Germany

While auction prices for works of art from Japan can scarcely compete with those achieved for pieces from China, the sale at Hargesheimer (28% buyer’s premium) in Düsseldorf on November 30 showed that there is still a healthy market for netsuke.

The combination of a pre-eminent maker and a perfect provenance made a late 18th century pocket chronometer one of the most sought-after pieces at Dr Crott (25% buyer’s premium) in Mannheim on November 18.

By all accounts, the Bulgarian prince and later Tsar Ferdinand I was a passionate railway enthusiast.

A private collector in London had his work cut out to secure a painting on offer for €2000-3000 at Nagel (29.5% buyer’s premium) in Stuttgart.

When it was last on public view, at a Berlin exhibition in 1981, the Portrait of a Black Courtier was attributed to the early 18th century Prussian court painter Antoine Pesne.

Once believed to be by Rubens, work hidden away during the war is now thought to be a copy by a pupil

The biggest surprise of Wendl’s (21% buyer’s premium) extensive general sale in Rudolstadt on October 25-28 was the seemingly never-ending exchange of bids for an early 18th century Old Master which had a starting price of €900.

Without doubt, the sensation of the German auction season was the emergence of a sketchbook belonging to the German romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich at Grisebach (32/27% buyer’s premium) in Berlin.

The textile works by Alighiero Boetti are instantly recognisable with their often geometric designs and brightly coloured embroidery.

Konrad Klapheck, who died at the end of July aged 88, was a pioneer of German pop art and is credited with the invention of so-called Machine Paintings.

The career of the French artist Pierre Soulages spanned over 80 years. He died in 2022 at the age of 102.

Art Recovery International has assisted in the return of a painting missing from Germany since the Second World War.

A spectacular pair of English giltwood and lacquer cabinets emerged for sale in Germany.

For many decades, Wolfgang Steiner and his wife Gisela have devoted their collecting passion towards verre églomisé, the art of reverse-painting on glass.

Wiener Werkstätte designer died aged just 36 but still produced an extensive range in various materials

The French portrait painter Jean Baptiste van Loo (1684-1745) received numerous commissions from European royal families and aristocrats.

Now in its 14th year, the art fair Highlights is way past the status of a newcomer and has become an established up-market event in the autumn calendar.

Long before the days of photo-realism, artists created remarkably accurate depictions of their subject matter.

Heinrich von Brühl was without doubt the most prominent patron of the porcelain manufacture in Meissen.

A selection of French Art Nouveau glass coming up for sale at sales in the UK and Germany. Bidding is available via thesaleroom.com.