Auctions

News and previews of art and antiques sold at auctions throughout the UK and overseas, from multi-million-pound blockbusters to affordable collectables.


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Ship model speeds to £135,000 record at Charles Miller auction

20 May 2015

For a huge model of what was once the world’s largest ship, a whopping price is a suitable result at auction.

Hong Kong gets set for Asia Week events

19 May 2015

Attracting collectors and experts from around the world, the third edition of ‘Asia Week Hong Kong’ will take place from May 27 to June 11.

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Pointing to a new pricing territory at flagship auction fortnight in New York

18 May 2015

The latest Modern and Contemporary art auctions in New York took the market to new heights with $2.73bn (£1.84bn) changing hands over two weeks of flagship sales.

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Dealers Eskenazi secure Tang ewer at Sotheby’s

18 May 2015

This exceptionally rare Sancai ‘phoenix-head’ ewer from the early Tang dynasty was among the highlights of the week-long Asian art series of sales held in London.

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Christie’s billion dollar week of sales as Contemporary art market inflates further

14 May 2015

Christie’s evening sale of post-war and Contemporary art last night posted a premium-inclusive total of $658.5m (£445m) as the bumper fortnight of auctions continued in New York.

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Stunning delft chargers take £34,500 in Exeter

14 May 2015

The two outstanding blue dash chargers offered at a recent sale held by Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter form part of a small but distinctive group of early 18th century delft dishes boldly painted with a variety of quirky bird, animal and figure subjects.

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Rothko heads Sotheby’s contemporary art sale in New York

13 May 2015

Mark Rothko’s 'Untitled (Yellow and Blue)' led Sotheby’s sale of Contemporary art in New York last night.

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Picasso sets all-time auction record as Giacometti reaches new high for sculpture

12 May 2015

A new high for any work of art sold at auction came at Christie’s New York last night as Pablo Picasso’s ‘Les femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’)’ sold at $160m (£108.1m).

Online market totals $2.64bn says survey

11 May 2015

Global online art sales grew by 68% in 2014 to total $2.64bn, say Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, in their third annual survey of the market.

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Thomas Loomes clocks: two come along at once

07 May 2015

Two lantern clocks engraved with the signature ‘Thomas Loomes at ye mermayd in Lothbury’ recently appeared at auction within days of each other.

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Marc Newson’s Lockheed Lounge makes record for a living designer at £2.1m

06 May 2015

The Lockheed Lounge by Australian designer Marc Newson beat its own record as the most expensive work to sell at auction by a living designer when it fetched £2.1m at Phillips in London.

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Sweet scent for best of 18th century France

02 May 2015

Briefly owned by Louis XVI, who intended them for the Louvre, this 13in (33.5cm) high pair of fine gilt-bronze-mounted kakiemon porcelain and Egyptian porphyry brûle parfums sold for £1.65m at Sotheby’s in London this week.

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Soldani bronze brings £320,000

29 April 2015

This Italian baroque bronze depicting ‘Ganymede and the Eagle’ by Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi (1656-1740) proved the highlight of Lyon & Turnbull’s recent sale in Edinburgh.

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Tiger of Mysore’s treasures return to auction with interest

28 April 2015

A key component of this spring’s series of Islamic auctions was Bonhams’ 30-lot consignment of objects relating to Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore.

Tories pledge total ban on trade in ivory

27 April 2015

The Conservative Party Manifesto pledges to “press for a total ban on ivory sales” despite recent assurances from the Government that they would not damage the legitimate antiques trade.

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Rare privy mark helps Indian coin to £13,000

27 April 2015

This rare Indian coin drew a four-way competition at Wilkes & Curtis’ latest auction.

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Dealers bring Scott’s ‘Golden Age’ clocks back to market

24 April 2015

What is billed as “the best collection of English clocks that has come to the market in living memory” will go on sale later this year at Winchester dealers Carter Marsh.

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From £20 to £7000 – vendor spots rare Burmantofts plaque at car boot fair

23 April 2015

This large Burmantofts faience plaque sold for £7000 at 1818 Auctions of Milnthorpe, Cumbria. The vendor, who bought it at a car boot sale for £20, was in the room to watch bidding surge way beyond a £400-600 estimate.

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Duke’s open for business at new town centre salerooms

21 April 2015

Duke’s have moved into their new offices and saleroom in Dorchester.

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Paul Nash leads Modern British art selection at Cottees

17 April 2015

Dorset auctioneers Cottees ventured into the Modern Art market with their latest sale featuring works by the likes of Paul Nash, Fred Yates and Lawrence Durrell.

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