UK

Gifts from Queen Victoria to two of her god-daughters garnered international attention at Cheffins (22.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge.

The highest price to date at Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) came at its latest Fine Paintings sale when a rare ornithological watercolour caught the eye of a number of bidders, including from abroad.

Offered with moderate estimates, two Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) etchings from the Vollard Suite drew demand at the recent timed online sale of Modern & Contemporary art at Halls (20% buyer’s premium).

Online art and antiques portals for dealers have been growing this year – largely due to these websites being one of the few options when shops, centres, fairs and markets have been forced to close through the various lockdowns.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

The distinctive Antipodean ‘botanical’ jewellery of the gold rush era is among the first to depict the native flora and fauna. It is of huge cultural significance to Australia and its mining heritage.

This curious object is the forerunner of a million Christmas cracker prizes. Made in gold and silver, c.1830, the ‘ring’ chased with flowers includes a tiny pin hole which allows a jet of water to be squirted into the face of an unsuspecting admirer via a syringe-like plunger that can be concealed in the palm.

Forget the high street or ‘not-on-the-high street’ – for those looking for an original gift, a carefully chosen antique will never disappoint. Many upcoming UK auctions of silver and jewellery are assembled with the season of gift-giving in mind. Here ATG provides a selection of ‘more affordable’ and portable items, all for sale this month

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including news of more online book fairs coming before Christmas.

Auction houses Bonhams and Phillips have both increased their buyer's premium.

A group of dealers have committed to new shops in London’s West End, in a clear sign the art and antiques market believes that retail in central London has a future after the coronavirus pandemic.

Roma Numismatics set a new record for a classical coin when a Brutus Eid Mar-type gold aureus, struck shortly after the murder of Julius Caesar, took £2.7m in London.

An item of local interest to bidders at Bamfords in Derby was this 18th century account book for Radbourne Hall, the seat of the Chandos-Pole family.

Lots of souvenirs were produced referencing the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746 – the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745 and the last pitched battle fought on British soil.