Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
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).
Dealer sells Gell portrait to British Museum
30 September 2019London and Petworth dealer Timothy Langston Fine Art & Antiques has sold a portrait of the Regency period antiquarian Sir William Gell (1777-1836) to the British Museum.
Trio of dealers team up for London's Islamic Week
30 September 2019Three Islamic and Indian art dealers have teamed up to launch an exhibition coinciding with the London auction event Islamic Week.
Art advisor Nazy Vassegh launches new art fair
27 September 2019Former Masterpiece London fair chief executive Nazy Vassegh is planning a new art fair in May next year.
Rare King Edward VIII coin makes UK auction record
26 September 2019A UK auction record for a copper coin was set this week when a rare Edward VIII 1937 pattern penny sold at Spink & Son.
Reward offered for return of antiques stolen from Sudeley Castle
26 September 2019The antiques trade has been asked to help spot antiques from Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, which were stolen earlier this month.
New guidance for jewellery dealers after hallmark launched for jewellery stamped outside UK by Birmingham Assay Office
26 September 2019The British Hallmarking Council has issued new guidance for jewellery dealers on articles hallmarked outside the UK by the Birmingham Assay Office.
Rare early Islamic gold dinar coin comes to auction next month
26 September 2019A rare Umayyad gold dinar dated 105AH (723AD) will be offered at a Morton & Eden auction with a £1.4-1.6m estimate next month.
Call for antiques trade to help find stolen south London cattle troughs
25 September 2019A south London community is calling for the antiques trade to look out for a stolen cattle trough.
Artisan stories: Four cases of contemporary art and craft supported by the antiques trade
24 September 2019Auction houses Bonhams and Sworders, dealer association BADA, and the Goldsmith Company have all supported craftspeople and artists in new initiatives this autumn.