Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Mossgreen boss ‘devastated’ by firm’s closure
22 January 2018Paul Sumner’s hopes of a restructure of Australian saleroom Mossgreen melted away last week after his proposed investment plan failed and the administrator began winding down the business.
Rountree Tryon downsizes as St James’s rents rise
22 January 2018Rising rents and business rates in central London have forced Rountree Tryon Galleries to downsize.
The plumber’s Old Master: Three reasons the survival of this Titian coming to auction is remarkable
22 January 2018Tiziano Vecellio, known as Titian, painted ‘Saint Margaret’ with the help of this workshop in around mid-1560s. It depicts Margaret of Antioch, the virgin martyr who escapes from Satan, pictured as a dragon. It is now being offered at Sotheby’s in New York on February 1 with an estimate $2-3m.
High Court rules in favour of Simon de Pury over ‘gentleman’s agreement’
22 January 2018A precedent-setting legal dispute over a $10m (£7.2m) fee relating to the 2014 sale of a $210m Paul Gauguin painting has been won by auctioneer turned art adviser Simon de Pury.
TEFAF scraps art market report for smaller focused surveys
19 January 2018The annual TEFAF art market report has been scrapped in favour of a number of smaller, focused reports, leaving Clare McAndrew’s Art Basel report as the sole market-wide survey.
Sex life book by antiques dealer-turned-novelist becomes a musical
18 January 2018Antiques dealer Wendy Salisbury’s novel ‘The Toyboy Diaries’ has been turned into a musical and is making its debut tonight at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.
Australia’s Mossgreen auction house and art gallery to close if buyer cannot be found
17 January 2018Australian auction house Mossgreen is to be wound down by administrators after joint founder Paul Sumner was unable to restructure the firm.
Simon de Pury wins $10m court case over 'gentleman's agreement’ for $210m Gauguin painting
16 January 2018Auctioneer turned art advisor Simon de Pury has won his court case over the payment of a $10m fee.
Lord Lucan’s hat, champagne bucket and cane come to auction in Oxfordshire
16 January 2018The belongings of Lady Lucan, who died last year, and Lord Lucan, who vanished over 40 years ago, are coming up for auction in Banbury next month.
Gilbert & George artwork comes to auction in south London
16 January 2018A giant ‘stained glass’ effect artwork by contemporary artist duo Gilbert & George is going to auction later this month.
Learn from luxury goods, says LAPADA
15 January 2018How art and antiques can learn from the world of luxury goods and take advantage of Brexit will be the focus of the LAPADA Conference next month.
Five reasons why this Picasso painting at auction is making headlines
15 January 2018Pablo Picasso’s ‘Femme au béret et à la robe quadrillée’ is to be offered at auction next month, and although it is not unusual for a Picasso to be leading an Impressionist & Modern auction, there are a number of reasons why this portrait is a cut above.
Digital crime tops trade fears
15 January 2018Cyber security is among the biggest concerns for dealers and auctioneers, according to the latest ATG survey.
Contents of Warwickshire’s Luddington Manor goes to auction at Hansons
12 January 2018Furniture, paintings, ceramics and silver are among the items from Grade II-listed Luddington Manor to be offered at Hansons’ Antiques and Collectors’ auction later this month.
Art exports from the UK boost trade figures
11 January 2018Exports of paintings and sculpture from the UK helped the country to reduce its trade deficit at the end of last year.
Sir David Tang’s collection to be offered at auction at Christie’s
10 January 2018Items once owned by ‘London’s best connected man’ will be offered at auction later this month when a collection from the late Hong Kong socialite and businessman Sir David Tang comes to Christie’s.
Antiquities seized from billionaire collector after anti-trafficking unit launched in New York
09 January 2018Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr, has swooped on the antiquities collection of hedge-fund manager and philanthropist Michael H. Steinhardt.
Mossgreen fights to survive with debts of Aus$12m
08 January 2018Around 400 people and businesses are owed money by Australian auction house and gallery firm Mossgreen after it went into administration in December.
BAMF: how exemptions for ivory can work
08 January 2018The British Art Market Federation (BAMF) has explained how exemptions for antiques could work in practice once the government’s proposed ivory ban comes into effect.
Wartski to move south in the summer to St James’s
08 January 2018Jewellery dealer Wartski is swapping Mayfair for St James’s and will move south to 60 St James’s Street in London by the end of the summer.