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Accounts of youthful travels in Britain and on a Grand Tour contain often blunt assessments

Business was certainly hard-won but the elite of Britain and Ireland’s regional fine art auction houses enjoyed a largely positive 2019.

International Autograph Auctions Ltd has ceased trading and is being placed in voluntary liquidation.

An early 17th century Limoges enamel draw purse attracted a flurry of bids at Chorley’s Attic Sale in Gloucestershire. Set with period portraits of a lady on one side and a gentleman on the other, the accessory has remained intact for about 400 years – in most examples the fabric has deteriorated significantly.

A group of objects belonging to dealers who took part in the BRAFA art fair in Brussels were seized following an investigation by Interpol.

A remarkable piece of Qing porcelain sold for $270,000 at Pook & Pook in Downington, Pennsylvania.

“As soon as the vendor pulled the board from her bag, I recognised something of serious interest.”

Affirming the strength of the market for the best British milled coins, two exceptional English gold issues were among the top prices of this year’s New York International Numismatic Convention auctions.

Two key consignments, one painting and one drawing, lifted the latest Old Master series in New York to the highest total for five years.

Bingley Hall Antiques Fair at the Staffordshire County Showground will be managed by Continuity Fairs which has taken over the running of it from IACF.

This acrylic on canvas, 8 Duncan Terrace (1977), by artist Graham Dean is on offer at Darnley Fine Art.

John Scott had a very distinguished career; his life was a whirlwind of enterprise. He was a well-known figure in the panorama of the Arts & Crafts movement and his personal collection was important.

On Friday, January 31, Michael Bloomstein of Brighton was paying the following for bulk scrap against a gold fix of: $1580.85 / €1430.62 / £1205.24

This 19th century half-length portrait right depicts the Anglo-Irish soldier and politician William Carr Beresford (1768-1854) who fought alongside The Duke of Wellington.

A newly discovered painting by Giuseppe de Ribeira (1591-1652) has been uncovered in a private home by the Paris auction firm Daguerre.

This early 19th century portrait miniature offered for sale at Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) in Leyburn is widely believed to depict the Irish naval officer Sir Henry D’Esterre Darby (1749-1823). To the reverse is a crystal retaining a lock of hair.

A coffee service decorated in the round by William Powell was one of a quartet of early 20th century Royal Worcester offerings to go way above estimate, largely fuelled by bidding from Vietnam, at Fieldings (20% buyer’s premium).

Late work by the pivotal avant-garde painter belies the dark nature of earlier works

Our weekly selection from salerooms.

A clever piece of marketing from the oil company Shell and with slightly saucy automobile-referenced lines, this Valentine dates from a tradition of sending cards to Shell’s female customers who had accounts at their garages. This ran from 1938-75, apart from an interruption during the war years.