International

Five antiquities dealers were arrested by Israeli police in Jerusalem last week in connection with items that were illegally imported into the US by the arts-and-crafts retailer Hobby Lobby.

Sotheby’s revenues for the second quarter of 2017 rose 5% but its profit fell 14% to $76.9m due to a rise in expenses and a decline at its financial services arm.

A record for a Casablanca movie poster was made last week when an Italian example sold for a premium-inclusive $478,000 (£361,800).

An example of a Gallo-Roman mosaic floor from around 150-200AD that would have decorated the floor of a wealthy villa in Vienne in Southern France, has just been acquired by the city’s museum from an auction in Monaco.

Art market leaders are gathering facts and figures on the sector’s need to retain and hire staff from the EU after Brexit to present to the Home Office.

Two New York antiques dealers, owners of an upmarket Manhattan antiques shop, yesterday pleaded guilty to selling modern ivory objects and uncarved elephant tusks worth more than $4.5m.

In an August 2016 ATG wrote that the scrimshaw market had been in the doldrums but was showing signs of a return to buoyancy. Judging by the latest results from Massachusetts auction house Eldred’s, bidders are certainly prepared to push the boat out for the best examples.

Three Francis Bacon artworks stolen in Madrid in 2015 have been recovered by Spanish police near Barcelona.

Los Angeles’ J Paul Getty Museum has bought 16 Old Master drawings in its largest-ever purchase by value.

A museum in The Netherlands has bought a 3000-year-old ceremonial sword at a Christie’s auction. It had been found around 120 years ago in a peat bog.