Europe

In 1926, after two years of negotiations, two German automobile producers joined forces to become Mercedes-Benz.

Early on in his career, which spanned most of the 19th century, Johann Wilhelm Preyer decided to paint only still-lifes. He studied at the academy in Düsseldorf and was one of the leading lights in what was to become the Düsseldorf School of painters.

In the latter half of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, there were over 250 companies in Great Britain producing bamboo furniture.

The vendor of an early 19th century glass offered as part of the February 21-24 sale at Wendl (21% buyer’s premium) in Rudolstadt will have been astonished by the result.

A fresh-to-the-market ensemble of rosewood furniture by French designer and architect Pierre Chareau (1883- 1950) met with great enthusiasm when it went under the hammer.

Auction staged at Drouot offered a varied selection topped by Louis XVI-era suit

The Paris auction houses will also be hosting plenty of sales devoted entirely or in part to works on paper.

Drawing Week, the Paris annual spring celebration staged around the Salon du Dessin fair and a raft of works on paper auctions, takes place in the latter part of this month when the French capital traditionally turns the spotlight on drawings

This gem-set gold snake armlet, a gift from the celebrated Victorian artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) to his second wife Laura Epps (1852-1909), will take centre stage on the stand of London jeweller Wartski at TEFAF Maastricht.

A Parisian sale titled Pablo Picasso and his Friends staged at Piasa in France on February 15 included a series of artworks to which the great man had contributed in some way.

Ahead of the 37th edition of TEFAF Maastricht the organisation has streamlined its Old Masters vetting committees.

At the peak of his fame, the Anglo-Italian jewellery designer Andrew Grima was invited by Omega to create what would become the About Time collection.

Antiquities specialists Charles Ede of London and Contemporary New York gallery Sean Kelly share a stand at TEFAF Maastricht’s inaugural Focus section, which is aimed at presenting complementary works from different artists and disciplines.

Our preview of the upcoming Maastricht fair which includes a new section to promote cross-collecting

Legend has it that Charles Arpels (of Van Cleef & Arpels fame) saw a lady friend stashing her lipstick and other cosmetics in an ordinary cigarette tin for a trip out on the town.

Despite specialising in Modern art, Tommaso Calabro hopes to snag some Old Master collectors at his first TEFAF.

In 1903, only one year before his death, Emile Gallé was commissioned by the Belgian company Solvay et Cie with the creation of a bowl to mark the 30th anniversary of its factory in Dombasle.

One of the earliest pieces in the auction of works of art at Koller in Zürich on March 21 is a copper and enamel figure of a dove.