Italy

In 1961 when Christie’s auctioned off items from the Wilton House Collection, the catalogue included a full-page image of a monumental Roman marble.

The eggs of the extinct Aepyornis maximus or elephant bird are the largest of any known species.

Recent advertising highlights from UK sales and an Italian auction

A classic pale pastel toned still-life by Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964) is one of the headline lots in a two-day sale of Modern and Contemporary Art at Farsettiarte in Prato in Italy on May 26-27.

This drum major’s uniform is from the era of Queen Elizabeth II, as indicated by the big, gilded-thread monogram E II R under the crown.

The Musée d’Orsay in Paris has acquired two large paintings by Giulio Aristide Sartorio (1860-1932) from Rome dealership Antonacci Lapiccirella.

Demonstrating how the internet has transformed the market for potential sleepers, three portraits that drew strong interest recently at different auctions in the UK and Europe all sold to online buyers.

This Victorian purse gun was designed by Oscar Frankenau from Nuremberg and patented in both the UK and the US in 1876.

International trade converge at the Palazzo Corsini on the banks of the Arno for BIAF.

The reference 3330 antimagnetic is one of the rarest pre-Oyster chronographs made by Rolex.

Fabrizio Moretti recently opened an Old Masters gallery, Moretti Fine Art, on Duke Street, St James’s, London.

Visit to beautiful towns and cities can be combined with an antiques buying trip

By the 1850s, tourist travel to Middle East created strong demand for photographs as souvenirs.

Old Masters dealership Colnaghi is collaborating with Direzione regionale Musei Veneto and Venetian Heritage on an exhibition of Renaissance sculptures to coincide with the 59th Venice Biennale.

Antonacci Lapiccirella Fine Art of Rome has sold a pencil drawing depicting Maria Luisa de Bourbon to The Hamburger Kunsthalle.

Venetian edition of Commedia, lunar map and account of Polar voyages surface in Milan.

You can always find stylish pieces at 20th century design sales held by Italian auction houses. Here are some highlights from recent sales at Wannenes in Genoa on December 15-16 and Colasanti in Rome on October 7-8.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Part of a medieval manuscript stolen in Italy more than 30 years ago has been returned with the help of London firm Bloomsbury Auctions.