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.

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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Illustration done on a grand scale: fantastic fish watercolours from naturalist Sarah Bowdich Lee

15 July 2024

Naturalist produced a fish-focused work featuring nearly 3000 original watercolours across 50 copies

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The Japanese prints spoils of a seasoned bidder

15 July 2024

Collector never seemed to give up in a battle to win more magnificent ukiyo-e works

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Largest ever dinosaur skeleton at auction expected to fetch up to €5m

12 July 2024

Apatosaurus known as 'Vulcain' is to be offered at auction in Paris in November

Napoleon Pistol

Pistols Napoleon wanted to use on himself make £1.4m

09 July 2024

The pistols were presented by Napoleon to his friend and Grand Ecuyer Armand de Caulaincourt to thank him for his loyalty

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Original Harry Potter artwork takes a magical $1.6m result

08 July 2024

The original artwork for 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' sold at Sotheby’s for $1.6m (£1.3m) plus 20% buyer’s premium in New York on June 26.

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Prime-period Zsolnay shines in Munich auction

08 July 2024

Selection of items by the Hungarian family firm date from most in-demand era of production

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Teapot serves to show Thai silver skills

08 July 2024

A fine example of Thai silversmithing sold well above its estimate for €17,000 (£14,400) at Historia Auctionata (27% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Berlin on June 19. The 9in (23cm) parcel gilt and niello pumpkin-form tea kettle probably dated from the 1870s.

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Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze seals a sensational price

08 July 2024

Concept Art Gallery (22% buyer’s premium) in Pittsburgh enjoyed a sensational result on June 8.

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Chinese jar at 410 times the low estimate

08 July 2024

There was saleroom drama at Aste di Antiquariato Boetto (25% buyer’s premium) in Genoa on June 19 when a 12in (30cm) Chinese blue and white jar estimated at €2000-2300 shot to €820,000 (£692,000).

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Hours and hours of fresco fun

08 July 2024

The subject of this massive Italian micromosaic panel is taken from the lost series of frescoes depicting the Hours of Day and Night by Raphael.

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Sporting approach to the Paris Olympics

06 July 2024

Most Parisian galleries are going away for the summer but one hardy soul is holding an Olympic exhibition

2651 AR NEDI Aldridges Medals 1

Medals from an Anzac war hero take 30 times top estimate at auction

04 July 2024

How the personal story of an Anzac war hero boosted the value of a common group of medals offered at auction to 30 times the top estimate.

Kurt Geiger Green Shoes 2651 NE

Princess Diana clothes given royal send-off at Beverly Hills auction

03 July 2024

In what was the largest curated collection of her personal items since 1997, dresses, hats, shoes and personal letters were all up for grabs at Julien’s.

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