West Midlands

Led by the multi-estimate £90,000 bid for an intaglio carved with the portrait of a Roman Caesar (see ATG No 2590), the strong market in the glyphic arts was evident among other lots offered at Fellows 25% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham on April 13

A left-hand cotton mitten owned by John Hunt (1910-98), leader of the successful British Expedition to the summit of Mount Everest, sold for £3200 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Hansons in Bishton Hall, Staffordshire, on May 10.

A group of signed drawings by royal fashion designer Norman Hartnell (1901-79) was offered at Richard Winterton (22% buyer’s premium) on February 15.

The Asian art sale at Halls in Shrewsbury on May 11 features this 10½in (27cm) pink ground famille rose vase.

Pictured here is a signed photo-portrait of the 20-year-old future Queen Elizabeth II and her then 15-year-old younger sister, Princess Margaret.

A garnet intaglio ring was bid to 450-times estimate at an auction in Birmingham after speculation that it could be one of the ‘lost’ Marlborough gems.

The biannual Antiques in Tents has its first outing of the year on Friday and Saturday May 12-13 with some new faces in the 60-dealer line-up.

Shrewsbury sale offered rare opportunity to bid for a letters by the great writer and lexicographer

The series of relatively austere wares made by Moorcroft in the 1930s are, today at least, not the factory’s most commercial designs.

A handful of lots featuring communications between an actress, Miss Alice Bowes (1889-1969), and George Bernard Shaw featured in a Mullock’s (20% buyer’s premium) sale.

A new fair will launch at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in April next year.

Stourbridge saleroom Fieldings Auctioneers has had a change in ownership.

Among the works on paper causing a stir in the regions during the early part of 2023 was a group of four 19th century topographical studies of Afghanistan

Chipped to both elements, a Spode cup and saucer made for use on White Star liners sold online for £6000 at Richard Winterton (22% buyer’s premium).

This relatively modest pair of gold and of granite dress studs tell a good story.

Topping Fellows’ sale of Antiques, Fine Art & Collectables, a timed online event closing on March 3, was this impressive 19th century Italian giltwood and micromosaic centre table.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” comments Fellows’ watch specialist Kes Crockett. “Jaeger LeCoultre is the best watchmaker in the world. Rolex is without question the most well-known manufacturer and Patek Philippe has produced some of the most collectable watches on the market. However, JLC arguably has a richer and more important horological history than both.”

Brothers often share many things together while growing up. Over at Richard Winterton Auctioneers, brothers Tom and Ben Winterton also share the rostrum.