East Midlands

Harry Potter just keeps on doing well at auction, and Hansons (25% buyer’s premium), which has enjoyed a particularly close and profitable relationship with JK Rowling’s creation over the years, had more to offer in a March 9 sale.

Nottingham sale showcases wares of ‘the most complete manufacturer in England in metal’

Found in a wardrobe during the clearance of a deceased estate in Spalding, ‘a group of four early 19th century French heraldic plaques’ sold way over hopes at Stamford Auction Rooms in Lincolnshire on February 26.

Early works by Harold Knight (1874-1961) are not seen very often at auction but a group of six appeared at Mellors & Kirk of Nottingham at the end of last year.

The Palais Royale built for Cardinal Richelieu in 1629 had a variety of uses over the years but in the 18th and early 19th century was rebuilt as a place for public recreation and social gathering.

Among the more unusual recent lots at Woolley & Wallis (25% buyer’s premium) was an early Victorian table carved from parrot coal.

Marked for Savage & Lyman, Montreal, c.1855-60, this silver tankard was awarded to British bare-knuckle boxer Tom Sayers.

A rare Royal Crown Derby teapot made to a design created by Salvador Dalí surfaced recently at Batemans (20% buyer’s premium) in Stamford.

Pedal cars are regular visitors to salerooms but rarer powered versions were also produced for children to use, partly for road safety training

The so-called Arundel Lions were once a well-known landmark in Sheffield.

Still a figure of glamour 450 years after her execution, Mary Queen of Scots was reputed to have embroidered the c.16th century fragment of bed curtain sold at Hansons (25% buyer’s premium) at Etwall on December 7.

Left out of the Christie’s sale 20 years ago, but far from remnant-bag pieces, the 11 early needlework items from the Sir Frederick Richmond collection offered at Gildings (20% buyer’s premium) attracted keen interest from UK collectors and specialist dealers.

Shepeard collection includes a drawing thought to be an unrecorded portrait of the artist

Antiques lovers are spoilt for choice in Derbyshire.

New shop was inspired by lessons passed on from grandparents

Frenchman Thibaut Bizeul, who sells online as Kingsbridge Antiques and Interiors near Matlock and with a predominantly trade warehouse in nearby Haddon Hall at Rowsley, is now back travelling to Europe for stock, despite the added paperwork and associated customs costs.

Dealer John Pullen organises antiques and collectors’ fairs in and around Lincolnshire.

Antiques centre tribute to its RAF base heritage is now ready after pandemic forced a delay

Amassed by the headmaster of one of Britain’s finest public schools, the Silk collection of Staffordshire portrait figures provides a fillip to an overlooked market

Most angles on the collecting spectrum were covered in Bamfords’ (24.75% buyer’s premium) three-day autumnal catalogue.