Auctions

Look out for . . .

Sheffield: An on-site sale of snooker tables and equipment at Cue Ball Three, Idsworth Road, Firth Park, Wednesday (12 noon). Charles W Harrison (0924 279005).

NOW that the art market has rallied, auctioneers are seeking new names to tickle the bidders' fancy. Cyril Frankel of Bonhams has nine bowls, vases and plates by the 33-year-old Rupert Spira in his contemporary ceramics sale, Potters of International Renown, Wednesday and Thursday (6pm daily). Mr Spira offers two massive stoneware bowls est pounds 350-pounds 450 each, a deep blue stoneware vase (pounds 220-pounds 300) and a set of six bowls with fish images (pounds 120-pounds 180). He trained under Michael Cardew, in the Leach tradition, but these wares show the emergence of a style of his own.

More newcomers at Sotheby's big print sale, Tuesday and Wednesday (10.30am daily): the auctioneer Ian Mackenzie has brought back from his 'gatherings' in Europe work by 20th-century artists whose prints have seldom appeared at Sotheby's. All have solidly priced reputations as painters. Blocky, colourful abstracts by Russian-born Serge Poliakoff (d 1969) are est pounds 1,000 to pounds 3,000. His paintings fetch up to pounds 50,000 at auction. Two more names: Giuseppe Capogrossi, Italian (d 1972), a founder of the Gruppo Originale in 1951 (est pounds 600-pounds 800) and Konrad Klapheck, German (b 1935 - est pounds 200-pounds 300 for a pair). Paintings by both Capogrossi and Klapheck fetch upwards of pounds 20,000 at auction.

More old and new prints at Phillips Monday (1.30pm). Printed books and maps at Sotheby's, Monday and Tuesday (10.30am daily).

Sotheby's modern Brit sale has a collection of paintings in aid of the St Ives Tate Gallery: Lowry, Clausen, Hepworth, Gwen John.

MARCHING ON

The centenary of Britain's, the manufacturer of toy soldiers, is celebrated at Phillips, Tuesday (12 noon). An extremely rare Indian Army cavalry set in khaki of 1948 is pounds 1,000-pounds 1,500. Plenty in the pounds 100-pounds 200 range.

DRESS SENSE

The actress Olivia de Havilland has sent her Dior costumes to Christie's South Kensington, Tuesday (2pm), many lotted with photographs of her wearing them. An A-line wedding dress is pounds 2,000-pounds 3,000 but a typical estimate among the 73 lots is pounds 500-pounds 700.

PURSE STRINGS

Four sales of musical instruments, mostly strings: Monday, Christie's South Kensington (2pm): Tuesday, Phillips (11am) and Bonhams (3pm): Thursday, Sotheby's (10.30am).

COUNTRYWIDE

Enfield: Housing maintenance equipment by order of the Borough of Enfield, Wednesday (10.30am) at the borough's stores, Carter Hatch Lane; painting and decorating equipment, ironmongery, woodworking machinery. Hawbery King (081-343 7373).

Dorking: Victorian furniture, Carlton and Doulton ware, pictures, sheet music, books, Wednesday (10am). Crow's, Reigate Road (0306 740382).

Brigg: Classic cars, motorcycles, vintage lamps, Wednesday (10am). DDM Auction Rooms, Old Courts Road (0652 653666).

Heathfield: On-site country house sale at St Mary's Retreat, Tilsmore Road. Furniture and collectables, mounted ostrich eggs, a Twenties wedding dress and a 'flying Scotsman' biscuit tin, today (12 noon). Michael Shortall (0580 753463).

Bromsgrove: About 800 computers and peripherals, next Saturday (11am). Traderdesk (021 445 1794).

Ealing, London W5: By order of banks, executors, charities, sale Tuesday (12 noon) and Wednesday (4pm); includes Victorian gout chair (Wednesday). Academy Auctioneers, Northcote Avenue (081-579 7466).

FAIRS

Goodwood racecourse: drive-in antique market, tomorrow (9am-5pm). Select Shows (0737 814740).

Countrywide: Antiques Trade Gazette (071-930 4957); Government Auction News (071-734 8291/4, hotline 0891 887700).