Europe

A much-exhibited early 19th century drawing, restituted in August to the heirs of a Holocaust victim, has immediately appeared for sale in Germany.

Former porters at the Hôtel Drouot, the communal saleroom facility used by most Paris auctioneers, have been sentenced to jail for the organised theft of thousands of artworks, a French court ruled on Tuesday September 6.

Martin Klosterfelde, a former Berlin-based contemporary art specialist and director at Phillips, has joined Sotheby’s.

Sotheby’s have announced the appointment of Cécile Bernard as managing director of Sotheby’s France.

French Energy and Environment Minister Ségolène Royal has strengthened laws in France on elephant ivory – but appeared to stop well short of a total ban suggested earlier in the year.

An auction of a Thracian coin – minted in the city of Apollonia Pontica (in modern-day Bulgaria) in the 4th or 5th century BC – was halted by eBay on the grounds the listing was ‘hateful or discriminatory’.

The annual Malmo Decorative Antiques Fair (Malmo Dekorativa) takes place at the end of this month at Katrinetorp, a pretty manor house and garden oasis around 10 minutes from the city centre and within easy distance of the airport.

The head of Lille’s Chamber of Commerce has called the cancellation of this year’s Braderie “an economic and cultural disaster”.

Charles Lindbergh’s flying helmet which the American aviator wore on his record-breaking solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927 is to be offered for sale in Paris this autumn.

The annual Braderie de Lille was cancelled today just weeks before opening in light of continuing security concerns in France.

Historical documents and manuscripts from the scandal-hit Aristophil investment scheme could soon return to the market as the slow process of restitution promises to quicken in the coming weeks.

The Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum in Hildesheim has had to close a major exhibition after collectors withdrew their loans following the approval of Germany’s new Cultural Property Protection Act.

Sotheby’s have appointed Claudia Dwek as chairman of contemporary art, Europe. She will remain as co-chairman of Sotheby’s Italy.

German auctioneers are preparing to move sales abroad following the passing of a controversial new cultural heritage law.

A Paris art dealer was placed under renewed investigation last week in the latest twist involving the alleged theft of three works from Pablo Picasso’s stepdaughter.

Auction houses in France have announced their first half-year sales figures.

James Hyman Gallery opened an exhibition of William Gear's works yesterday, several months earlier than planned, in a reaction to Brexit.

The 28th edition of the Paris ‘Biennale des Antiquaires’ will include a radical shake-up of its jewellery content.

Helena Newman has been appointed as chairman of Sotheby’s Europe. She will hold the new role in addition to her current position as co-head of Impressionist and Modern art worldwide.

It is two weeks since the first of the three major London summer fairs opened. With all three now concluded, ATG looks back on a summer season acknowledged as surprisingly successful.