Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Louvre aims to buy £8m Book of Hours
30 October 2017The Louvre museum in Paris is hoping to raise more than £8m to buy a jewel-encrusted Book of Hours.
‘Looted’ vases row reflects antiquities trade pitfalls
30 October 2017A dispute over two 4th century BC Grecian vases offered at Frieze Masters in London by a Swiss dealer is the latest case highlighting the complexity of the ownership of antiquities.
Chinese scroll sets Australian auction record for Asian art at Bonhams
27 October 2017A rare Chinese scroll by artist Fu Baoshi (1904-1965) has made an auction record for Bonhams in Australia.
Paul Newman Rolex sets auction record of $15.5m at Phillips New York
27 October 2017A Rolex once owned by actor Paul Newman has set an auction record of $15.5m (£11.85m) at Phillips' inaugural watch auction in New York.
Charity art auction raises more than £100,000 for a national centre for Thomas Gainsborough
26 October 2017Works by artists Antony Gormley and Maggi Hambling were among 130 lots sold at auction to raise more than £100,000 to create a national centre for the artist Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) in Sudbury.
The UK’s largest collection of Outsider art sets records at Newcastle auction
24 October 2017Newcastle auction house Anderson & Garland has set a number of new artist records following the sale of the UK’s largest collections of Outsider art.
Churchill’s final painting heads to auction at Sotheby’s
24 October 2017The final artwork by Sir Winston Churchill is to be offered at auction with a £50,000-80,000 estimate.
Last known letter written aboard the Titanic sells for £100,000 at auction
23 October 2017The last known letter written on the Titanic by a victim before it sunk in the Atlantic in 1912 has set an auction record for a letter from the doomed ship.
Home Office reloads firearm consultation over legal definition of ‘antique’
23 October 2017Fresh views are being sought over the legal definition of ‘antique’ as police voice gun crime fears.
Olympia fair welcomes venue redevelopment
16 October 2017Clarion Events has welcomed the news that the Olympia exhibition site is to be redeveloped.
Controversial Meissen figure can leave the UK
16 October 2017The estate of a prominent Jewish art collector has failed to secure the return of a rare Meissen figure that was the subject of a recent export stop.
Auctioneers to create a New World Border
16 October 2017Thomson Roddick has been running auctions across Scotland for more than 130 years but is now planning to expand its operations in the Borders.
West Dean College bolsters conservation expertise with new appointments
10 October 2017West Dean College, a centre for conservation and creative arts, has appointed two new subject leaders in clocks and metalwork.
George Bailey back at Dreweatts as end beckons for Bloomsbury Auctions
09 October 2017Update (July 2019): auctions resumed at Bloomsbury in 2018 following Gurr Johns' purchase of Dreweatts and Bloomsbury in 2017. In February 2019 it expanded the number of sales at its London office at 16-17 Pall Mall. The original story is below.
Trade urged to defend ivory works of art as Michael Gove renews ban call
09 October 2017Anthony Browne, chairman of The British Art Market Federation (BAMF), was due to meet with environment secretary Michael Gove this week (October 10) to discuss the proposed ban on sales of ivory in the UK.
Post-war print dealer Lyndsey Ingram to open new Mayfair gallery
09 October 2017Modern prints and works on paper dealer Lyndsey Ingram is to open her first official gallery space in Mayfair.
Christie’s rising star takes top spot in novice auctioneer test
09 October 2017“Only a Rizla paper between them,” is what judge Philip Arnold declared as he announced the winner of the 2017 NAVA Propertymark Novice Auctioneer of the year.
Judge me on NAVA numbers, says Colin Young
09 October 2017The president of NAVA Propertymark has promised to increase the membership of the auctioneer and valuer association during his tenure and reiterated his quest to get more auctioneers registered.
Dealer Colnaghi launches foundation to bring Old Masters to 21st century audience
07 October 2017Colnaghi has confirmed the launch of its Colnaghi Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation to promote Old Masters and antiquities to a 21st century audience.
Government begins ivory trade consultation
06 October 2017The long-awaited government consultation on the trade in ivory in the UK is to be launched.