West Midlands

UK: AT THE first sale in their new Norcote saleroom near Cirencester on July 9, Moore Allen & Innocent sold this distinctive walnut leather-seated early 18th century armchair for £21,000 (plus 10 per cent buyer’s premium).

UK: ROBERT Gatling presented his rapid fire gun to the killing fields of the American Civil War – sparking a race between rival generals, statesmen and technicians to develop an automatic weapon with the capacity for achieving the most kills in the shortest time.

UK: BY the mid-19th century Redditch in Warwickshire had become the centre of the world for the production of fishing hooks and needles, supposedly skills handed down by the monks of Bordesley Abbey, who learnt their metalworking talents from links with Spain.

UK: AUCTIONEER John Goodwin of Ledbury in Herefordshire sold this polychrome tin-glazed earthenware charger, 33/4in (35cm) diameter, decorated with a portrait of King George, to London specialist Jonathan Horne for £13,750 (plus 10 per cent premium) on April 28.

UK: ATTRACTING the most attention at of the Shrewsbury sale held by Halls (buyer’s premium 10 per cent) on April 14 was this enigmatic parcel gilt box, right.

UK: A ROUTINE dispersal at the Ladybank salerooms was led by a Georgian oak lowboy of typical composition which attracted £13504.

UK: WITH more than 500 dealers and a vast array of stock there are bound to be varying fortunes, but on the whole the Spring Antiques For Everyone fair at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre from April 8 to 11 again proved itself a fair to be reckoned with.