South-east England

Modern and Contemporary art was one of the sectors that seemed to experience an uplift of interest during the lockdown as people had more time to search online for works they like.

“Parker has created the first regular frames auction with a dedicated catalogue in more than 10 years. It is great to see.”

A former theatre, corn market, auction rooms, exhibition space and council office has been “reanimated” as an “emporium” by a group of art and antiques dealers.

The Minton ‘fungi and foxes’ tureen is among the rarest of all majolica game pie dishes.

The sales at Stride & Son (21.6% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Chichester on September 1-2 included a trio of avidly contested items, each a rarity in three highly specialised collecting areas.

‘Subject to changes in taste, a pandemic and the loss of key collectors, the market keeps ticking over’

Two late 19th century novelty clocks at Dreweatts achieved good results on September 6.

There are few antiques centres and even fewer fairs held in garden centres and nurseries but along has come news of The Potting Shed Brocante which ran at the King John’s Nursery in the Kent village of Etchingham earlier this month.

In 1902 the author Booker T Washington sent a typed and handwritten letter to the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie regarding his recently published work.

This large 21in (54cm) early 20th century Arts and Crafts charger was painted by Louise Powell (1865-1956) for Wedgwood.

With the added lustre of having been worn by a Fifties aristocratic supermodel, two jewellery items entered by her grandchildren were the stars at Bellmans’ (22% buyer’s premium) sale of items from a Shropshire manor.

An early 19th century child’s mosaic alphabet, c.1820, is estimated at £100- 200 at Catherine Southon’s auction at Farleigh Court on November 16.

Gorringe’s book sale on October 11 in Lewes includes part 1 of the ‘vast selection’ of British topographical works from the library of Dr Brian Austen.

Styles Silver of Hungerford has moved a few doors down the road. The LAPADA member started trading at 12 Bridge Street in Hungerford in 1979 and has now moved down the street to number 3.

Bellmans is holding a special book and manuscript auction as part of the October sales series, on October 11, with the majority of books coming from one collection.

Chelsea event plans on hold for now but organiser is upbeat about Surrey fair and brocante.

What is likely to be very good news for Edward Cruttenden of Sunbury Antiques and his antiques markets at Kempton Park Racecourse is a film studio invasion at local Shepperton Studios, owned by the Pinewood Group.

Buyers, including film set producers, had plenty of choice at Kempton Park antiques fair.

The art and antiques trade has been asked to help track down a stolen wooden sculpture from a renowned former antiques shop in Hampshire.

This textbook Edwardian Arts & Crafts planished silver chalice by Omar Ramsden and fellow Sheffield-born designer Alwyn Carr, pictured below, is of extra interest for its inscription.