UK

The large pockets once inserted at the side of this leather armchair – now sealed up – give a clue to the role of the famous person who once sat on it. The chair’s nickname of ‘The Emma’ is another big hint.

In our continuing series looking through the keyhole of ‘bricks and mortar’ shops in 2017, ATG talks to Patrick Sandberg, owner of the eponymous shop specialising in English furniture and works of art. Sandberg is one of the dealers exhibiting at the Winter Art & Antiques Fair Olympia (October 31-November 5).

The clearance of a neglected local property by Lincolnshire auction house Batemans (20% buyer’s premium) unearthed several treasures including two watercolours by the 18th century British painter Thomas Girtin (1775-1802).

A double portrait by Federico Beltran Masses (1885-1949) attracted a flurry of bids at Bonhams’ (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) 19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist art auction on September 27.

Albert Irvin (1922-2015) is known as one of the few UK artists to work in abstract expressionism and his paintings are popular among collectors and the public.

A near-monochrome watercolour by the Australian artist and stage designer Loudon Sainthill (1918-69) sold for five times its top estimate at Canterbury Auction Galleries (20% buyer’s premium) on October 3-4.

Austin Desmond Fine Art, the Modern British gallery across from London’s British Museum, is currently showing 'Keith Vaughan: On Pagham Beach, Photographs and Collages from the 1930s' (until December 8).

“I was astonished by the group, both in terms of their individual quality and how cohesive the collection was,” says Waterhouse & Dodd’s Jamie Anderson, who earlier this year went to see a private collection of works by David Bomberg (1890-1957).

Dealer body BADA is to relax its length-of-service rules of membership to encourage applications from former auctioneers.

Two Cs' fair at Chateau Impney Hotel is an impressive setting but popular venue means securing dates is difficult...

Edge Hall, near Malpas in Cheshire, has been a home to members of the Dod family since the reign of Henry II, but the library – sold by Forum Auctions (25/20% buyer’s premium) on October 12 – was formed in the 19th century and is typical of country house libraries.

Furniture and decoratives dealer Paul Burnett from the Forest of Dean, gives an expansive welcome to buyers at his stand at a recent Two Cs antiques fair at the Chateau Impney Hotel, near Droitwich. He will be exhibiting at the organisers’ two-day fair on November 11-12.

Held on the first Sunday of the month in the centre of Faversham, the antiques and vintage market offers a wide range of items.