Woolley & Wallis’ jewellery sale in Salisbury on April 18 will include a comb in the style of the Parisian Art Nouveau jeweller Louis Aucoc.
Decorated with pierced foliate upper section and seed pearl highlights, it carries an estimate of £2000-3000.
woolleyandwallis.co.uk or see this item on thesaleroom.com
An 19th century ‘bone shaker’ bicycle of metal construction with a padded leather seat and early hard rubber tires is estimated at €3000-5000 in Adam’s sale in Dublin on April 17.
Early pedal-driven bicycles were made from iron and wood that not only made them extremely heavy to manoeuvre but provided little forgiveness to their rider. Thus, the nickname ‘bone shaker’ was coined.
Hard rubber tyres, seen on this example, were introduced in 1868 but did little to relieve their rider. It was not until 1888 that pneumatic tyres were invented by Belfast veterinarian JB Dunlop, paving the way for a more comfortable, swifter and enjoyable ride.
adams.ie or see this item on thesaleroom.com
Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull will offer three self-portraits by the Scottish playwright and artist John Byrne (b.1940) in its sale of Contemporary and post-war art on April 17.
Pictured above is Self-portrait and Sculpture, a signed 9½ x 7½in (24 x 19cm) watercolour and ink on paper, estimated at £2000-4000.
Byrne’s self-portraiture – characterised by the ‘teddy boy’ hairstyle, aquiline nose and drooping Edwardian moustache – underpins much of his oeuvre.
lyonandturnbull.com or see this item on thesaleroom.com
A collection of 29 Japanese pieces assembled by the 19th century collector Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921) will be offered at Mallams’ Chinese, Japanese and Korean Art sale in Cheltenham on May 1-2.
Tomkinson, who made his fortune in the manufacture of Axminster carpets, displayed his collection of Japanese works of art at his home, Franche Hall in Kidderminster. The contents of the hall featured in a two-volume catalogue titled A Japanese Collection, published in 1898.
Pictured above is an inscribed copy, numbered seven of a limited edition of 200, guided at £1500-2500. Other lots include labelled and catalogued inros, lacquer, silver and metal ware with estimates ranging from £300-400. The collection is being sold by a direct descendant.
