Auctioneers

The auction process is a key part of the secondary art and antiques market.

Firms of auctioneers usually specialise in a number of fields such as jewellery, ceramics, paintings, Asian art or coins but many also hold general sales where the goods available are not defined by a particular genre and are usually lower in value.

Auctioneers often provide other services such as probate and insurance valuations.

Bow Thames Waterman figure

Huge demand at auction for the extensive collection of the late George Withers

26 February 2024

Buyers descend on the late George Withers collection in Somerset

Thomas Daniell picture

Pick of the week: Daniells artwork is the Shore thing

26 February 2024

It is a good time to be selling works by Thomas Daniell (1749-1840).

Antarctic expedition letters

Letters from 1901 Antarctic explorers show warm feelings for their earlier hosts in New Zealand

26 February 2024

A long-forgotten group of letters written by senior members of Scott and Shackleton’s first trailblazing 1901 expedition to the Antarctic has been discovered.

img_14-5.jpg

Maltese marvel – silver coffee pot stars as auction best seller

26 February 2024

Eighteenth century coffee pot made on the Mediterranean island stands out as best-seller in an extensive and varied auction array.

img_28-1.jpg

Dazzling results for de Beaumont library at Bonhams

26 February 2024

Impressive library of renowned collector and expert includes sought-after designs by women binders

img_20-1.jpg

Stand-out silver to look out for in upcoming auctions

26 February 2024

A selection of previews from three British sales and another in Germany

img_44-4.jpg

On a wing and a prayer at a Swiss saleroom

26 February 2024

One of the earliest pieces in the auction of works of art at Koller in Zürich on March 21 is a copper and enamel figure of a dove.

img_44-3.jpg

Fuseli fantasies on offer in Basel saleroom

26 February 2024

Paintings by the Anglo-Swiss artist Henry Fuseli, who was born in 1741 as Johann Heinrich Füssli, seldom make it to auction.

img_18-7.jpg

Three silver items to savour from Devon sale

26 February 2024

Pictured here are three highlight lots from recent sales held by Whittons (20% buyer’s premium) in Honiton, Devon.

img_18-6.jpg

A tale of two cities: spotlight on Paris and London workshops

26 February 2024

A French three-colour gold snuff box was a highlight of the silver and vertu section of Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s recent winter sale.

img_43-2.jpg

Artist Kuhnert’s natural approach included shooting his animal subjects

26 February 2024

Many late 19th and early 20th century art collectors were entranced by Wilhelm Kuhnert’s (1865-1926) realistic portrayals of exotic animals in the wild.

img_18-1.jpg

Beaker was made by the only female silversmith in Norwich

26 February 2024

Another auction where silver and objects of vertu were prominent was the fine art and antiques sale staged by Elstob (25% buyer’s premium).

img_42-4.jpg

Tribal mask with mystery purpose

26 February 2024

Cologne auction house Lempertz (25% buyer’s premium) opened its auction year with a sale of African and Oceanic works of art in Brussels.

img_16-1.jpg

Monumental trophy races to £19,000

26 February 2024

Silverware was a major component of Bonhams’ (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium) Knightsbridge auction titled The Connoisseur’s Library on February 13-14.

img_24-1.jpg

Frederick Austin: an artist of the old school

26 February 2024

Group of works by a maker who used mostly traditional techniques creates a secondary market test

Sandford Orcas

Historic family collection from Tudor manor house comes to auction in Dorset

23 February 2024

The contents of Sandford Orcas Manor, a Tudor manor house occupied by just two families over the past 470 years, is coming to auction next month.

Elton John

Auction of Elton John’s personal collection tops $8m on opening night

23 February 2024

The auction of Elton John’s collection from his home in Georgia took a premium-inclusive $8m at Christie’s.

Eloise Stannard still life

Stannard still life keeps up standards in East Anglia

22 February 2024

Like a number of East Anglian artists, Eloise Harriet Stannard (1829-1915) has a decent following among both the trade and a core group of private collectors.

WEB Star Wars Script Excalibur 2

Oops: the Star Wars and Friends scripts left behind when the stars moved on

21 February 2024

Film and TV stars must be a forgetful bunch, if lots sold at two recent UK auctions are anything to go by.

55 (1)

Fascinating backstory of Mouseman furniture owned by same family since new comes to light

19 February 2024

Mouseman furniture is a hugely popular if not exactly uncommon sight at auction but it is not so often you see a group with a backstory as comprehensive as that coming up at a Buckinghamshire saleroom.

News

Categories