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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Hungary's Munkácsy bid to more than three times estimate at Swiss auction

29 May 2023

Like many of his colleagues, the Hungarian painter Mihály Munkácsy (1844-1900) visited the major art centres of his day, such as Munich and Düsseldorf, before finally settling in Paris in 1871.

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Wooden netsuke achieve top prices at Viennese auction house

29 May 2023

Wooden examples of the art of netsuke are now the focus of collectors following ivory restrictions.

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Member of French clockmaking dynasty to feature in German auction

29 May 2023

The signature Fortin à Paris on the dial of this 21in (53cm) high marble and gilt bronze clock shows that it was made by a member of one of the most prominent Parisian clockmaker dynasties of the 18th century.

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Furniture that created a ‘new language for woodworking’

29 May 2023

Fresh-thinking range of furniture features in a four-day auction showcasing modern design styles

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Franco-Turkish artist Hamdi Bey's 'fashionable' picture takes €1m at auction

29 May 2023

Top lot of Dorotheum’s (25/20.84% buyer’s premium) Viennese sale of 19th century paintings on May 2 lived up to its expectations.

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Silver owned by the 'Golden Ball' gambler who frittered away a fortune comes to auction

29 May 2023

This pair of silver wine decanter stands or bottle coasters by Philip Rundell (1746-1827) for Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, (London 1819 and 1820) sold for £10,500.

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Naval artist and shipbuilder go into battle together

29 May 2023

Bonhams’ (27.5/26/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) latest Marine sale was led by an elegant depiction of a famous naval battle between British and French ships that took place towards the end of the American War of Independence.

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Expressionists emerge together

29 May 2023

Van Ham of Cologne is offering a work by the German Expressionist Otto Mueller on the occasion of its 500th sale: the painting Frau und Knabe (Woman and Boy) from 1922.

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Charity shop Chinese jars find at £20 sells for £46,000

29 May 2023

This near pair of Qianlong mark and period doucai jars were a charity shop find for a keen-eyed London vendor.

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Galizia heads a selection of ‘Old Mistresses’ on offer at Vienna auction

29 May 2023

A previously undocumented painting, bought from an English dealer by a European collector in 1995, shines at Vienna sale.

Bedchamber sword of Tipu Sultan

Auction record for both Indian and Islamic object smashed by Tipu Sultan’s bedchamber sword

25 May 2023

A sword taken from the Indian Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan when he was defeated and killed during the fourth Anglo-Mysore War was hammered down at £12m.

Xuande mark and period cloisonné ‘pomegranate’ box and cover

The £19 Chinese box now worth £230,000

22 May 2023

The highlight of Dreweatts’ Asian art sale on May 17-18 was this very rare Xuande (1426-35) mark and period cloisonné ‘pomegranate’ box and cover.

Klimt Selling At Sothebys 2594NE04F

Back down to reality for Modern and Contemporary art sales

22 May 2023

Judging by the overall totals, the latest Modern and Contemporary art auctions at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips in New York were something of a bump back to reality after the last two sales series posted the highest grossing totals on record.

Edward IV bronze measure

‘Earliest standard measure’ is the weigh to go

22 May 2023

The Oak Interior sale at Bishop & Miller in Stowmarket on June 1-2 includes this ‘important and exceptional’ Edward IV bronze measure.

Russian bread dish

Pick of the week: Bread and salt charger is welcomed on second visit

22 May 2023

It is traditional in Russia for important, respected or admired guests to be greeted with an offering of bread and salt.

Villagers Relaxing picture

Debut sale boosted by Egyptian art collection

22 May 2023

A group of 25 works by Egyptian artists drew notable interest at the inaugural sale of Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern art at Olympia Auctions.

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Gorky work from late on

22 May 2023

This late untitled drawing by Arshile Gorky (1904-48) in pencil and crayon on paper was the highlight of a sale of Modern and Contemporary paintings held by Digard (25/20/14% buyer’s premium) on March 28 at Drouot in Paris.

Martinware birds

Martinware birds flock to Salisbury

22 May 2023

Salisbury auction house Woolley & Wallis is holding a Martin Brothers anniversary exhibition from June 13-22.

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Casts of garden urns designed for Versailles offered in Oxfordshire

22 May 2023

In a style admired in the gardens at Versailles and at a House & Garden sale in Abingdon, a pair of urns after those created for Louis XIV’s great project led the field at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium).

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Vesta micromosaic panel lights up a sale

22 May 2023

Popular since they were first bought by Grand Tourists visiting Italy, this early 19th century micromosaic panel was a particularly fine example.

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