Features

At the peak of his fame, the Anglo-Italian jewellery designer Andrew Grima was invited by Omega to create what would become the About Time collection.

Legend has it that Charles Arpels (of Van Cleef & Arpels fame) saw a lady friend stashing her lipstick and other cosmetics in an ordinary cigarette tin for a trip out on the town.

Two fine Art Deco jewelled pendant brooches featuring miniature fob watches achieved strong results at Bonhams’ (28% buyer’s premium) London Jewels sale.

Dawsons’ (25% buyer’s premium) Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver sale included this Art Nouveau gem-set foliage panel ring by Henri Dubret (1872-1947).

Collection of dealers who founded a shop and popular brand is up for sale next month in Sussex, offering more than 600 lots in a dedicated sale

Eighteenth century coffee pot made on the Mediterranean island stands out as best-seller in an extensive and varied auction array.

In 1903, only one year before his death, Emile Gallé was commissioned by the Belgian company Solvay et Cie with the creation of a bowl to mark the 30th anniversary of its factory in Dombasle.

A selection of previews from three British sales and another in Germany

Pictured here are three highlight lots from recent sales held by Whittons (20% buyer’s premium) in Honiton, Devon.

A French three-colour gold snuff box was a highlight of the silver and vertu section of Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s recent winter sale.

Another auction where silver and objects of vertu were prominent was the fine art and antiques sale staged by Elstob (25% buyer’s premium).

Silverware was a major component of Bonhams’ (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium) Knightsbridge auction titled The Connoisseur’s Library on February 13-14.

Daniel Eccleston, a retired well-to-do West Indian and American merchant based in Queen Street, Lancaster, planned to issue this halfpenny token in 1794.

The 1705 silver crown is one of the key rarities in the Queen Anne (1702-14) series.

The best-selling gallantry medal of 2023 was offered at Noonans late in the year on December 6. The Naval Victoria Cross awarded to Seaman James Gorman at the Battle of Inkerman sold for a hammer price of £320,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium) and now forms part of a private collection of Crimean War medals.

A Swiss gold coin that only appears at auction once every few years is the 1740 Basel triple ducat. To one face is a grand winged basilisk and to the other a view of the city from the east above eight coats of arms.

This Iraq specimen banknote printed in India during the Second World War sold for £100,000 plus 24% buyer’s premium at Noonans on November 29-30. It was purchased by a lifetime collector or Iraqi banknotes at double the low estimate.

Spink’s April 13 banknotes sale included a near-complete run of Malaya & British Borneo Elizabeth II specimen notes issued in the coronation year on March 21, 1953.

A remarkable Canadian single-owner collection of coins of the East India Company was offered by Noonans on February 8-9, 2023.

One of the great masterpieces of ancient Greek numismatic art, this silver tetradrachm was struck in c.460BC in commemoration of the refounding of the city of Naxos. Its citizens had been exiled to Leontinoi by the tyrant Hieron of Syracuse.