Roseberys

This letter signed by Charles II was written in September 1660, mere months after the restoration of the monarchy.

With an exhibition dedicated to Philip Alexius de László (1869- 1937) having just opened at Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, lively activity in the artist’s market has also come of late.

Roseberys’ sale of Modern British & 20th Century art on March 12 will include works from the collection of Bernard Sheridan (1927-2007).

Roseberys’ (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) final Fine & Decorative sale of the year included this recent charity shop donation: a Nantgarw cabinet plate decorated by Thomas Pardoe (1770-1823).

Roseberys (26% buyer’s premium) posted the second-highest auction price for Peter Rose Pulham (1910-56) at its most recent sale of Modern British & 20th Century Art.

A fascinating personal collection of items relating to Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) that sold in a south London auction included what are among the last photographs ever taken of her.

A group of works by society portraitist Frank O Salisbury are being auctioned at Roseberys to raise money for the British art charity the Walpole Society.

Two of the highest prices at auction in the last 20 years for Dame Ethel Walker (1861-1951) came at Roseberys’ (26% buyer’s premium) latest Modern British & 20th Century Art sale.

This Italian polychrome lava stone and pietra dure panel is probably by the Sicilian mosaicist Giovanni Battista Cali.

Despite the proliferation of pottery horse sculptures from the Tang period, they were (by imperial edict) reserved for the aristocratic class.

This Korean slip-inlaid (sanggam) celadon-glazed cup stand dates from the 13th century and the height of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392).

The highest prices at auction for the Camden Town Group artist Charles Ginner (1878-1952) have all come for oil paintings but his precise, lucid style very much leant itself to the medium of watercolour.

After the establishment of trade with the Turks in the late 17th century, British officials began presenting gifts to Ottoman officials. Clocks were a favourite and the British ingenuity and quality led to a break in the dominance of the French and Swiss in this market.

When Ernest Shepard was first recommended to AA Milne in 1923, the author had originally deemed him unsuitable.

A small sketch of two ships in a gale by the leading Dutch marine painter Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707) was among the lots bringing interest at Roseberys’ (25% buyer’s premium) summer sale of Old Master, British & European pictures.

Trio of works by the Hungarian artist underlines the appeal of portraits as conversation pieces

Since the 1960s, birds have been the main subject matter of New Zealand artist Raymond Ching (b.1939).

With its long and varied production lines Moorcroft remains a stalwart of Design auctions.

Founder of London gallery Agi Katz had personal experience after escaping from persecution herself

Roseberys’ (25% buyer’s premium) sale of Antiquities, Islamic and Indian Arts on April 28 – which included the 13th century Mamluk manuscript on astronomy pictured on the front page of ATG No 2592 sold for a surprise £140,000 – also boasted this striking 12in (30cm) marble architectural roundel.