1. Floral swags against a blue ground, this marriage chest is a beautiful example of Swedish folk art.

2 Mini Masterpiece

Estimate £250–£350

Sold £325

This charming 19th- century portrait miniature came from the collection of the Earls of Breadalbane & Holland of Taymouth Castle in Scotland, a sale held at Lyon & Turnbull. The watercolour, painted onto ivory, depicts Miss Baillie Hamilton, wearing a black Honiton lace shawl over a white co!on chemise. On the reverse are the initials MPB in seed pearls and a lock of lustrous brown hair. A handwri!en note identi "es the artist as a Miss Saloman. lyonandturnbull.com

3 Fine Edwardian

Estimate £150–£250

Sold £750

A pair of early 20th- century walnut-wood table lamps, with fabric shades and later electrical "!ings, came from the auction of the contents of Wormington Grange, mounted at Duke’s. The sale was hugely popular with bidders keen to buy into the taste of owner John Eve!s, who had built up a peerless collection of antiques over four decades. ‘ These kinds of sales demonstrate the enduring desirability of English country-house furnishings,’ says Rufus Bird of Duke’s. dukes-auctions.com

4 Swedish Charm

Estimate £500–£1,000

Sold £1,800

What stories of love, laughter and life does this folk- art Swedish marriage chest harbour? Such chests were made from pine, then decorated and used by the bride to keep treasured items such as linen, "ne dishes or a silver candlestick, and perhaps a li!le jewellery received on her wedding day. Consigned from a Georgian townhouse in Bury St Edmunds, it is inscribed with the year 1847 and the initials POS, and caused quite a stir at Che# ns, where Swedish antiques are perennially popular. cheffins.co.uk/fineart

5 Rare Find

Estimate £600–£1,000

Sold £2,200

Sta #ordshire agateware ceramics, glazed to resemble the colourful striations of this type of quartz, is fairly rare, which elevated a $ nely made example to hot-ticket status at Woolley & Wallis. While specialist Clare Durham couldn’t identify the factory where the teapot was made, she could date it to 1755. Agateware was $ rst made by Josiah Wedgwood and his partner Thomas Bentley to cater for the demand for decorative ceramics among the growing middle classes. woolleyandwallis.co.uk

6 Double Life

Estimate £3,000–£5,000

Sold £10,000

The top lot in a recent jewellery sale at Tennants was a delicate Edwardian tiara that converted into a necklace. The piece was set throughout with old- cut diamonds, weighing in at 5.30 carats, and was made around 1900. The pre!y clusters of diamond "owers were typical of late 19thcentury jewellery design, inspired by daisies, leaves and sprays of "owers. Jewellery that converted into di #erent pieces was practical and popular – watch out for tiaras that break down into brooches too. tennants.co.uk

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