Auctioneers

Optimism permeated the UK’s regional auction market across much of the last year.

Baldwin’s and their partners began 2014 in style at the ‘New York International Numismatic Convention’.

In the islands of the Pacific, where hardwood trees were abundant and iron virtually non-existent until the 19th century, the fighting club was elevated to an art form – made in a wider variety of forms and with more lavish decoration than any other weapon.

Cameras and photographic equipment are among the fastest growing categories for Newbury saleroom Special Auction Services.

Top price of the day at Peter Francis’ recent sale in Carmarthen was provided by this 4½in (11cm) Swansea creamware tea caddy made in the early years of the Cambrian Pottery.

Dorchester auctioneers Duke’s have unveiled plans for a new saleroom in the heart of the county town.

The annual Christmas Present sale held by George Kidner at their saleroom in Lymington included this French Art Deco ruby and diamond-set brooch or jabot pin.

The usually private world of corporate art collections from around the world will be opened up for the first time thanks to a new book which has taken five years to compile.

Having tempted buyers with one-off auctions called The London Sale in September 2012 and Out of the Ordinary in September 2013, Christie’s will continue to use this sale format to offer a tasty selection on January 16.

Bonhams are to hold golf memorabilia sales in Scotland starting in June.

Amy Cappellazzo will leave Christie’s after the London auctions in February to pursue her career outside the company.

Although missed at the cataloguing stage, this 13½in (35cm) Vincennes dish established a new house record for Wellers of Guildford when it sold at £70,000.

A Victorian diamond rivière necklace sold to an anonymous bidder for £190,000 at Duke’s of Dorchester earlier this month.

Wilkinson’s of Doncaster sold 230 pieces of 16th century metalwork from the so-called Pewter Wreck.

When Gloucestershire auctioneers Chorley’s were asked to sell this early Victorian dolls’ house, the consignment came with a caveat.

Picked from a trench in 1916, a poppy which is thought to be the only surviving example from the First World War sold for £5200 at Duke’s of Dorchester earlier this month.

The portrait of Jane Austen by James Andrews that will appear on the new £10 note in 2017 was offered by Sotheby’s as the star turn of their traditional end-of-year English literature and history sale.

The importance of China as a source of new clients in the international art market has been highlighted in a business intelligence report made available to ATG by Sotheby’s.

The vast collection of the late Dr Gustav Rau provided the top lot of London’s latest series of Old Master auctions as a portrait by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) took a record £15.2m at Bonhams.

An extremely rare 1700-year-old Roman gold coin discovered by a metal detecting enthusiast in South Wiltshire is expected to fetch up to £30,000 at an auction in London.