Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Plea to trade for help to find stolen colourist painting
29 October 2019A painting by British colourist Jeffrey Pratt (b.1940) was stolen from a private home in Surrey while the owners were away.
Cedric Morris market in full bloom as Sworders set auction record
28 October 2019London art dealer Philip Mould was the successful bidder for three works by Cedric Morris (1889-1982) sold in Essex last week. One set a new auction record for the artist plantsman.
Sworders makes two senior hires
28 October 2019Stansted Mountfitchet auction house Sworders is growing its sales programme and headcount with an increased focus on London.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including a novelty Victorian vesta case, a 1930s Britains toy lorry and a rare portrait of Rousseau
28 October 2019With estimates from £80-15,000, here are five previews of upcoming sales this week.
Rare Islamic gold dinar sets joint record at auction
25 October 2019A rare Umayyad gold dinar dated 105AH (723AD) equalled the auction record for an Islamic coin when it was hammered down at £3.1m at Morton & Eden.
Actress Judi Dench and the Brontë Museum call on public to help fund bid for miniature manuscript by a 14-year-old Charlotte Brontë
24 October 2019The Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth in West Yorkshire has begun a public campaign to raise the final funds needed to bid for a rare manuscript from the Brontës' childhood.
Cedric Morris picture achieves auction record and helps fund centre for artistic and horticultural education
22 October 2019A fresh auction record for artist plantsman Cedric Morris (1889-1982) has been set at Sworders’ Modern British and 20th century art auction today.
The latest Movers and Shakers across the art and antiques market including at Roseberys, Hindman and the Antiquarian Booksellers Association
22 October 2019An update on appointments from across the globe.
Spate of south London cattle and horse trough thefts rises to four
22 October 2019Local community groups across south London are calling on the antiques trade to be alert to Victorian animal troughs that have been stolen from four sites this autumn.
Trade asked to help track down stolen jewellery from London home
22 October 2019A collection of jewellery has been stolen from a London home and the family who owns them is hoping a member of the trade may spot one of the items if they are offered to them.
Big plans as Lots Road turns 40
21 October 2019Lots Road Auctions is to expand its range and frequency of sales as it celebrates 40 years in business.
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.