Germany

The French portrait painter Jean Baptiste van Loo (1684-1745) received numerous commissions from European royal families and aristocrats.

Now in its 14th year, the art fair Highlights is way past the status of a newcomer and has become an established up-market event in the autumn calendar.

Long before the days of photo-realism, artists created remarkably accurate depictions of their subject matter.

Heinrich von Brühl was without doubt the most prominent patron of the porcelain manufacture in Meissen.

A selection of French Art Nouveau glass coming up for sale at sales in the UK and Germany. Bidding is available via thesaleroom.com.

Inspired by Carlo Scarpa’s use of murrine glass in the 1930s and 1940s, Paolo Venini (1895-1959) designed a number of vessels in the 1950s that have become classics of post-war Italian design.

This vase is by the Italian painter and glass artist Dino Martens (1894-1970).

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

Recent sales of Asian art achieved some memorable prices, paid not surprisingly by Asian buyers.

An early 17th century pen and ink drawing of Euterpe, the muse of lyrical music, caused the biggest surprise at Karl & Faber (27% buyer’s premium).

International collectors invested considerable sums in the Expressionist paintings on offer at German sales over the last few weeks.

In the 1920s, the German painter Albert Birkle (1900-86) combined 'Neue Sachlichkeit' (New Objectivity) with his version of magic realism to produce sometimes disturbing results.

Auctions held in Australia and Germany rack up strong prices for major European makers

The HMV 900 was one of first television receivers designed by the Marconi-EMI Television Company, the firm that also provided the technology for Britain’s first television service.

Recent auction results in Germany and Switzerland give a snapshot of the market beyond wristwatches

Laurent-Alexis Guelfucci opened Guelfucci Gallery in 1998 and specialises in early 20th century furniture and art with a focus on Art Deco.

Hermann Historica’s (25% buyer’s premium inc VAT) huge series of sales in Munich included what it billed as ‘a key document from German history’.

The Stuttgart Rare Book Fair, Germany’s leading fair for the rare book and prints trade, is returning after the pandemic for an anniversary event from June 16-18.