UK

A private collection of children’s illustrated books formed over the past 50 years provided several stand-out lots in The Collector’s auction held by Catherine Southon (27.6% buyer’s premium inc VAT).

Organisers call it a day in the south coast town but other events they hold have experienced a rise in footfall

It’s always heartening to hear about the repurposing of old buildings, particularly when they become antiques businesses.

Our selection of lots from eight upcoming auctions

Wedding gift for Catherine of Aragon stands out as one of the highlights at the latest Frieze Masters

So-called no’oanga stools from Rurutu Island, the northernmost island of the Austral archipelago in Polynesia, are distinct in their deep seats and solid curving legs terminating in button-like feet.

The late 1850s to early 1860s was a significant period in the career of French painter Charles-François Daubigny (1817-78).

Among the most desirable of all novelty biscuit tins is the William Crawford & Sons sports coupe.

Like the no’oanga stool sold by Woolley & Wallis, the Polynesian ceremonial spears or staffs known as to’o also originate from the Austral Islands of Rurutu.

Kensington Church Street dealership Reindeer Antiques is hosting an exhibition and book launch for cartoonist Annie Tempest (b.1959).

The owners of Kent’s Teapot Island museum are selling their collection of more than 8500 novelty teapots, thought to be the second-largest group in the world.

Meeting as neighbours at TEFAF Maastricht, two sculpture dealers have come together to hold an exhibition in London.

I read with interest about the Carlton Ware Babylon pattern coffee set that has recently sold at Peebles Auction House for £7700, a great price indeed for recent times (Pick of the week, News Digest, ATG No 2711).

A reader – a dealer – has written in with a query concerning an auction bid that he made recently.

A strong selection of European pictures gave a boost to the latest specialist picture sale held at Salisbury saleroom Woolley & Wallis’ (27/26% buyer’s premium).

Gillows was one of the few English cabinetmaking firms to regularly mark its furniture. It is estimated that the Gillows Lancaster stamp appears on roughly a third of the pieces that left its workshops.

When William Golding (1911-93) wrote his debut novel Lord of the Flies in 1953 it was rejected by nine publishers and damned as ‘rubbish and dull’ before being picked up by Faber & Faber.

The long-running Chester Fair is now the Cheshire Decorative Antiques & Art Fair, a name chosen to underline its position as the only major antiques fair in the county.

Former LAPADA member, furniture dealer Nimbus Antiques in north Derbyshire, is closing and plans a retirement auction at local saleroom Bamfords.