Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
‘Vital changes’ needed to looted art bill as dealers says definition of ‘cultural property’ is too vague
13 June 2016The UK Government’s cultural property bill currently going through parliament needs “vital changes” to be workable and to safeguard “legitimate art market interests”, says the Antiquities Dealers’ Association (ADA).
Sale of Pelé’s collection sets £3.6m record for football auction
10 June 2016The auction of Pelé’s personal collection became most lucrative sale of football memorabilia in history with the 2000 items totalling £3.6m including premium with 100% of the lots sold.
Pelé’s 1970 World Cup winner’s medal makes £280,000 and sets new auction record
09 June 2016An auction record was set for any football medal as Pelé’s 1970 World Cup winner’s medal was knocked down at £280,000 in London this evening.
Will Pelé’s 1970 World Cup winner’s medal set auction record?
09 June 2016The auction of Pelé’s vast collection of memorabilia concludes in London today where the highlight on offer at the third and final day of the sale will be the Brazilian legend’s winner’s medal from the 1970 World Cup.
US collector splashes out £2.48m on four Shakespeare folios at Christie’s
27 May 2016A private US collector spent £2.48m at Christie’s, acquiring all four of the early William Shakespeare folios on offer in a specially-staged auction.
John Constable ‘six-footer’ headlines Christie’s British art auction
26 May 2016Christie’s have announced that a major landscape by John Constable will be among the works on offer at their Defining British Art sale in London this summer.
Greenwich museums launch campaign to secure £10m Armada Portrait which ‘could’ be sold on the open market
25 May 2016Royal Museums Greenwich are attempting to raise £10m to buy a version of The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I. The work currently belongs to descendants of Sir Francis Drake but the institution say that unless the required funds are raised, the painting “could be sold on the open market and even go overseas”.
Christie’s fined £3250 for offering ‘unworked’ elephant ivory trophy
24 May 2016Christie’s have admitted to “an honest and genuine mistake” by putting up for sale an ivory and kutch silver trophy that contravened CITES regulations.
Rare Breguet watch nets £2.4m
20 May 2016A watch by Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) became the second most expensive piece by the Swiss maker when it sold to a private Swiss museum for triple-estimate SFr3.25m (£2.35m) including premium at Christie’s Geneva.
Leading collector of romantic landscapes donates two works to the National Gallery in London
18 May 2016Two landscapes by 19th century European artists have been donated to the National Gallery by Asbjørn Lunde, an American of Norwegian extraction who is one of the world’s top collectors in the field.
Phillips announce change in buyer’s premium
17 May 2016Auctioneers Phillips have changed their buyer’s premium with immediate effect.
Cheyenne Westphal heads series of appointments at Phillips
13 May 2016Phillips have announced the appointment of Cheyenne Westphal as chairman, reporting to CEO Edward Dolman. Formerly Sotheby’s worldwide head of Contemporary art, she will start in her new role in 2017.
10 highlights from the Modern and Contemporary art auctions in New York
13 May 2016Just under $1.2bn changed hands at the top-end of the art market in New York this week as Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips all held their Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary auctions over seven days for the first time. Here is ATG’s pick of individual highlights sold across the week.
Art Business Conference set for September
13 May 2016Tickets are now available for the third Art Business Conference which will take place at Church House Conference Centre in Westminster, London on September 1.
Christie’s to stage themed evening sale of British Art in London this summer
03 May 2016Christie’s have announced details of their latest ‘themed’ sale – an evening sale of British art which will take place in London on June 30.
A mouldy caravan, an old bureau, a hidden drawer and the diamond brooch hiding within
27 April 2016A rotting old caravan propped up on a farm might not sound like the kind of place you’d expect to discover a valuable family heirloom. But for a Devon-based furniture restorer, it proved just that when they found an Art Deco brooch believed to be a rare piece hiding within the contents of the van.
Tindle paintings trundle into Folkestone saleroom
21 April 2016A selection of works by David Tindle (b.1932) will be offered at Grand Auctions in Folkestone on May 9.
Rare American ‘Inverted Jenny’ stamp recovered
18 April 2016A rare American stamp stolen in 1955 in one of the most famous thefts in philatelic history has been recovered after turning up at Spink.
Pallant House Gallery acquire Degas drawing in deal brokered by Sotheby’s
18 April 2016A large drawing by Edgar Degas (1834-1917) which has never been exhibited before has gone on display at Pallant House Gallery after being acquired by the Chichester gallery via the Acceptance in Lieu scheme.
Ravilious watercolour makes £85,000 at Sworders
13 April 2016A watercolour by Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) drew serious bidding at Sworders this week, overtaking a £40,000-60,000 estimate before it was knocked down at £85,000.