Auction Reports

Prices for embroidered samplers can vary hugely depending on what specific features are involved as well as factors such as condition and provenance.

The sale of Enamel Signs, Automobilia and Advertising at Chippenham Auction Rooms (20% buyer’s premium) on July 29 included a rare pictorial enamel design depicting the Mauretania at full steam advertising Holzapfels Composition.

This carved marble portrait head of a youth shown here is Roman and comes from a tightly dated period of the 2nd century.

John Eamer was a wholesale grocer who dealt in sugar imported from the West Indies. His success led to him becoming Sheriff of London in 1794.

Specialist Bleasdale says his sewing antiques and Tunbridgeware timed online sales are working out well

A copy of Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy album signed by all four members of the band sold to a phone bidder for £15,000 .

Sporting specialist saleroom highlights include wicket-keeping gloves, bat and even a soup tureen

The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers was a British charitable organisation established in the decade after the First World War ‘to foster the noble Art and gentle and healthy Pastime of froth blowing among Gentlemen of-leisure and ex-Soldiers’.

A highly decorative example of Japanese lacquer provided one of the highlights of Tennants’ (24/20% buyer’s premium) July 15 summer sale.

This 19th century watercolour on ivory portrait miniature depicts Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Seton (1814-52) of the 21st Fusiliers.

Lawrences’ (30% buyer’s premium) summer sales series in Crewkerne included a Charles II period stumpwork casket.

Three equestrian silver groups made by different London firms over the space of a century took centre stage in three separate sales in July.

By the mid-18th century, as the fashion for the pannier dress reached its peak, some women wore dresses measuring 7ft (2.13m) wide.

With its long and varied production lines Moorcroft remains a stalwart of Design auctions.

England cricketer Sir Ian Botham sold a group of memorabilia from his international and club career at auction on July 15.

The best of nine snuff mulls consigned by a titled long-standing client to Minster Auctions (16% buyer’s premium) was a treen example carved as a ram’s head with glass eyes.

This 19th century carved Siena marble inkstand is fashioned in the form of an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

William Lenthall (1591-1662) was chosen as Speaker of the Houses of Commons at the beginning of the Long Parliament in 1640.

While a few examples survive from the 17th and the very early 18th century, teacups and saucers are a rare form in Georgian silver.

A fine Oscar Wilde letter sold for £16,000 at Dawsons (25% buyer’s premium) in Maidenhead on June 29.