Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters

Mars

‘Dresden Mars’ returns to Saxony instead of auction at Sotheby’s

03 July 2018

The bronze figure known as the ‘Dresden Mars’ is returning home after the Dresden State Art Collections agreed to buy the artwork ahead of a planned auction tomorrow.

Tom Wright

Not one but two Lucian Freud paintings discovered underneath picture by Suffolk pub sign artist

02 July 2018

A picture by a pub sign painter and a friend of Lucian Freud (1922-2011) found in a cellar in Suffolk actually contains not one, but two early works by the renowned artist.

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Netsuke conference pulls out of London over ivory law change

02 July 2018

The government’s imminent ivory law change has forced an international collectors’ conference to pull out of London and move overseas.

Book trade seeks to add thresholds to EU cultural law

02 July 2018

The antiquarian book trade is lobbying for changes to the proposed EU law designed to crack down on imports of cultural goods ‘more than 250 years old’.

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Nelson watch kept the line on time at Trafalgar

02 July 2018

A pocket watch worn by Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar and probably given to him after his triumph at the Battle of the Nile is to be offered at auction next month.

Paul Martin

BBC launches latest daytime antiques programme

29 June 2018

The BBC is to launch a new daytime antiques show with Flog It! presenter Paul Martin fronting the venture.

Giotto

Art dealer in court over export of Giotto painting

29 June 2018

A London art dealer is in a high court battle with the Arts Council over the export of a Giotto di Bondone painting valued at £10m.

Marc Sands

Christie’s marketing chief leaves after four years at the auction house

28 June 2018

Marc Sands, who joined as chief marketing officer in April 2014, is leaving to “pursue other creative opportunities”.

Ivory plaque

British Museum accepts 550-piece collection of ivory works of art ahead of UK trade ban

28 June 2018

A vast collection of ivories from The Sir Victor Sassoon Chinese Ivories Trust will be going on display at the British Museum after it acquired the collection earlier this year.

Church Street

Sun shines on Church Street’s latest art and antiques events

27 June 2018

Church Street traders have two reasons to celebrate after the successful launch of Middle Eastern-focused AlFayez in Alfies Antique Market and the second edition of its Sunday street market event 'Antiques Anonymous'.

Transport posters

Vintage transport posters journey to Lyon & Turnbull exhibition

26 June 2018

Vintage transport posters including scenes of London Tramways are going on sale next month at the London office of Scottish auction house Lyon & Turnbull.

Lord Nelson's 'Battle of Trafalgar' pocket watch

Nelson’s Battle of Trafalgar watch among ‘treasures’ to be auctioned at Sotheby’s

26 June 2018

A pocket watch worn by Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar and probably given to him after his triumph at the Battle of the Nile is to be offered at auction next month.

Victoria Beckham

See the Old Masters hanging out in Mayfair with Victoria Beckham

25 June 2018

Pop star-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham is displaying 16 Old Master paintings at her Dover Street store in Mayfair as part of a tie-up with auction house Sotheby’s.

Judge rules on Fatimid ewer ownership case

25 June 2018

A long-running legal dispute over a Fatimid rock crystal ewer that had been due to sell at Sotheby’s has been settled in court.

Oliver Brown's silk top hats.

Top hat demand for Royal Ascot boosts antique hat seller

22 June 2018

Demand from well-dressed gentlemen for authentic silk top hats for Royal Ascot this week has boosted sales for retailer Oliver Brown.

Napoleon hat

Napoleon’s battle of Waterloo hat sells at French auction

22 June 2018

A bicorne hat believed to have been owned by Napoleon Bonaparte has sold at auction in Lyon for a hammer price of €280,000 (£246,000).

Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’

Art takes on wine and wins as it is crowned top investment asset

21 June 2018

Consignors tempted back by salerooms to sell at auction in 2017 has helped put art top of the league of investment assets, according to the latest report.

Charles Phillips and Sons

East Lothian auction house damaged by fire

18 June 2018

An auction house near Musselburgh in East Lothian, Scotland, has been devastated by a fire.

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‘Quick, affordable’ registration process for ivory

18 June 2018

MPs have called for a “quick, affordable and not too bureaucratic” registration process for items containing less than 10% ivory under the bill that will usher in a near-total ban on the trade in ivory objects.

Call to help solve 20-year-old theft of James Bond Aston Martin car

18 June 2018

Calling all international spies, or maybe a super sleuth: can you track down a James Bond Aston Martin car stolen more than 20 years ago?