The american way

From topless staddle stones outperforming complete ones to two versions of the same desk selling on the same day 212 miles apart, bizarre occurrences are par for the course at contents sales

William Blake, Samuel Palmer and Beatrix Potter all inspired Maurice Sendak, as demonstrated by a sale of his own drawings and those he collected

Online galleries have transformed how we discover and collect pieces – these platforms offer a curated selection that’s just a click away

The forthcoming Treasure House Fair lives up to its name, with pieces on offer including a flag flown by HMS Royal Sovereign at Trafalgar, a games compendium box made for Edward VII and a fairground carousel pig

Canny collectors should swoop in when an artist falls out of fashion–but always pay attention to quality, because even the greatest names, such as Picasso, made the odd pot-boiler

A17th-century beadwork basket, with visual references to the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660, was a star lot at Roseberys’ Fine & Decorative sale. The beautifully preserved piece was from t