Auctions

CHRISTIE'S South Kensington is maintaining a lively off-season presence with three minor sales - good for a rummage while dealers are on holiday. There is a jewellery sale on Tuesday (2pm), and on Thursday (10.30am) British and Continental pictures (including choice prints such as a witty Degas etching, est pounds 300- pounds 400) and an Oriental sale of ceramics, prints and ornaments, mostly in the low hundreds (also 10.30am).

COUNTRYWIDE

Wrexham: 500-lot auction with 11 vintage bicycles, an Austin pedal car, teddies and dolls, Wednesday (11am). Wigett's, 29 Holt Street (0978 353553).

Bath: Contents of a clock repairer's workshop, including chronographs, 20 longcase clocks, bracket clocks, Friday (10am). Silver and jewellery, 2pm. Gardiner Houlgate, The Old Malt House, Comfortable Place, Upper Bristol Road (0225 447933).

Salisbury: 265 lots of Oriental carpets and rugs together with 200 lots of furniture. Thursday, 10am. Woolley & Wallis, Castle Street (0722 411422).

Bexhill-on-Sea: Microscopes, ceramics and glass are in the first day of a two- day sale, Wednesday and Thursday (10am daily). Gorringes, Terminus Road (0424 212994).

Loughton: Two-day sale, Thursday and Friday (11am daily), opens with cigarette cards, toys and other collectables (Thursday); antique furniture (Friday) includes a French walnut escritoire. Black Horse (Ambrose), 149 High Road (081-502 3951).

Hay-on-Wye: An original oil-on-canvas portrait of D H Lawrence among rare books and prints, Friday (2pm). Y Gelli Auctions, Broad Street (0497 821179).

Aylsham, Norwich: Two- day sale, Tuesday/Wednesday (10.30am daily) opens with porcelain, glass, ivory figures. Friday offers furniture. G A Key, 8 Market Place (0263 733195).

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