International

About 80% of the global art market by value takes place outside the UK. The largest art market in the world is the US with China in third place (after the UK) followed by France, Germany and Switzerland.

Many more nations have a rich art and antiques heritage with active auction, dealer, fair, gallery and museum sectors even if their market size by value is smaller.

Read the top stories and latest art and antiques news from all these countries.

The Generall Historie of Virginia

US library comes to auction after college closure

25 July 2024

The library of Birmingham-Southern College, featuring early works on the history of North America and classics of science and literature, will be sold at Grant Zahajko Auctions in Davenport, Washington over two days on July 31-August 1.

Michael Jackson drawing

King of Pop Michael Jackson’s drawings to appear at auction after court ruling

24 July 2024

King’s Auctions of Las Vegas has been appointed by the Superior Court of California to sell a collection of original artworks signed by Michael Jackson (1958-2009).

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‘World’s most valuable coin collection’ to be offered in series of sales

22 July 2024

The extraordinary coin collection of Danish butter magnate Lars Emil Bruun (1852-1923) is coming to auction at long last.

Knights' jug

Remarkable British medieval jug flies to eight times estimate

22 July 2024

An outstanding example of British medieval pottery sold as part of the Stanley F Goldfein collection of ceramics drew fervent bidding at a recent US auction.

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Tibetan statuettes hit heights

22 July 2024

Himalayan gilt metal statuettes featured prominently among the best-sellers in several Drouot sales including a number of modestly estimated examples that were pursued to way past their guides.

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Blue and white dish could be early example

22 July 2024

A lot that made far more than expected at Drouot’s sales was this large circular blue and white dish which came up in a June 14 auction at Theirry de Maigret (30% buyer’s premium inc tax) where it realised €135,000 (£114,405).

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Screens scream out quality

22 July 2024

These two very different screens were among the notable results recorded in the Asian sales at Drouot.

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Drouot’s dozen sales of Asian art produce stand out highlights

22 July 2024

Over the course of six days from June 7-14, a dozen sales devoted to the arts of Asia were staged by 11 firms at the Drouot auction centre as part of Printemps Asiatique.

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Perfect for a naval gazer

22 July 2024

A group of Chinese objects in a June 14 sale of furniture and works of art held by Coutau Begarie (30% buyer’s premium inc tax) included this carved celadon jade group dated to the 18th century.

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Items of devotion amassed by devoted collector set market test

22 July 2024

Dealer Speelman’s own figures and vessels shine among Asian art sales held in Paris

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Qianlong vase generates hefty competition in French auction

22 July 2024

A long bidding battle took this Qianlong mark and period covered vase to a triple-estimate €230,000 (£194,915) to top Peschetau-Badin’s (30% buyer’s premium inc tax) Asian arts sale on June 13.

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Key Mormon work was taken in the spirit intended

22 July 2024

First edition of key Mormon work lists Joseph Smith as ‘author and proprietor’ of text not ‘translator’

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Jack B Yeats fired his broadsides with help of Irish private press

22 July 2024

The Fonsie Mealy Chatsworth Summer Rare Books & Collectables Sale on July 30-31 includes a private collection of works by Jack B Yeats, The Cuala Press and modern Irish and English literature.

An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island by John Hunter.

Crouch and Harrington set to exhibit at the Melbourne Rare Book Fair

19 July 2024

Detailed accounts from colonial settlers and a trove of radical erotica are just some of the offerings at Australia's rare book bonanza

Chinese incense box

Tiny Chinese porcelain incense box sells at over 400 times estimate

19 July 2024

The latest biannual offering of Chinese, Japanese, and Indian works of art at Tremont Auctions (22% buyer’s premium) was dominated by the multi-estimate performance of a single lot.

Christies Gavel

Christie’s latest figures show auction sales down 22%

18 July 2024

The auction house has had to grapple with various challenges over the six-month period, including a cyber attack

Phillip Segal toys

Hey Diddle Diddle – the toy bid over the moon

16 July 2024

The range of nursery rhyme and sporting figures made by Phillip Segal Toys are among the most desirable of all hollowcast lead ‘civilians’.

Sotheby’s Global Fine Art team

Movers & Shakers: the latest art and antiques appointments including a shake-up in Sotheby's fine art team

15 July 2024

Changes to Sotheby's Global Fine Art leadership team feature among the latest recruitment, promotions and business updates

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Poetry work that awakened the genius of John Keats

15 July 2024

Only 29 books from the library of John Keats are recorded - among them a 1679 printing of the collected works of the Elizabethan poet Edmund Spenser given to him by the artist Joseph Severn (1793-1879).

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British silver pieces from renowned Texas collection on offer

15 July 2024

New Orleans dealership MS Rau has acquired 222 pieces of English silver from the collection of Texan businessman Billy Joe ‘Red’ McCombs (1927-2023).

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