Thrilled to pieces

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

PAINTING NOSTALGIA Artist Polly Mabel Nicolaou creates ...

Back in 1979, David and Linda Williams felt ready to move to a spacious, light house with a good-sized garden. Ideally, it would be low maintenance so as not to encroach on David’s job as head of art

The piece I’d never part with

There’s a treat in store for lovers of history, design and fine food at Aynhoe Park in Oxfordshire. The estate was redesigned in the 19th century by Sir John Soane, and today it integrates collections

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