UK

Quality and craftsmanship is rarely out of fashion.

A letter written by Florence Nightingale in which she discusses the creation of the Red Cross and the Geneva Convention is being sold by Sworders.

The Red Barn Murder of 1827, which occurred in the tiny rural village of Polstead, Suffolk was the biggest crime story of the era.

Produced in Ottoman Turkey between the 15th and 17th centuries, Iznik pottery experienced a sudden and passionate surge of Western interest in the mid 19th century.

The Ledbury Collective in the so-named design quarter in the attractive Herefordshire town was opened last year by Sarah Baldwin.

Arch Books of Richmond, southwest London, recently sold the personal expedition copy of Fridtjof Nansen’s Fram over Polhavet [Farthest North] (1897), owned and signed by fellow Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen (1872-1928).

A Queen Anne olivewood oyster, holly and walnut cabinet on stand offered by Dreweatts (27/26% buyer’s premium) in Newbury was among a number of lots sold recently showing the commercial boost that royal provenance can provide.

Robes and coronets worn by notable dignitaries invited to coronations are not uncommon sights at auctions but often prove popular.

Lucy Madox Brown Rossetti (1843-94) was linked to two of the most famous artistic families of the 19th century.

A 17th century Safavid carpet on offer at Christie’s in London on April 30 is woven into the ceremonial life of the British monarchy in the early 20th century.

Joseph Southall’s (1861-1944) picture Cymon and Iphigenia was probably made with the help of the artist’s chickens.

This copy of The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha (Cambridge: at the University Press, 1961) is signed in ink by Queen Elizabeth II on a mounted presentation plate, dated Christmas 1961.

Royal costumes and fashion have long been a source of fascination.

“Unfortunately, Paxton House won’t allow us to chop down any historic trees to add more marquees,” joked Seppe Anthony, co-organiser at Glam Racket Events.

The unknown maker of this commemorative creamware mug produced for the coronation of King George IV seems to have been in a rush.

Colin Richards is professor of prehistoric archaeology at the University of the Highlands and Islands on the Orkney Islands.

A strong result for a 19th century genre picture was achieved for the Italian artist Vittorio Reggianini (1858-1939) at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) of Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

Collection of gallery owner and exhibition organiser includes letters from the likes of Bacon and Hockney

A fragment of a Cycladic figure once owned by Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) is the lynchpin of an exhibition held by two dealers: Willoughby Gerrish and Elliot Davies.