Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Pick of the week: An artwork of great propaganda value
21 October 2019“Germany calling, Germany calling” were the chilling opening words spoken by the upper-class British accent of William Joyce – Lord Haw Haw – and other presenters in propaganda radio broadcasts from Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
Country house view ahead of Rockingham collection sale
21 October 2019A large collection of Rockingham porcelain will be on display at Wentworth Woodhouse next month ahead of its sale at auction. The Rowley collection, numbering 120 lots, was assembled by a collector hailing from Sprotborough, Doncaster, who now lives in Buckinghamshire.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including an ancient Egyptian hippopotamus figure and a Christopher Dresser sake bottle
21 October 2019With estimates from £160-20,000, here are five previews of upcoming sales this week including items from auctions during Islamic & Indian Art Week in London.
Conan Doyle’s desk solution
21 October 2019Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859- 1930), author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, was so keen to work during his extensive travels that in 1925 he commissioned a case-maker to create a trunk that transformed into a writing desk.
Story time - objects with a compelling tale
21 October 2019A wealth of objects shelter under the great ‘Asian art’ umbrella – together representing five millennia of artistic endeavour across one quarter of the globe. Here we preview a series of Asian art objects available for sale at galleries and auctions over the next month, and each from a different moment in time or geography. From the cult of Monju to the beginning of a new Japanese imperial era – all tell a compelling tale.
Export block for £3.5m Wright of Derby picture bought by Getty museum
17 October 2019The government is hoping to find a buyer to pay £3.5m to keep an 18th century picture by Joseph Wright of Derby in the UK.
Lots Road Auctions celebrates 40 years in business
17 October 2019Down to Lots Road Auctions for its 40th anniversary party this week.
Auction of Suffolk artists’ pictures to support the East Anglian Art Fund
16 October 2019Pictures and sculptures by two Suffolk artists will be auctioned to raise funds for a local artistic community.
Dorset country house auction takes over £1m
14 October 2019Last week’s on-the-premises sale at Athelhampton House in Dorset was a near sell-out with a hammer price of close to £1.2m.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including a 6ft King Kong figure, an antique roulette wheel and a Scottish colourist painting
14 October 2019With estimates from £200-35,000, here are five previews of upcoming sales this week.
Graham Bowers: Why I’m under Napoleon’s spell
14 October 2019In the latest of our occasional series of collector interviews, we talk to Graham Bowers, who buys items associated with Napoleon Bonaparte and describes himself as being “under the Corsican wizard’s spell”.
Famous Welsh religious revival painting ‘Salem’ saved for nation
11 October 2019The National Library of Wales has bought Salem by Sydney Curnow Vosper (1866- 1942) ahead of a planned auction.
The latest Movers and Shakers across the art and antiques market including at Bonhams, Doyle and at the Edinburgh Assay Office
10 October 2019An update on appointments from across the globe.
Art dealers help discover original Anthony van Dyck portrait in Liverpool gallery
08 October 2019A picture in Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery has emerged as an original Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641) portrait.
Parliament proves it can complete a deal
07 October 2019A missing Pugin parliamentary letter box has been returned to the Palace of Westminster more than 100 years after it disappeared.
Towering sale during the recent London fairs
07 October 2019An oil on panel of The Tower of Babel, 1604, by Abel Grimmer (1570-1618/19), offered at £1.35m by Johnny Van Haeften was one of the stand-out sales during last week’s host of London art and antique trade events.
Bristol University to buy judge's copy of 'Lady Chatterley’s Lover' from famous obscenity trial
02 October 2019Fundraising led by writers’ association English PEN has helped save for the nation the judge’s annotated copy of 'Lady Chatterley’s Lover'.
Where to see and buy Islamic art in London this autumn
01 October 2019The major auction houses host their biannual Islamic Art Week auctions in April and October, and this month a series of events and auctions are planned across the capital.
Conan Doyle-designed portable desk for sale from furniture maker Timothy Oulton
30 September 2019Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was so keen to be able to work while he travelled that in 1925 he commissioned a case maker to create the bespoke trunk that could turn into a writing desk.
Régence table brings £52,000 bid at Lots Road Auctions
30 September 2019A Régence period giltwood table attracted interest from across the trade, taking £52,000 (estimate £5000- 8000) at Lots Road Auctions (22% buyer’s premium).