This Week at Auction


January 2026

This week’s auctions offer a wonderfully varied selection, from glittering fine jewellery and rare portrait miniatures to handsome Georgian furniture, evocative British pictures and beautifully crafted silver. Whether you are a seasoned collector or simply looking for something special, there is plenty to tempt across Thursday and Friday’s sales.

Portrait Miniature Jewellery

THURSDAY 15 JANUARY | 10AM

We begin the day with an intimate and highly collectible single-owner collection of portrait miniature jewellery. Rings, necklaces and brooches showcase the enduring charm of these personal objects, where fine craftsmanship meets sentiment and history. Portrait miniatures continue to appeal to collectors for their rarity and romance, and this thoughtfully assembled collection offers something for both new and established buyers.

Jewellery

THURSDAY 15 JANUARY | 11AM

The morning steps naturally from portrait miniatures into the Jewellery sale at 11am, where sparkle takes centre stage and the mood shifts from private romance to pure brilliance. One of the most eye-catching pieces is an 18ct gold diamond flower head cluster ring (lot 8001), a classic design brought to life by seven round brilliant cut diamonds with an impressive total diamond weight of 3.42 carats. It’s exactly the kind of ring that catches light from across a room – bold, elegant and unapologetically glamorous.

If your tastes lean contemporary, a pair of 18ct rose gold diamond hoop earrings (lot 8003) offers a modern indulgence: both inner and outer hoops are pave set, so the diamonds are working hard from every angle. For something more understated but no less refined, an 18ct white gold diamond circular pendant necklace (lot 8010) is simplicity done properly – a wearable piece that sits easily with everyday style while still feeling special.

And then there’s the kind of jewel that stops you mid-page: an 18ct white gold sapphire and diamond bracelet (lot 8062). Nineteen clusters, each centred with an oval-cut sapphire surrounded by diamonds, combine into a substantial, statement-making piece with a remarkable 18.20 carats of sapphires and 6.38 carats of diamonds. It has the presence of a true showpiece – the sort of bracelet that doesn’t just complete an outfit, it becomes the conversation.

Furniture & Rugs

THURSDAY 15 JANUARY | 1PM

By 1pm, the day takes on a different texture as Furniture & Rugs begin, and with it comes that wonderful contrast auctions do so well: the shift from glitter to grain, from gemstones to mahogany. A highlight here is a Georgian mahogany seven-drawer chest (lot 7001), a piece with strong, sensible proportions and classic details – swan-neck handles, bracket feet, and the kind of patina that only time can give. It’s the sort of furniture that anchors a room, quietly confident and endlessly useful.

For softer lines and a touch of French flourish, a pair of upholstered armchairs (lot 7027) brings curved forms and comfort, with crested backs and scroll arms that feel made for long conversations. And if it’s practical charm you’re after, a Cotswold Company ‘Chester’ dresser (lot 7125) is a real crowd-pleaser – painted dove grey with a contrasting oak top, offering open shelving above and generous storage below. It’s easy to picture it in a busy kitchen or dining space, doing its job beautifully. Rounding out this section is an Arts & Crafts Himalayan wool pile rug (lot 7128), its stylised floral motifs and muted palette lending warmth without overpowering – the kind of piece that ties a space together and makes it feel finished.

Pictures

THURSDAY 15 JANUARY | 3PM

At 3pm we step into the Pictures sale, and suddenly the week feels cinematic. Michael J Whitehand’s oil Britannia and Westward passing the Royal London flagpole at Cowes (lot 6542) captures the drama and prestige of sailing at its most iconic – a composition full of movement, air and light, with the royal yacht adding a crisp note of ceremony.

In contrast, Augustus Edwin John’s Study of a Mother and Child (lot 6568) brings us back to something quieter and more human. It’s an intimate work on paper – tender, thoughtful, and made all the more intriguing by its provenance, having previously been with the Chenil Galleries, Chelsea. And for sheer charm, Arthur Wardle’s watercolour Portrait of a Wire Fox Terrier – ‘Carlisle Tyro’ (lot 6584) is hard to resist. Wardle had a gift for character, and this is the kind of picture that feels like it comes with a personality attached – not just a portrait of a dog, but of a beloved companion.

Silver

FRIDAY 16 JANUARY | 10AM

By Friday, attention turns to the objects that bring the most satisfying sense of discovery – pieces you can imagine living with, using, displaying or collecting. We begin the day at 10am with Silver, where elegance meets character in all the best ways. A Continental silver and enamel cigarette case (lot 8506) is a small object with a big visual impact, its capercaillie set in a Scottish woodland scene – the sort of piece that feels like it comes with a story. A pair of Victorian double-headed swan salts (lot 8514) add a playful note to the table, all curves and charm, and the accompanying spade-shaped spoons make a delightful extra. For a bolder statement, a Mappin & Webb silver oval tray (lot 8526) brings scale and presence: pierced rim, generous proportions, and that unmistakable confidence of a well-made piece.

Antique & Decorative Objects

FRIDAY 16 JANUARY | 11AM

at 11am, Antique & Decorative Objects offers that irresistible mix of craftsmanship and curiosity – a sale that rewards the buyer who likes to look twice. A Royal Worcester cabinet plate painted by Richard Sebright (lot 6000) is richly decorative, its fruit painting and gilded border a reminder of just how much artistry can be contained in a single display piece. An 18th-century oak desk box (lot 6098) brings a sense of history you can feel in the carving and proportions – functional once, beautiful still. And for collectors of modern design classics, a Swarovski ‘Wild Horses’ limited edition (lot 6103) provides a striking, sculptural moment, complete with certificate and case – a polished finale to the morning’s variety.
And to finish off the week, at 1pm we head into Affordable Antiques – a treasure trove of collectable and intriguing pieces, perfect for those who love the thrill of the unexpected. These are the sales where you can stumble upon the charming, the curious, and the quietly special: a decorative find for the home, a conversation piece for a shelf, or the beginning of a new collection. It’s a fitting finale – relaxed, tempting and full of possibility.

Altogether, it’s the kind of week that reminds you why auctions are so addictive. Each sale has its own atmosphere, and each lot carries a different kind of promise – a little beauty, a little history, and the excitement of taking something extraordinary home.
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