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.

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Pressing concerns: Novelty swan-form iron attracts bidding battle in US auction

05 August 2024

The swan-form sad iron is a favourite of iron collectors and has been much reproduced.

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Mahatma Gandhi writes to his ‘soulmate’ Hermann

05 August 2024

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) epitomised the power of words and, on June 25, that is what bidders had the chance to own in the form of those penned by the political and spiritual leader himself in a letter to his friend, South African architect Hermann Kallenbach (1871-1945).

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Dress code of a dynasty

05 August 2024

The colours and designs of Qing dynasty robes were designed to convey rank and entitlement.

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It was nearly Napoleon Blownapart: pistols he once ‘intended to use on himself’ sell in French auction

05 August 2024

A pair of pistols Napoleon Bonaparte supposedly intended to use on himself after defeat sold for €1.69m (£1.4m) including buyer’s premium at auction house Osenat in Fontainebleau, France.

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Norwegian dragon style swoops in

05 August 2024

Spectacular gold dressing table set was made in the Arts & Crafts form inspired by Norse motifs

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Cannon barrels point to date around time of Ottoman invasion and Siege of Vienna

05 August 2024

On July 2, Vienna auction house Tiberius (27% buyer’s premium) sold the inventory of Laudon Castle, a privately owned, moated baroque residence on the outskirts of the Austrian capital.

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Cactus vase pricked out in Denver

05 August 2024

The latest sale of Fine & Decorative Arts at Morphy’s (20% buyer’s premium) in Denver, Pennsylvania featured many good examples of Amphora and Zsolnay.

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Glaze treasured on sale days

05 August 2024

The pale blue hue known as clair-de-lune is one of the most treasured Qing monochrome glazes, and was reserved exclusively for imperial porcelains.

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Huntsmen vase rides to over 40 times estimate

05 August 2024

This unusual famille rose ‘cong’ form vase is finely painted with scenes of huntsmen, two with camels and two on horses.

Robert Osmond, Clock With Rotating Dials, Circa 1770, Galerie Léage (1)

Paris gallery makes first showing at Frieze Masters

02 August 2024

Alongside 130 galleries from all over the world, Galerie Léage are making their debut at Frieze Masters.

Chabi Nouri

Bonhams appoints Chabi Nouri as new global CEO

01 August 2024

Chabi Nouri joins from Swiss bank taking over from Bruno Vinciguerra at the international auction house

Cycles Perfecta designed by Alphonse Mucha

Rago Wright buys Poster Auctions International and expands further into collectables market

01 August 2024

US auction firm Rago Wright has bought Poster Auctions International and at the same time launched a new auction house focusing on pop culture collectables.

The Destruction of the Bastille drawing

Lafayette’s gift to George Washington: Important visual record of the Bastille comes to auction

30 July 2024

A sketch of the Bastille executed only weeks after it fell during the French Revolution has emerged at auction in the US.

Scythian jewellery

Artefacts recovered and arrests made in Interpol art trafficking operation

30 July 2024

An Interpol operation has recovered more than 6400 objects and made 85 arrests across Europe

Star Wars:helmet

Huge group of Hollywood movie props expected to raise over $10m at Propstore's auction

30 July 2024

Props from Indiana Jones, Star Wars and The Godfather all to feature at auction in the US

Fondation Maeght celebrates 60 years of Modernism

27 July 2024

La Fondation Maeght owns one of the largest collection in Europe of paintings, sculptures, drawings and graphic arts of the 20th century.

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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