Essex

Footprint design telling a story of lost love stars among a selection of ‘out of the ordinary’ collectables lots sold at auction

This exceptional George I walnut and feather-banded architect’s desk was hammered down at seven times its low estimate.

On May 16 Sworders is offering the first tranche of a fine collection of Doulton Lambeth ceramics.

Mark Marchant was born in 1935 and grew up in Sevenoaks, Kent.

For many years signet rings served a very practical as well as a decorative and symbolic function.

This 13 x 13in (33 x 33cm) brick is from the walls of Babylon and dates from 604-562BC.

Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) was one of the most recognised artists of her day with her reputation spreading across Italy, France, Poland and Russia.

The prototype B1 Vulcan first flew in 1952 and it is a sign of the design’s longevity and durability that the last of these bombers was taken out of service only in 1984.

A group of five autograph letters sent by Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones to a Miss Megan Jones in the years 1965-66 brought a bid of £4500.

A rare Second World War helmet worn by members of a little-known unit of the UK home front comes for sale at Sworders on February 7.

The Panini company, founded by two brothers in Modena in 1961, began life producing football cards of Serie A teams.

Found by head of department Catriona Smith in a box of mixed jewellery, this rare 16th or 17th century gold ‘toadstone’ ring came for sale at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium).

While the main paintings from the collection of dealer Sir Jack Baer and his wife Diana were sold at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) at the end of September (see ATG No 2564), a group of around 50 works on paper were held back and offered at the Stansted Mountfitchet saleroom’s latest Homes and Interiors online auction.

A rediscovered album of 19 cartes de visite portrait photographs documenting Charles Darwin’s changing visage over three decades sold for £126,000.

A rare 16th or 17th century gold ‘toadstone’ ring comes for sale at Sworders in November 23 with expectations of £3000-5000.

This pair of trousers, sold for £7500 in Essex on November 9, was thought to have been worn by the 17th century court dwarf Sir Jeffrey Hudson (1619-82).

Trio of paintings depict life at a long-disappeared family home

Works from the 1930s are arguably the most desirable pictures when it comes to Oldham-born artist James Fitton (1899-1982). They just do not appear very often.

Judging by recent events, members of the Conservative Party might well look back longingly to the days of Margaret Thatcher when Britain’s first female prime minister brought a comparative measure of stability to government.

The vast majority of Mauchline items seen today are engraved transfer-printed wares or other types of ‘fancy Scotch woodwork’ from the Victorian era such as fernware or tartanware.