International

Swedish artists are especially prominent in show staged by first-time exhibitor at Master Drawings

The art world descends on New York in the closing days of January. The Winter Show, Master Drawings New York, and a number of sales at the major auction houses make the season de rigeur for major collectors.

This year marks both the 50th anniversary of the opening of Galerie G Sarti and only a few months since the death of its founder.

Cotswolds dealer Paul Shutler has sold a pair of EW Godwin-designed andirons to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.

Some of the rarest coins in world numismatics were sold at auction in New York last week. Auction sessions spanning seven consecutive days (January 12-18) were held as part of the annual New York International Numismatic Convention, the US’s largest and most prestigious numismatic event known as NYINC.

A set of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings realised a premium-inclusive $250,000 (£187,500) at Heritage Auctions of Dallas.

A recent sale at Marion Antique Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) in Marion, Massachusetts included a large Meiji vase by Kanamori Soshichi (1821-92).

A notable Irish hunting painting that emerged at Fonsie Mealy (25% buyer’s premium including VAT) at the end of last year drew “very spirited bidding” according to the Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny saleroom.

Working in Japanese urushi lacquer requires patience. Harvested from the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree, it is built up slowly, layer by layer, each stage requiring careful drying and polishing under controlled conditions.

Pairing old with new has become a familiar tactic in the art market.

Dovecotes also cause a flutter in North Carolina as British pottery achieves strong prices

A set of 12 Chinese export pictures depicting the manufacture and distribution of porcelain was among the highlights of a recent sale held by Nadeau’s in Windsor, Connecticut.

As he died more than a decade before the medium really took off, very few photographs of the American author Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) exist.

A handsome 19th century brass boat tiller hammered for $15,000 (£11,235) at Zevantiques (25% buyer’s premium) in Hallandale, Florida.

Expect records to tumble in the market for Indian art and antiques in 2026.

Prompted by the uniform penny post and the new printing process of chromolithography, the Victorian era was the heyday of the Christmas card.