Auction Reports

The Vinyl Cape Jawa was the first Star Wars action figure to assume mythic status among collectors.

Most terracotta plank figures from Bronze Age Cyprus have been found in Lapithos, a once important coastal centre on the north of the island.

A fine example of Viking metalworking was offered at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium) in Mayfair on July 18.

This Heal’s set of garden furniture added seasonal warmth to Great Western Auctions’ (24% buyer’s premium) Glasgow sale.

Ornate creation from Gothic fantasy comes for sale as part of the Bayreuth collection

The ivory-made launching mallet and silver casket from the ill-fated RMS Empress of Ireland came for sale at McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow.

A Queen’s Gallantry Medal in its case of issue awarded to a police constable who helped to catch two violent escaped prisoners sold for £2400 at auction.

Do embroidery and cut-paper pictures count as art? Bidders certainly appreciate their expertise

Stand-out original among the 76 pieces from Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson’s workshops offered at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) 20th Century Design auction was a carved oak monk sold with its working drawing.

Such was the notoriety of Gunner James Collis that his family did not attend the funeral even though he had three sons in the army.

It may be stating the obvious, but collectors acquire militaria for many different reasons within that market.

The esteem in which British botanist William Lawrence Balls (1882-1960) was held is obvious from lots offered at Norfolk auction house Keys (25% buyer’s premium) on July 26-28.

A privately produced Victorian silver bravery medal proved hugely popular when offered at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium) on June 21.

Once thought to have been produced in the Black Forest region of Germany, chess sets like the one offered at Ewbank’s (30% buyer’s premium) on June 23, used to be called Luther sets.

This ‘ferris wheel’ timepiece, thermometer and barometer compendium is a novel type that was first made in France in the last quarter of the 19th century.

Recent advertising highlights from UK sales and an Italian auction

Born into a Jewish Orthodox family in Brooklyn, New York, Seymour Stein (1943-2023) discovered his love of pop music early on, listening to records and memorising Billboard magazine’s charts.

A Cornish saleroom offered over 300 enamel signs, advertising memorabilia, pump globes, vehicle mascots and collectables from a single-owner collection.

Victorian and Edwardian pottery butcher’s slabs made to display lard, butter and margarine are relatively frequent visitors to UK salerooms.

Classic examples of distinctive porcelain take four-figure sums in Gloucestershire