From researching an item and setting a budget to understanding condition and bidding confidently, our 10 essential tips will help you make informed decisions and enjoy the experience of buying antiques at auction.

We have gradually been putting together a collection of horse paintings by East Anglian artists, mainly 19th century. They often pop up in local auction rooms and usually don’t cost the earth.

You probably already know the portrait of ‘Whistlejacket’, a famous racehorse painted for his owner the Marquess of Rockingham. But did you know about ‘Scrub’?

It can happen to anyone…

If history tells us anything, it’s that girls really love their pearls…

Cocktails, fashion and art sounded like an irresistible combination. We were very happy to accept an invitation to enjoy all three at the Royal Academy recently…

Princess Sophia of the Palatinate was a Granddaughter of King James VI of Scotland, also James I of England. Her mother was Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia…

Trail blazers do not always come from the most likely beginnings…