North America

A hunting rifle believed to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte when he ruled as emperor of France led the line at Alexander Historical Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

A 19th century scrimshaw carved on board a whaling ship with an all African-American crew sold for $7250 (£5700) at Bruneau & Co (20% buyer’s premium).

A Venetian Old Master painting of St Roch attributed to the circle of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696- 1770) awoke from the slumber of a $600-900 estimate to hammer for $75,000 (£59,000).

A small 8in cast bronze relief or architectural element c.1900 designed by Art Nouveau and Art Deco master René Lalique was offered in Florida.

New York auctioneer remembers Ann and Gordon Getty as the latest lots come to market

A famille rose porcelain moon flask, possibly made at the imperial kilns for the Qing emperor Jiaqing, took more than 75-times estimate at auction.

A new auction record for an English silver coin was set during the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC).

An 18th century Native American trade axe pipe linked to the great Shawnee chief and warrior Tecumseh (1768-1813) was the runaway performer when the collection of Ohio dealer and entrepreneur Bruce Knight was dispersed in the first days of the New Year.

A staple at American barber shops of the 19th and early 20th centuries was the occupational shaving mug.

Among the most contested lots at Nadeau’s (23% buyer’s premium) sale on January 1 was a set of miniature watercolour and gouache portraits credited to a follower of the German court painter Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553).

An original version of one of the great Art Deco posters emerged at Sapphire Auction Gallery (20% buyer’s premium).

Heritage Auctions’ 1170-lot Comics & Comic Art sale held on January 11-14 delivered a white-glove result.

Biennais bronzes portrayed Napoleon and the many family members he appointed to poweful positions

The Victorian artist’s box, an essential accessory for any 19th century amateur, doesn’t get much better than this example sold for $5000 (£4000) at Briggs Auction Co (28% buyer’s premium) in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, on December 8.

The top lot at Leonard Auction’s (25% buyer’s premium) December 10 sale in Addison, Illinois, was a work by the Argentinian Op artist Hugo Rodolfo Demarco (1932-95).

A rare silver and turquoise tazza designed by Erik Magnussen (1884-1961) for the Gorham Manufacturing Company sold for $24,000 (£19,000) at Schwenke Auctioneers (29/27% buyer’s premium) in Woodbury, Connecticut.

Kent Tschanz of Tschanz Rare Books in Salt Lake City, Utah, is among the exhibitors at the ABAA’s 56th California International Antiquarian Book Fair (February 9-11).

Our roundup of dealer news includes a new date a time announced for the 'Eye of the Collector' fair