Auctions: Sold over the phone

THE foreigners are coming to town this week, or at least bidding by telephone for the Continental furniture and ceramics that the British cannot afford. Buyers from Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan will be after ormolu oriental vases (pounds 20,000 or so a pair) at Sotheby's, Friday (11am), sale of furniture and ceramics. Bonhams, Thursday (2pm), has a dealer's stock of fine English and continental furniture. Phillips, Tuesday (11am), has furniture, carpets and artworks.

The Germans will be wielding their strong mark in pursuit of Meissen at Christie's Monday (10.30am). Christie's South Kensington has oriental ceramics, Thursday (10.30am).

FAIR

Chelsea Antiques Fair - 75th anniversary: Old Town Hall, King's Road, 11am-8pm, weekends 11am-6pm until next Saturday. Entry pounds 5 (0444 482514).

SNIPS

Dolls and toys: Phillips West Two, Tuesday (12 noon). Modern British and Irish pictures: Christie's, Friday (11am). British and Victorian paintings: Phillips, Tuesday (11am).

COUNTRYWIDE

Chester: By direction of Duke and Duchess of Westminster, property of Eaton Hall on premises, Monday (10.30am). Catalogue, pounds 6, admits two. Sotheby's (0244 315531).

Reading: Furniture and liquidated no-reserve stock, next Saturday (10am) at cattle market. Thimbleby & Shorland (0734 508611).

Billingshurst: 141 lots of pewter in metalwork sale, Tuesday (10.30am). Sotheby's (0403 783933).

Putney: Household furniture next Saturday (9.30am). Dowell Lloyd, 118 Putney Bridge Road (081-788 7777).

Provincial sales by 'Antiques Trade Gazette' (071-930 4957), 'Government Auction News' (071-734 8291/4, hotline 0891 887700).