Auctions

ISLAMIC week in the London salerooms means it is time for a speculative flutter on early pottery. Garish, flamboyant 16th- and 17th-century Iznik plates and tiles from Turkey are picking up in price and are set to rise further. Even dull old Persian Nishapur wares, disregarded by collectors even well before the Shah quit, are creeping up. At the lesser London auctions, for under pounds 100, you can still pick up a 9th- to 10th-century plain glazed domestic Nishapur vase. Shallow bowls with birds and foliage that might have sold for pounds 600- pounds 1,200 four years ago are now estimated at pounds 2,000- pounds 2,500 at Sotheby's sale of Islamic and Indian art, Thursday (10.30am). Christie's ests for Nishapur bowls at its Islamic art sale, Tuesday (11am) and Thursday (2.30pm) are pounds 1,000- pounds 1,500.

BEST OF THE REST

Swiss Tag Heuer sports watches are making their debut as vintage collectables at Bonhams clock and watch sale, Monday (11am). Six Sixties and Seventies models are est around pounds 200 each.

Selling exhibition of contemporary furniture by eight designers - Arad, La Trobe- Bateman, Little, Leakey, de Graaff, Dixon, Atfield, Morrison - sponsored by Contemporary Art Society, ITN, 200 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1 (071-833 3000), Wednesday-Saturday (12-6pm).

COUNTRYWIDE

Truro: Bicycles, 1900-1950, vintage motorcycles, cars and automobilia, handbooks, next Saturday (10.30am). Truro Auction Centre, Calenick Street (0872 260020).

Bourne: Vintage cars, boxed diecast toys, agricultural bygones, next Saturday (10am). Richardsons (0778 422686).

Salisbury: Helen Allingham picture sale (deceased's collection), Monday (12.30pm) following general picture sale (10.30am). Woolley & Wallis, Castle Street (0722 411422).

FAIRS

Lapada Antiques and Artworks, Royal College of Art, Kensington, London SW7, ends tomorrow (071-581 9175).

Kenilworth Antiques, Chesford Grange, Tuesday-Saturday (0672 870727).

Cheshire County Antiques, Arley Hall, Knutsford, ends tomorrow (Cooper Antiques Fairs; 01249 661111).

Buxton Decorative, Fine Art and Antiques, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Wednesday- Saturday (Bailey Fairs; 0277 362662).

Countrywide: Antiques Trade Gazette (071-930 4957) and Government Auction News (071- 928 9001, hotline 0891-887700).