Auctions

ALL the designer glamour is at Bonhams Knightsbridge - unless you are at risk of being captivated by 18th-century indiarubber shoes. Bonhams Chelsea has a pair estimated pounds 80- pounds 150 in its fascinating Thursday (11am) sale of textiles (costumes). There are old tapestries, tassels, shawls, tunics, fans and beads.

Bloomsbury Book Auctions has more than 500 lots of private press books, limited editions and books illustrating the history of books themselves, Thursday (11am).

At Christie's South Kensington: carpets, decorative objects and furniture, Wednesday (10.30am) and on Thursday oriental artworks (10.30am) and stamp collections (2pm). Phillips also has stamps on Thursday (11am). Sotheby's has a Colonnade Sale of European decorative arts dating from the 15th century on Tuesday and Thursday (10.30am daily).

COUNTRYWIDE

Chester: Two days of ceramics and glass (Thursday, 11am) and metalwork, country furniture, scientific instruments, clocks, cameras, mechanical music (Friday, 11am and 12.30pm). Phillips North West, New House, 150 Christleton Road (0244 313936).

Hull: New Samsung colour televisions and satellite systems in general sale at the Edwardian Auction Galleries, Wiltshire Road, Wednesday (10.30am). Gilbert Baitson (0482 500500).

Leominster: Around 800 lots of antiques and effects, Wednesday and Thursday (10am daily): Bechstein grand piano, Georgian mahogany bureau bookcase. Russell Baldwin & Bright, The Fine Art Saleroom, Ryelands Road (0568 611166).

Redditch: About 800 lots of household and office furniture and equipment, computers, vehicles, Thursday (10am). Arrow Auctions, Bartleet Road (0527 517707).

Newbury: Ceramics, glass, Oriental artworks including Japanese prints Wednesday (10.30am) includes a 14in William de Morgan dish est at pounds 600- pounds 800. Dreweat Neate, Donnington Priory, Donnington (0635 31234).

Nottingham: About 100 lots of TVs, videos, hi-fis, 100 lots of domestic electrical equipment, Thursday (6.30pm). Gemmells, Derby Road (0602 476052).

FAIRS

Art 93 (contemporary art): at the Business Design Centre, Upper Street, Islington, London N1, last two days Today and tomorrow (11am-5pm).

Lapada Antiques and Fine Art, NEC Birmingham, last days today and tomorrow (11am-6pm daily). (021 780 4141).

World of Drawings and Watercolours, Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly, London W1, last days today and tomorrow (11am-7pm daily). (071-499 6321).

Cinema Collectables: Westminster Central Hall, London SW1, today (10am-5pm). Entry pounds 1.50. Ed Mason (071-352 6338).

Countrywide: Antiques Trade Gazette (071-930 4957); Government Auction News (071-734 8291; hotline 0891 887700).

Look out for . . .

Bonhams' cash-and-carry trading fair. This decorative arts 'selling exhibition' in Montpelier Street from Monday (11am), means you can buy a fixed-price limited edition designer ceramic or piece of furniture, have it wrapped, and watch an attendant replace it with one exactly the same. For pounds 12,000 plus VAT, you can pick up a Ron Arad black steel chair welded to its own flexible rug. For pounds 2,090, a bottle stand with steel bottle-gripping tendrils, by Moultrie and Mortimer.

Open to 7pm Monday, 11am-6pm other weekdays, weekends noon-6pm. Ends 7 February.