Duke's

Duke’s Auctioneers, established in 1823, is one of Dorset’s oldest businesses. From the premises it moved into in July 2015 in Dorchester, the firm holds a number of auctions every month.

Duke’s sales specialise in fields such as ceramics, glass, Asian art, furniture, jewellery, silver, militaria and coins.


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Dip into the Grand Tour with a sarcophagus inkstand

21 August 2023

This 19th century carved Siena marble inkstand is fashioned in the form of an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

Figure of Mercury

Summer scorchers: Trio of big prices blows away August cobwebs

14 August 2023

A usually quiet August was dramatically awakened by a series of sleepers that emerged at three UK regional auction houses.

Nuremberg School panel

Stolen 15th century altar panel returned to York museum after 43 years

06 June 2023

A 15th century double-sided painted panel stolen from York Art Gallery in 1979 has been returned after it re-emerged at a Dorset auction.

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Snake cup buyer takes a £4000 bite

22 May 2023

While some of the gloss has been taken off the market, the best pre-revolutionary Russian craftsmanship remains attractive to international collectors.

Nelson bust

Nelson memorabilia busts expectations at Dorset auction

17 April 2023

Nelson memorabilia from a private collection in Devon was keenly fought over at Duke’s Spring auction.

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Porcelain appeal powers Du Boulay vase

17 April 2023

A strong performer in the Anthony du Boulay (1929-2022) sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dorchester was this 10in (24.5cm) enamelled chinoisierie milchglas vase.

Maltese bureau cabinet

Maltese cabinet makes du Boulay top price

20 March 2023

This mid-18th century Maltese walnut and marquetry bureau cabinet was the top lot of the du Boulay Collection at Duke’s.

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The European side of Du Boulay ceramics

20 March 2023

Anthony du Boulay (1929-2022) was well known as an expert on Chinese ceramics, although his interests were more wide ranging.

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Blue is the colour, natural is the game

13 March 2023

Myanmar (Burmese) sapphires, renowned for a deep blue colour, are highly prized for reasons of scarcity, quality and history

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Asian art: Look through a lens of Tibetan Buddhism

02 January 2023

Creative examples featured in recent UK auctions show the influence of religion and culture on the Manchu rulers of the Qing

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Attackers under the sea and above the waves

31 October 2022

In 1888, in response to a tender issued by the War Office, Prof Archibald Barr and Dr William Stroud submitted an application for an optical range-finder patent to the Patents Office.

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Coper and Rie studio pottery supply stays healthy

31 October 2022

Ceramics by Hans Coper (1920-81) and Lucie Rie (1902-95) have been assimilated into the collecting sphere of Modern British art with spectacular effect.

Zoffany picture

Zoffany stages an unexpected return to auction

10 October 2022

A little-known theatrical portrait painted by Johan Zoffany (1733-1810) towards the end of his career sold for £330,000 at auction in Dorset.

The Beggar

Zoffany on the stage comes to Dorset auction

19 September 2022

This little-known theatrical portrait was painted in 1796 by Johan Zoffany (1733-1810) towards the end of his career.

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Rare English masters come up for sale

19 September 2022

The autumn season will bring a number of English Golden Age clocks by top makers to auction.

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Agatha Christie makes plea to ‘Pop’ to promote her book

08 August 2022

Bid to £16,000 in a sale held by Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) of Dorchester was a 1921 first of Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious House at Styles.

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An Unbroken run of success

18 July 2022

A ‘Jolly Roger’ or pirate flag that records the Second World War exploits of a British submarine flew once more in a militaria sale earlier this summer.

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Play the name game for value

18 July 2022

The watch market can be obsessed with brand names – and the best names do come with a price tag to match.

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Keith Vaughan works on the crest of a wave

11 July 2022

Among the 20th century works on paper generating demand at regional sales in the last few months was a Keith Vaughan (1912-77) study of a group of bathers.

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Victorian pair took a passage from India

04 July 2022

A Victorian sapphire, diamond and pearl brooch-pendant was one of two pieces with Indian roots offered for sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium).

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