deco previews including a Birmingham Guild brass panel

07 October 2024

A selection of upcoming lots focusing on stand-out items from two key design movements

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Punning box found among bric-a-brac makes four figure sum

30 September 2024

Plucked from a box of bric-a-brac brought in for a general sale, a Commonwealth gilt brass sealing wax box sold for £5200 at Lawrences of Crewkerne. A clever pun gives a clue to its maker’s identity - and perhaps his political leanings.

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'Exceedingly scarce' wool weight triples estimate in Suffolk

22 July 2024

This William III bronze wool weight cast with the royal arms is more than twice the size of most, weighing in at 14lb.

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Large Minton centrepiece vase is among six lots to watch this week

08 July 2024

With estimates from £1200, here are six previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Highlights: a recent selection of stand-out lots sold at auction

24 June 2024

This recently discovered example of the iconic Bauhaus tea-infuser, designed by Marianne Brandt in 1924, on offer at Lempertz on May 15 for €200,000, was knocked down to the Hamburg Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (Museum for Art and Industry) for €260,000 (£222,220).

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Silver lights up Dr Fischer's 300th auction

22 April 2024

European dealers and collectors competed for pieces of 18th century Transylvanian silver which were on sale at the 300th auction of Dr Fischer (30% buyer’s premium) in Heilbronn, Germany.

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Candlesticks brighten sale day in Suffolk

01 April 2024

The latest edition of The Oak Interior auction held by Bishop & Miller (25% buyer’s premium) in Stowmarket on February 28-29 majored heavily on metalwork.

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Six-figure candlestick stands out as a shining example of Mamluk artistry

22 January 2024

Estimated at $5000-10,000, a 14th century candlestick made during the classical period of Mamluk artistic production hammered for $100,000 (£79,500) at Leland Little (20% buyer’s premium) in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on December 1.

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Clean sweep: group of gemellion hand-washing basins at five figures

15 January 2024

Limoges is regarded as one of the most important centres in the world for fine enamelware.

Channel Islands silver mug

Pick of the week: Raise two pints to Guernsey mug at auction

08 January 2024

The vast majority of Georgian-era Channel Islands silver baluster mugs are of a pint or half-pint capacity.

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Tiny but with 48 blades — a remarkable exhibition knife

01 January 2024

It was with dazzling exhibition pieces that Joseph Rodgers & Sons made its reputation as Sheffield’s foremost knifemaker.

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Collection furnished a house sited a stone’s throw from the Rijksmuseum

04 December 2023

Although originally trained as a goldsmith, Dirck Van Rijswijck (1596-1679) developed his own characteristic style using less rarefied material.

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The highlights of Herat and Cairo, renowned workshops

04 December 2023

Sixth instalment of single-owner collection on offer in west London features wonderful workshops

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Pewter pleases for a second time

13 November 2023

Suffolk sale includes further selection from Chapman collection – but sculpture brings big surprise

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French bronze and enamel vases head to Florida sale

04 September 2023

Leading the Autumn’s Arrival Auction at Akiba Galleries in Florida on September 12 is a spectacular pair of French bronze and enamel vases of a type shown at the 1878 Paris 'Exposition Universelle'.

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Platter taken to 11 times estimate at German auction

24 July 2023

The sale at Düsseldorfer Auktionshaus (25% buyer’s premium) on May 12 included this 22in (57cm) diameter Russian carved wood ‘bread and salt’ dish.

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Bidders get a second Getty chance thanks to Temple of Wings contents

03 July 2023

Three auctions follow on from the October series to offer items from the collectors’ Californian residence

Persian mirror

Pick of the week: Persian mirror emerges at Lincolnshire auction

26 June 2023

A 14th or 15th century Persian mirror that emerged at auction in Lincolnshire took a five-figure sum.

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Casts of garden urns designed for Versailles offered in Oxfordshire

22 May 2023

In a style admired in the gardens at Versailles and at a House & Garden sale in Abingdon, a pair of urns after those created for Louis XIV’s great project led the field at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium).

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An Arts & Crafts water jug is among six lots to watch

15 May 2023

With estimates from £200, here are six previews of items coming up at auction this week.

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