UK

A lot offering five WH Smith enamel advertising signs, c.1930, took the top price as memorabilia from one of the UK’s most enduring and recognisable retail brands came to auction.

Art dealer Karen Taylor has sold two oil sketches by Gainsborough Dupont (1754-97) to the British Museum.

The final auction at Pullman House in Saltney, Chester, home of Byrnes since 2003, will be the remarkable collection of 20th century design formed by Philip Clarkson on September 15-16.

A new gallery opens this month at the Holburne Museum in Bath to display “world-class Renaissance treasures” on long-term loan from the Schroder family collection.

A “very fine” bronze helmet of Corinthian type, c.350BC, hammered from a single sheet, with a domed crown, almond-shaped eye cutouts and a prominent nose guard, sold for £32,000 at Apollo Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in London on July 27.

Jacobite highlights from the Scottish Collected sale held by Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh

Peter Green’s lyrics for 'Man Of The World' sell at regional auction house

Jonathan Green-Plumb collects antique tools and has created a museum in his home in north Norfolk.

Your Letters pages have recently featured the elaboration of two items purchased from the “contents of a Sussex manor house” auctioned by Burstow & Hewett of Battle, East Sussex, on May 28-29: a Tudor oak stool and a coquilla nut snuffbox depicting Benjamin Franklin (see Auction Reports, ATG No 2702 and Letters, No 2704 & 2706).

Second World War airborne memorabilia is another in-demand section of the militaria market.

Halls’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest Militaria, Naval and Aviation Auction in Shrewsbury offered a tempting selection of lots such as First World War uniforms in decent condition.

“We’ve had a good year,” said Clive Baker, organiser of the biannual two-day South of England Postcard Fair run on behalf of the Postcard Traders Associatiom (PTA).

When selling football memorabilia such as programmes and match-worn shirts, items linked to renowned and well-supported clubs such as Manchester United will often be the most valuable.

What was thought to be the largest private collection of Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022) garments to be sold outside London went under the hammer at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) in North Yorkshire on August 15.

Mid-century specialist Ed Butcher has opened a new shop at 281 King’s Road, Chelsea.

Renowned clock specialist David Gibson has died this May, aged 72.