International

UK bidder competes with US counterpart for horological pamphlets published in London and Madrid

Around 1900, the majority of women employed in the ceramic industry worked solely in the decoration department, more often than not as painters.

In recent years, Germany has often shown itself to be a vibrant market for enamel signs, attracting international bidders who on several occasions have been willing to invest six-figure prices when rare pieces come under the hammer.

Arts & Crafts design for Liberty is highly prized at German auction

A c.1891 cabinet card that captures a significant episode of both Native American and US history realised six times its low estimate at Grant Zahajko Auctions (27% buyer’s premium).

The oeuvre of the Alsatian painter Sebastian Stoskopff (1597-1657) is far from extensive. Only some 60 of his works are thought to exist, of which 26 are signed and 10 dated.

Falling-ball or falling-globe clocks are great horological rarities; only about 30 examples are thought to have survived since their construction in the second half of the 17th century.

In the extensive sale of October 22-25, Wendl in Rudolstadt will be selling the second tranche of the porcelain collection amassed by Kurt Adelsberger.

A late 19th century marble figure of David with the Head of Goliath at his feet was one of the stars at Neumeister (30% buyer’s premium) in Munich this autumn.

Example made in Gujarat or Goa goes to a Portuguese buyer

Among the countless designs that Josef Hoffmann, the Viennese architect and multi-talented driving force behind the Wiener Werkstätte, executed during his long career was a bowl with two scroll handles, sometimes described as a centrepiece.

US auction house Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) enjoyed great success with its event titled Select Rarities: Exceptional Books & Manuscripts Sale.

On January 1, 1901, the German inventor Eduard Thürey applied for a patent for his typewriter design, the layout of which was completely different to all previous forms of writing machines.

In the 1950s-60s, the Yamazaki Gangu company, which traded under the internationally more recognisable name IY Metal Toys, was one of the leading Japanese producers of tinplate toys.

A scarce 1928 US first edition of The House at Pooh Corner hammered for $5000 (£3720) against a guide of $500-700 at Copake Auction (25% buyer’s premium).

Although the tradition of wood-carving existed in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) in eastern Germany since the 1100s, it was not until the 19th century that the production of intricately crafted wooden folk-art became a fully fledged house industry.