Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
June 15: not a moment too soon
08 June 2020Despite the difficult challenges, dealers are delighted to open their doors once again
Auction house Spink helps Captain Tom remount medal collection
06 June 2020Captain Tom’s full medal set has been remounted and re-presented to him following work by auction house Spink.
Collection from Portobello Road market trader comes to Berkshire auction
03 June 2020The house contents of Portobello Road market stalwart Joan Dunk (1930-2019) is to be sold in Newbury next week.
Mary Queen of Scots' prayer book comes to auction in London
02 June 2020A prayer book that once belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) will be offered at auction during Christie’s Classic Week of sales.
The grand reopening pushed back to June 15 for auction houses and antiques shops in England
01 June 2020Date for English trade premises to accept visitors again is now set and Covid-19 safety measures planned
Export licensing unit reopens with digital applications
01 June 2020The Export Licensing Unit (ELU), which closed under the March lockdown, has reopened with a new temporary procedure.
Watercolour reveals early West Dean look
01 June 2020West Dean College of Arts and Conservation has bought a watercolour depicting the grand entrance hall of the college dating back to when it was a house.
West Dean buys new picture revealing its grand 19th century entrance hall
27 May 2020West Dean College of Arts and Conservation has bought a watercolour depicting the grand entrance hall of college's residence.
Auction houses and the art and antiques trade get go-ahead to re-open to public in June
26 May 2020Auction houses, art and antiques shops, galleries and markets can reopen to the public in June in England – as long as strict new measures are adhered to.
Supreme Court the final option in Ivory Act case
25 May 2020Dealers and collectors of antique ivory will seek to take their case to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal rejected their latest challenge to the Ivory Act 2018.
French auctions get green light to reopen following Germany’s lead
25 May 2020Auction house premises across Europe are reopening after being closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Alastair Gibson offers antique fans in timed online sale
25 May 2020Gibson Antiques, owned by director of FACT Alastair Gibson, is selling a collection of antique fans at auction.
National Gallery acquires trio of 18th century pictures from late art patron via tax scheme
22 May 2020The National Gallery has taken ownership of three pictures by 18th century greats Jean-Etienne Liotard, Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Thomas Lawrence.
Portobello Road to become traffic-free to enable social distancing for shoppers
20 May 2020Portobello Road will close to traffic during weekday trading hours to allow more room for shoppers and visitors.
Export-blocked 18th century harpsichord bought by Gainsborough’s House museum
20 May 2020A harpsichord that was sold at The Canterbury Auction Galleries in 2018 to a US buyer and later barred from export by the government has been saved for the nation by Gainsborough’s House museum.
French auction houses reopen following Germany’s lead as lockdown eases across Europe
19 May 2020Auction houses in France have been given the go-ahead to re-open this month after being closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Appeal to stop Ivory Act dismissed in latest court action
18 May 2020Court of Appeal judges have dismissed the latest attempt to stop the Ivory Act.
Lobbying helps art industry make key step in return to full trading in England
18 May 2020Following representations by the British Art Market Federation (BAMF) and the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers And Valuers (SOFAA) to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), auction houses were removed from the list of businesses that must remain closed due to the government's lockdown measures. DCMS said antique dealerships will also be able to open premises from June 1.
BAMF working to tackle backlog over export licences
18 May 2020The art market is lobbying for the reopening of the Export Licensing Unit (ELU) which closed in March.
Huge ornamental screen sells at salvage dealer's retirement auction
18 May 2020The team at antiques dealership Robert Mills Architectural spent decades salvaging items from closed-down churches, banks, mansions and pubs.