Castle Howard, one of Britain’s greatest and most beautiful country houses, has for generations been home to one of the most important collecting dynasties in Britain.

On December 16, with its second major auction in the category this year, Heritage Auctions has proved itself an international leader in Russian decorative arts with its stunning Imperial Fabergé.

Lost from view for a century, a three-figure bronze group by the sculptor Camille Claudel (1864-1943) made an auction appearance in Orléans on February 16.