South-east England

The increasingly contentious issue of selling Benin works of art at auction raised its head again last week after an ancestral plaque catalogued as 16th or 17th century was withdrawn from an East Sussex sale.

This late Ming (17th century) jade water pot in the form of a chimera will be offered by Dreweatts on May 19.

Edward Seago was a favourite of the establishment, royals in particular, but has a wider appeal such as his views of Hong Kong

The best competition at a recent mixed-category sale came for two Old Masters.

Fifteen furniture lots make five-figure sums as Dreweatts bidders show encouraging confidence

This unmarked teapot and cover, offered by Dreweatts, dates from the first decade of porcelain production at the Chelsea factory.

Morphets (20% buyer’s premium) of Harrogate sold a Mouseman bureau for a tub-thumping £36,000 on April 15.

Traders and buyers express relief – and gratitude – at return of twice-monthly fixture.

It’s nearly four months since the UK left the EU’s customs union and single market – a hard new reality for those Continental antiques dealers who regularly make the day trip from Belgium, Holland or France to stall out at fairs in southern England.

Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt was one of the stand-out lots in a 300-lot white-glove auction.

Another white-glove group of items featured at Parker Fine Art earlier this year when all 300 picture frame lots sold in its first sale of 2021, raising a hammer total of £38,400.

Sunbury Antiques Market, better known simply as Kempton due to its Surrey racecourse location, last week became the first open-air fair to return after the most recent lockdown.

The mouthwatering kitchenalia collection of Annie Marchant (1951-2020) certainly served up a treat when it came to auction on April 12-13.

Two English Orientalists made the biggest impression at a recent sale at Gorringe’s (23% buyer’s premium) in Lewes.

The West as well as the East made a major contribution to the success of Gorringe’s £1m sale on March 30 where, overall, 86% of the 593 lots sold.

Organiser Peter Binfield is hoping for fine weather and a good turnout of 100-plus dealers at the first of this year’s Vintage & Classic Arms Fairs at Kempton Park on Sunday, May 2.

The best known of the decorators who worked at Aynsley in the 20th century is the flower painter Joseph A Bailey.

Wick Antiques has opened a new showroom in Lymington dedicated to maritime objects.