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.

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Torpedo bottle hits £5000 hammer

08 July 2024

Storing a bottle of carbonised mineral water upright often caused the cork to dry out, the gas to escape and the drink to go flat. Persuading a chemist or grocer to store them horizontally proved difficult until the adoption of William Hamilton’s egg-shaped or torpedo bottle.

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Join the club for tribal art fans

08 July 2024

Late last year auctioneer and valuer Mark Huddleston received three images of a chief’s staff or pole club along with an ‘is this worth anything’ enquiry. The vendor had inherited it from his family who (by repute) had done Presbyterian missionary work in Polynesia in the 19th century.

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Saxon gold sword pommel and Celtic figure rise up out of the ground

08 July 2024

Metal-detecting finds often prove valuable both in terms of heritage and a healthy sum at auction.

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Pottery parrot in Whieldon style attracts flocks of bidders

08 July 2024

At Gildings (20% buyer’s premium) of Market Harborough, one little, or rather big bird took flight.

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Paul Nash’s rare interior view starts among Bussock Wood selection

06 July 2024

Dreweatts’ (26/25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) single-owner dispersal of items from Bussock Wood on June 4 included significant works from the Modern British canon.

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Elvis Presley’s blue suede shoes make £95,000 at auction

05 July 2024

The size 10½ shoes were worn on the Steve Allen Show in 1956 and carried an estimate of £100,000-120,000.

2651 NE Old Masters Titian Flight Into Egypt

Titian work helps Christie’s record “strongest Old Masters evening in over a decade”

04 July 2024

The ‘Longleat’ Titian and the rediscovered primary version of Metsys’ Madonna of the Cherries provided what Christie’s deemed its “strongest Old Masters Evening sales at in over a decade” on July 2.

Freddie Mercury Shoes

Bidders go mad for Freddie Mercury’s winkle-picker shoes

04 July 2024

The black leather lace-up shoes with pointed toes worn for 1991 music video ‘I’m Going Slightly Mad’.

2651 AR NEDI Aldridges Medals 1

Medals from an Anzac war hero take 30 times top estimate at auction

04 July 2024

How the personal story of an Anzac war hero boosted the value of a common group of medals offered at auction to 30 times the top estimate.

Vivienne Westwood 'Me Punk'

Westwood sale at Christie's brings 20,000 visitors and exceeds expectations

03 July 2024

The wardrobe of Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022) was put up for sale at Christie’s by Andreas Kronthaler, Westwood’s husband and creative director of Vivienne Westwood.

Kurt Geiger Green Shoes 2651 NE

Princess Diana clothes given royal send-off at Beverly Hills auction

03 July 2024

In what was the largest curated collection of her personal items since 1997, dresses, hats, shoes and personal letters were all up for grabs at Julien’s.

Fa Cup Medal (3) (1)

Newcastle United FA Cup winner’s medal sells for £7800

03 July 2024

The medal which was awarded 100 years ago was sold at Newcastle auction house Anderson & Garland

LV Croquet

Largest collection of Louis Vuitton trunks come to auction

02 July 2024

Christie's is offering the largest and most extensive private collection of Louis Vuitton trunks ever to come to auction.

Battle Of Loos

Soldier’s watercolour of First World War battle to appear at auction

02 July 2024

Richard Barrett Talbot Kelly’s observations of the Battle of Loos appears at Parker Fine Art Auctions

2651 NEDI Hannams Chamberlain Regent Cups 1

Regency Chamberlain Worcester cabinet cups cause a stir at auction

02 July 2024

A surprise at a Hampshire saleroom on June 18 came in the form of a fine pair of early 19th century Chamberlain Worcester ‘Regent China’ cabinet cups in the French Empire style.

Lot 140 Ritchie Please Credit Noonans 1

First naval Victoria Cross of the First World War comes to London saleroom

02 July 2024

The first naval Victoria Cross of the First World War is coming to auction as part of an extensive collection on offer at London saleroom Noonans on July 23.

2651 NEDI Roseberys Neapolitan 1

Rare 18th century Neapolitan crèche figures take off at auction and fly back to Napoli

01 July 2024

Arriving in boxes, a quantity of Italian Nativity figures were delivered to Anna Evans, head of sale and specialist at south London saleroom Roseberys, with Christie’s lot labels dated 1982 still attached.

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Mystery writer's musings on meteorites prove a big hit at auction

01 July 2024

Hammer falls at 24 times the top estimate as Scandinavian buyer snaps up highly unusual collection

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Henry VIII's six wives: exploring the jewels they wore

01 July 2024

Fellows Auctioneers will be hosting an event at the National Portrait Gallery on July 12 exploring the jewellery of Henry VIII’s six wives.

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Georgian ring flagged up and locket with mourning glory

01 July 2024

The Fine Jewellery sale at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury on July 10-11 features many fine antique items such as these two documentary pieces.

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