Europe

A Chinese parcel gilt bronze censer, that was being used to hold tennis balls when first seen by valuers last year, has sold at auction in Switzerland for close to £3.3m.

Folk art (or art populaire as it is known in France) has gained an increased following over the years.

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from June 18-29, 2019.

Two astronomical works dating from the 17th century were among the more successful works in a recent German auction.

Giorgio de Chirico’s 'Nudo dormiente', c.1930, is among the works included in Galerie Alexis Pentcheff’s erotic art exhibition 'Qriosa: Secret Room of Indecent Objects', where it is offered for €200,000.

Berlin auction house Grisebach posted an auction record for the Swiss artist Karl Stauffer-Bern (1857-91) on May 29 when it sold a self-portrait which had been recently restituted to the family of its original Jewish owners.

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from June 11-21, 2019.

A remarkable example of 16th century cross-culture art – a feather ‘mosaic’ picture made in Mexico for Christian conquerors – has been purchased at auction by the Musée du Quai Branly.

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

Ceramics are a major focus of this report on sales from Germany. The selection of highlights and unusual pieces ranges from early 19th century products of the Vienna factory via Art Nouveau creations and 1920s Soviet-era porcelain to works by famed 20th century Studio potters.

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from June 3-15, 2019.

Three potential highlights from German auctions at Van Ham in Cologne, Quittenbaum in Munich and Wendl in Rudolstadt.

Five oil paintings by the German artist Gabriele Münter, long-time companion and partner of Wassily Kandinsky, were very much at the centre of the action on May 8 in Stuttgart when Nagel (33% buyer’s premium) sold Modern and Contemporary art.

An example of the first commercially produced typewriter – one of only five in private hands – has sold for €100,000 at auction in Germany.

Tribal art makes regular saleroom appearances in Paris, which is one of the major commercial centres in this sector.

At the Drouot auction centre on June 6 the Paris firm of Binoche et Giquello will be selling a third instalment from a US collection of pre-Columbian works from Meso, Central and South America which is expected to realise in the region of €3m-4m.

The market for tribal art covering works from Africa, Oceania and the Americas has a global reach these days. While particular centres form cultural and commercial hubs (New York, Paris and Brussels in particular), you can find fairs and shows, shops and auctions around the world. Recent sale highlights and previews from some of the upcoming auctions and fairs are featured here.