Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) made a striking appearance at a local auction house, albeit in the form of a sixteenth century miniature portrait.
The 6cm high oval portrait miniature of our iconic monarch had been brought into Richard Winterton’s routine valuation day by a local client.
The Queen is depicted in her famous attire painted in watercolour in intricate detail. Although unsigned, experts at the auctioneers attributed it to possibly be the work of the famous miniature portraitist Nicholas Hilliard (1547-c.1619). Entered into the 27th May Fine Art Sale in Lichfield, the …

The oil on canvas, entitled ‘Nude Girl with Death’s Head’ is by Renfrewshire-born David McClure (1926-1998) and measures 102cm x 127cm. Carrying an estimate of £6,000 – £10,000, this is an excellent example of McClure’s bold, modern style and is believed to be one of the largest of his works on the market today.
The artist studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1947 until 1953 before travelling to Spain and Italy on scholarship from 1952 to 1953; after which he won the Andrew Grant Fellowship Award which allowed him to …

Sotheby’s London will auction one of the rarest books of modern times: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, which debuts the most celebrated literary character of all time – Sherlock Holmes.
Published in 1887 and written in under three weeks, this work to be offered is one of only two inscribed copies known to be in existence. Undoubtedly the most important book Conan Doyle ever wrote, A Study in Scarlet gave birth to Sherlock Holmes, explained how he and Dr Watson came to be together and set in motion …

Three photographs of Alexandra Rhoda “Xie” Kitchin, one of Lewis Carroll’s favourite models, are being auctioned at Bonhams Book sale on 8 June.
Alexandra was the daughter of the Dean of Durham who, for 15 years, also held a theological position at the University of Oxford where Carroll, a fellow of Christ Church, lectured in maths.
The three photos, captioned by Carroll himself, show Alexandra in Danish and Oriental costumes. A keen photographer, Carroll considered these to be among his best work. They were given to Alexandra by Carroll’s brother, William, when …

Historics is the UK’s newest premier auction house for the sale and purchase of the finest historic, classic and sports cars and motoring memorabilia.
Historics independent auctioneers brings together a wealth of specialist motoring experience and with the endorsement from the Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd, aims to preserve and extend the tradition of some of motorings’ most prestigious names.
Besides an interest in renowned marques such as Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Porsche and Jaguar, Historics will welcome the opportunity to offer advice, expertise and enthusiasm to anyone looking to buy …

An historical homecoming for one of Birmingham’s most accomplished silversmiths will take place on Monday 24th May as two pieces of Matthew Boulton silver await the hammer at auctioneers, Fellows & Sons.
A son of a buckle maker, Matthew Boulton (1728 – 1809) aspired to be a great gentleman and went on to become one of the most extraordinary men in the history of silver. A keen scientist and entrepreneur, Boulton expanded his father’s business considerably and together with his business partner John Fothergill opened the Soho Manufactory, one of the …

Much of the original library from Highgrove House, now the home of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, is for sale at the Books, Maps and Manuscripts sale at Bonhams in London on 8 June.
Containing much that would be considered essential for an educated man of the time – for example, works by Shakespeare, Newton, Samuel Johnson and John Evelyn – the library has a particular leaning towards travel and natural history. Among the most fascinating items are the complete set of ‘The Naturalists Miscellany’ with stunning illustrations of animals and …

A 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, which was used by Greek industrialist Theodore Cozzika to commute between his girlfriend’s (the American film star Pearl White) home in the South of France and their residence in Cairo, is to be sold by Bonhams as part of its Rolls-Royce, Bentley Motor Cars & Automobilia sale at Rockingham Castle, Leicestershire on 19 June 2010.
Cozzika and White shared a love for travel. Accordingly the chassis cards state that the car was ‘for use on Continent and Egypt at very high speeds with fairly heavy luggage’.
Pearl …

Geoff Hurst’s spare shirt from the 1966 World Cup final, in which he scored three of the four goals in England’s 4-2 win over West Germany at the old Wembley, is being sold at Bonhams, Chester as part of its sale of Sporting Memorabilia on 16 June 2010. It has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £6,000 – 8,000.
Hurst, who was only five months and eight games into his international career, made World Cup history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
www.bonhams.com/sporting

A rare book titled ‘The Costume of China’, compiled by George Henry Mason, (Major of His Majesty’s 102nd Regiment), published in 1804 has come to light in a local property. The leather bound volume contains sixty hand coloured engravings of Chinese figures in the respective costumes of their individual trade. An informative description accompanies each.
Examples of note are the garments worn by ‘Man with a Raree Show’, ‘Pork Butcher’, ‘Frog Catcher’, ‘Barber’, ‘Woman preparing Tea’, ‘Fishmonger’ and so on. The plate showing ‘A Lady of Distinction’ shows the figure in …

Bonhams will hold their first ever Picasso Editions Sale featuring ceramics, prints and jewellery by the most celebrated artist of the 20th century, in Knightsbridge on Wednesday 22nd September. Picasso items have previously been sold in other Bonhams sales, but this will be the first auction to be devoted purely to the work of the artist.
As well as ceramics, there is already a special early consignment of two of the nineteen silver plates designed by Picasso – including one titled ‘Dormeur’, his first experiment in silver. Picasso began designing silver …

Richard Winterton Auctioneers and their clients have raised £1,000 for Help for Heroes. The Lichfield based Auctioneers do not charge for their sales catalogues, instead ask for a voluntary donation to go to the Help for Heroes Charity. In addition the Auctioneers also hold free valuation days every Tuesday (9am to 5pm) for antiques and collectables where clients can also make a donation.
Visit www.richardwinterton.co.uk for further information

Bonhams are to offert ‘Spitting Image’ puppets of former Prime Minister John Major and his wife Norma are to go on sale at the Bonhams Entertainment auction on 23rd June.
Estimated at £3,000-3,500 these puppets appeared in the British satirical puppet show during the Tory Prime Ministers final term of office. The puppet is made entirely in shades of grey – including his skin – reflecting the writers’ impression of his dull character. In the show he was shown enjoying meals of peas in silence with his wife Norma and being …

An important pair of Russian Imperial Porcelain Vases, dating from the reign of Czar Alexander I (1777-1825) will be offered on the first day of Bellmans three-day sale on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. The sale will take place at Wisborough Green, West Sussex and they vases are estimated at £20,000-30,000.
Measuring 40.5cm high, the vases which date from the end of the Czar’s reign, are in the manner of Swebech had been previously sold at Sotheby’s in April 1983 as part of a Single Owner Collection. Each vase is decorated with …