Features

A cased Powell and Son/ Tranter 4th model 54 bore percussion revolver was offered in a 14½ x 8in (37 x 20cm) oak case with the name plaque to the lid engraved Alfred Hancocks Lieutenant, 1st Worcestershire Volunteers Rifle Corps.

As a market probably regarded as more ‘traditional’ than many others, you might expect arms and armour collectors to be wary of online-only auctions. However, the latest timed online sales at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) of west London show that bidders have embraced the concept.

Estimated at £500-1000, a “scarce” 10 bore military flintlock musket instead hammered at £9200 in the February 25 auction at Kent saleroom C&T (22% buyer’s premium).

A “fine”.470 calibre percussion long range target rifle by John Dickson & Co of Edinburgh offered at the April 7-8 Antony Cribb (25% buyer’s premium inc VAT) sale was boosted by an inscription from the City of Edinburgh & Midlothian Rifle Association.

An Indian tulwar offered at JS Fine Art (26.4% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on March 27-30 came with the simple description: “A rare Indian Tulwar from Tipu Sultan’s armoury with a characteristic lion’s head pommel and guard (formerly in the private collection of Robin Wigington).”

Amid tariffs and Trump uncertainties, recent stories have concentrated on the difficulties of doing business with the US. However, the April 29 auction held by Gavin Gardiner (25% buyer’ premum) revealed all is not lost.

This bizarre beast of a gun is a William Smith of London 80 bore flintlock quadruple-barrelled volley pistol.

With Sixties and Seventies style again part of the collecting zeitgeist, vintage Kutchinsky pieces are now common currency for the best of the UK’s antique and vintage jewellery dealers and auction houses. However, it also pays to look further afield.

Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) of Dorchester sold a Victorian diamond and natural saltwater pearl double pendant brooch for £570,000 earlier this year, a house record for jewellery.

The Fine Jewellery & Watches sale in Bellmans in Billingshurst on May 21 includes this Boucheron yellow guilloché enamel and brilliant cut diamond flower brooch.

Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855), who worked as chief engraver and chief medallist to the Royal Mint, had two daughters who he trained in gem engraving.

With so much gold and silver jewellery heading for the melting pot in recent months, Spicers (20% buyer’s premium) in Old Goole, East Yorkshire, was pleasantly surprised by the performance of this tiny 0.7g 9ct gold and enamel charm.

ATG's publishing director recounts the joy of wearing an upcycled accessory

Founded in Spain in 1875 by brothers Fernand, Jules, Léopold and Jacques, Lacloche Frères became one of the great French jewellers of the Art Deco period.

Giving a new lease of life to otherwise undesirable old items makes for an exciting, if occasionally controversial, line of business.

Interest in glyphic art, that reached its collecting apogee during Grand Tour collecting, is resurgent once more.

The grim mortality rate of 17th century Britain precipitated a taste for memento mori jewellery that reached its height of popularity in the early 1700s.

Ahead of a new exhibition at a London gallery, Alex Capon takes a closer look at the renowned Romantic artist’s later work and the market that now exists via auction houses and dealerships

Tom Ayling is an antiquarian book dealer based in Wallingford, south Oxfordshire, and is also a very successful social media star. Boasting over one million followers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, he sat down with ATG to tell us all about his business and online presence.

James Bond may well now be a hugely popular multi-billion earning film franchise but a group of rare reports by a film studio evaluating the original books show the raw reaction was one of rejection and even ridicule. ATG interviews the dealer now selling these fascinating snapshots of the 007 world