UK

Last week’s on-the-premises sale at Athelhampton House in Dorset was a near sell-out with a hammer price of close to £1.2m.

A State Porcelain Factory figure by Natalina Danko (1892-1943) emerged at auction in Grantham earlier this month.

For the first time in more than a decade a new antiques shop has opened on Westbourne Grove, close to the famed antiques district Portobello Road.

Much of Paula Rego’s (b.1935) work is concerned with narrative, as seen in this limited-edition lithograph of a girl reading a book.

Views of processions, pageants and parades tend to attract special interest at auction, such as this view of an Indian procession bid to £6800 in Gloucestershire.

Michaela Millard of Rafael Fairs launched a monthly vintage and retro fleamarket at Chepstow Racecourse in Monmouthshire in August, and the next is on Sunday, October 20.

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Always popular items, a Georgian lead cistern offered at Summers Place Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) was also rare in being circular. Usually they are rectangular, having stood against a wall connected to downpipes.

Catalogued as ‘witch’ mirrors, this c.1970 pair certainly charmed bidders at Dorchester auction house Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium). The key was the signature Line Vautrin, ROI for the Parisienne designer and decorative artist Line Vautrin (1913-97).

As an alternative to shopping in the high-street chains, a group of independents have set up a hub at 53 Bo’ Grove in Grove Road, Harrogate, with 20 traders selling art, antiques, decorative salvage and Mid-century pieces.

Nottingham auction house Mellors & Kirk (20% buyer’s premium) added to the cautiously feel-good mood created by some highly successful autumn sales in the provinces when strong private buying brought impressive results across the board.

Donny Mann of Love Fairs, who organises regular antiques, collectables and vintage events at Lingfield Racecourse in Surrey and Brighton Racecourse in East Sussex, tells ATG that all the events are busy with lots of bookings.

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from October 15-25, 2019.