Lyon & Turnbull

03/09/2026

Join Senior Specialist Katherine Wright as she takes a closer look at the remarkable artistry behind pâte-sur-pâte ceramics and the extraordinary skill required to master this decorative technique.

Built up layer by layer in liquid clay before being delicately carved to create an almost cameo-like effect, pâte-sur-pâte could take weeks or even months to perfect. Among those who mastered the technique was Albion Birks, whose exceptional work at Minton is beautifully demonstrated by this pair of early 20th-century vases.

Discover the craftsmanship, history and intricate details that make these pieces so captivating.

LOT 253 | TWO MINTON PÂTE-SUR-PÂTE VASES WITH COVERS BY ALBION BIRKS | CIRCA 1900
£500 - £700 + fees

Five Centuries
09 & 10 September 2026 from 10:00 BST
Live from Edinburgh & Online

03/09/2026

Meet Keith Haring

The barking dog. The Radiant Baby. But where did Keith Haring's iconic symbols come from?

Discover the artist behind them through the link.

Keith Haring was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1958 and grew up in nearby Kutztown. From an early age he developed an interest in drawing, inspired by cartoons, comic strips and popular culture, influences that would later shape his instantly recognisable visual language. Haring emerged during

03/09/2026

One Stone or Many?

Solitaire and cluster rings have been worn for centuries, but showcase their gemstones in very different ways. Find out which setting might be right for you through the link.

Choosing between a solitaire and a cluster ring is about more than appearance. Both settings have centuries of history, each offering different advantages in terms of style, sparkle, practicality and the way they showcase a gemstone. Whether you prefer the simplicity of a single diamond or the imp

02/09/2026

Meet Jean Michel Basquiat

Jean Michel Basquiat was just twenty when his work began attracting international attention.

Discover the artist's extraordinary career through the link.

A defining figure of late 20th century art, Jean-Michel Basquiat transformed the visual language of contemporary painting through a raw, expressive fusion of street culture, symbolism, and art-historical reference. Emerging from New York’s downtown scene in the late 1970s, Basquiat fir

02/09/2026

Not All Diamonds Sparkle Equally

Two diamonds can have the same carat weight but look remarkably different. Find out why cut is the most important of the Four Cs when it comes to sparkle.

Diamonds are the hardest known gemstones and yet they comprise the simplest composition, they are made of just one substance: pure, crystalline carbon. Diamonds are assessed using the Four Cs: colour, clarity, carat weight and cut. Togethe

01/09/2026

Have you heard of the Radium Girls? ⌚

In the early 20th century, hundreds of women were employed to paint watch dials with luminous radium paint, allowing them to glow in the dark — a particularly useful innovation during the First World War.

To achieve the fine detail required, workers were encouraged to use the “lip, dip, paint” technique, shaping their brushes between their lips before dipping them into the radioactive paint. Unaware of the dangers, they repeatedly ingested radium, and many went on to suffer devastating health consequences.

Their fight for justice would help transform workplace safety and leave a lasting mark on the watch industry.
Radium was gradually replaced by tritium, and from 1964 Swiss watches using the material were required to carry a “T” on the dial. A tiny detail with a much bigger story behind it.

Discover more about the story of the Radium Girls and their impact on watchmaking through the link in our bio.

01/09/2026

The Women Behind the Glow

The luminous dials of early twentieth century watches came at a devastating human cost. Meet the Radium Girls and discover how their fight for justice changed watchmaking and workplace safety.

Quick answer: The Radium Girls were factory workers employed to paint luminous watch dials and instrument gauges during the early twentieth century. Unaware of the dangers of radium, many suffered severe health problems after repeatedly ingesting radioactive paint. Their legal battles transformed

01/09/2026

Meet Elizabeth Peyton

Elizabeth Peyton's portraits aren't just about appearance, they're about personality.

Discover her unique approach through the link.

Early Life and BackgroundElizabeth Peyton was born in Danbury, Connecticut, USA in 1965 and is based in New York City, dividing her time between New York and Berlin. She began drawing and painting figures at a young age and went on to study fine art at the School of Visual Arts in New York, graduati...

31/08/2026

Behind the Printed Image

Woodcut, etching, drypoint, lithography or screenprint: each process leaves its own distinctive mark. Explore the art of printmaking through the link.

Every print begins with a process. Whether carved into wood, etched into metal or drawn onto stone, the technique used by the artist shapes not only the finished image but also its character, texture and atmosphere.Printmaking encompasses a wide range of methods developed over centuries. Ea

31/08/2026

Meet Frida Kahlo

She insisted she wasn't painting dreams, only her own reality.

Discover the life and art of Frida Kahlo through the link.

Frida Kahlo remains one of the most distinctive and compelling artistic voices of the 20th century. Born in Coyoacán, Mexico, Kahlo’s work is deeply rooted in her personal experience, shaped by lifelong physical pain following a serious accident in her youth, and by the complex emotional terrain ...