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2016

St James's

Antiques trade gives verdict on protection policy for Mayfair and St James’s

18 November 2016

Concerns remain for the future of the historic art and antiques districts of Mayfair and St James’s despite planning protection coming into force last week.

Monarch of the Glen

Monarch of the Glen withdrawn from Christie’s auction as museum and owner make deal

17 November 2016

Edwin Landseer’s Monarch of the Glen has been withdrawn from auction at Christie’s following an agreement between the consignor and the National Galleries of Scotland to help the museum retain the iconic painting.

Ten Commandments stone

Earliest-known Ten Commandments tablet sold at auction in Beverly Hills

17 November 2016

A stone tablet, inscribed with the Ten Commandments and thought to be the earliest-known complete example, has been sold at auction in Beverly Hills for $850,000 (£683,000).

Majestic Hotel

Galloway Antiques Fairs find two new venues for 2017

17 November 2016

Galloway Antiques Fairs have announced plans to hold fairs in two new locations in 2017.

Meule (Grainstack) by Claude Monet

Christie’s sets auction record for Claude Monet painting at $72.5m

17 November 2016

A ‘Grainstack’ painting by Claude Monet set a major auction record for the artist at Christie’s in New York last night.

Bullingdon Club painting

Bullingdon Club painting of Cameron and Johnson goes to auction

17 November 2016

An oil painting of the infamous Bullingdon Club ‘class of ’87’ photo will go to auction next month.

Constable

Constable sketch rediscovered after more than 70 years offered at Bonhams auction

17 November 2016

A sketch for one of John Constable celebrated paintings has been rediscovered after more than 70 years and is estimated to take £200,000-300,000 in Bonhams Old Master auction next month.

Queen Anne Vigo gold coin

Queen Anne ‘Vigo’ coin sells for £225,000 at Boningtons

17 November 2016

Boningtons have sold a rare Queen Anne 'Vigo' gold coin for £225,000. One of Britain's rarest coins, it was knocked down to a buyer in the room and set a house record for the Essex auctioneers.

Chinese imperial doucai jar

UK regional salerooms share spoils in strong series of Asian art auctions

17 November 2016

The UK’s regional salerooms turned up a series of six-figure objects during the first of two weeks of designated Asian art sales.

Abstraktes Bild (809-2) by Gerhard Richter

‘Slowhand’ turns vendor as Eric Clapton sells $19.5m Gerhard Richter at Christie’s

16 November 2016

A large abstract painting by Gerhard Richter consigned by musician Eric Clapton was among the highlights of last night’s auction at Christie’s New York.

Stephen Fry twitter

Ivory protestors descend on Westminster as Stephen Fry lends support to trade ban

16 November 2016

Protestors organised by wildlife charity Action for Elephants are demonstrating outside of The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in London today to make the case for banning the ivory trade in the UK.

Marinello

Art Recovery Group’s database goes non-profit

16 November 2016

Art Recovery Group, founded by Chris Marinello three years ago as a rival to long-established The Art Loss Register, has split the firm to create a not-for-profit organisation called Artive.

William Hogarth’s ‘The Christening’

Export block for William Hogarth’s first painted satirical scene

16 November 2016

The government is hoping to find a UK-based buyer to pay £1.2m for an 18th century William Hogarth painting to prevent it from leaving the country.

Jussi Pylkkanen

BBC goes behind the scenes at Christie’s

16 November 2016

Auction house Christie’s will take centre stage in a new BBC documentary this weekend. The company, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, is the subject of a two-part look behind the scenes at some of its biggest auctions.

Prince Felix Youssoupov costume

What the Russian Prince wore to the ball…

16 November 2016

Like many Russian aristocrats born in the later years of the 19th century, Prince Felix Youssoupov (1887-1967) lived an extraordinary life both before and after the Russian Revolution.

Chinese imperial enamel vase

'Car boot' Chinese vase sells for £50,000 at Salisbury auction

15 November 2016

A rare Chinese imperial enamel vase bought for £10 at a car boot sale has been hammered down for £50,000 at Woolley & Wallis’ Asian sale today. It sold on the phone to a Chinese buyer.

Edvard Munch's Girls on the Bridge at Sotheby's

Muted performance for Munch as Sotheby’s sale falls below estimate

15 November 2016

Edvard Munch’s ‘Girls on the Bridge’ was knocked down at $50m (£40m) and led Sotheby’s evening sale of Impressionist & Modern in New York last night.

Martin Brothers Wally bird

Martin Brothers birds fly into Texas saleroom

15 November 2016

The quirky characterful and very British art pottery created by the late 19th/early 20th century artist potters Wallace, Robert and Edwin Martin is as popular in the US as in its country of origin.

Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown

Medal Group at auction from “the greatest British aviator”

15 November 2016

It is easy to understand the appeal of a Victoria Cross to medal collectors. Likewise, any honours connected with the name ‘Dambusters’ or those awarded to flying ‘aces’ have a high value.

Steve Cohen offloads his stake in Sotheby’s

15 November 2016

US billionaire investor and art collector Steven Cohen has sold his stake in Sotheby’s by offloading his remaining one million shares.