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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Bidders warm to frieze

23 December 2019

This Neoclassical drawing by the Swedish sculptor Johann Tobias Sergel (1740-1814) proved very popular in the opening Old Master works on paper section of the mixed-discipline traditional sale held by the Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo 25% buyer’s premium) on November 27 in Monaco.

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A true travel treasure trove

23 December 2019

Egypt views stand out among a selection also involving many other worldwide works

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Take a tour of 103 European cities

23 December 2019

Bid to £3000 at Chiswick Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) on November 20 was a rare and early game.

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Treen with the Trafalgar touch

23 December 2019

Tucked inside an18th century treen model of a ship’s hull is a historic note reading This was taken out of a writing bureau belonging to Lord Collingwood. I saw the bureau and know its history.

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Miniature’s major pulling power

23 December 2019

Depiction of Emperor Shah Jahan is thought to have been prepared for his official chronicle.

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Spaniel sniffs out snuff

23 December 2019

Matthew Barton (25% buyer’s premium) attracted international interest in this early-19th century German gold snuff box at his November 20 London sale.

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Airfix D-Day advance to four figures

23 December 2019

A recent sale at C&T in Tunbridge Wells included an unexpected bid of £1700 (estimate £50-70) for three unopened Airfix models.

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Cricketers team up for a single lot

23 December 2019

While individuals and pairs from the suite of five bronze cricketers by Joseph Durham (1814-77) are occasionally seen on the rostrum, it is rare to find all five appearing together.

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Byron carves out card case role

23 December 2019

This Victorian mother-of-pearl and abalone shell card case is carved with a portrait of George Lord Byron, the most flamboyant and notorious of the major English Romantic poets.

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A tale of Hoffmann

23 December 2019

In 1906, three years after he had founded the Wiener Werkstätte with Koloman Moser, the multi-talented Austrian Josef Hoffmann designed a silver casket.

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Greek life in a German studio

23 December 2019

When Theodoros Patros Vryzakis (1814-78) was only a young boy, his father was executed by the Turks during the Greek War of Independence.

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Medals make a fine lifesaving tribute

23 December 2019

A story of extraordinary peacetime gallantry of a Cumbrian seaman turned coalminer was at the heart of a group of medals, photographs and press cuttings offered at Reeman Dansie (20% buyer’s premium) at Colchester on November 28.

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Chair’s Elisabeth Frink link

23 December 2019

Items from the estate of the Dame Elisabeth Frink (1930-93) were included in the Charterhouse (25% buyer’s premium) sale in Sherborne, Dorset, on November 14-15.

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Wight place, right time for censer

23 December 2019

The relatively short reign of the Ming emperor Xuande (1425-35) was considered a high point in the production of bronze works of art.

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Photo portraits and postcard are pick of a Berlin auction

23 December 2019

A set of famous and highly collectable photographic portraits by a well known photographer and a rare postcard painted by a German Expressionist were two highlights of an auction at Berlin saleroom Grisebach (30/25% buyer’s premium) on November 27.

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Cocteau ceramics price pushes the goat out

23 December 2019

In the 130th anniversary year of the birth of Jean Cocteau (1889-1963), a collection of ceramics by the leading figure of the French avant-garde was a sell-out at Bonhams’ Prints and Multiples sale on December 11-12.

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Ring sheds light on Jewish soldiers in Roman army

23 December 2019

A Roman bronze ring offered for sale by Pax Romana (15% buyer’s premium) in London on November 24 appears to shed light on a little known aspect of the imperial army: the contribution of Jewish soldiers.

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Airfix models, a Chinese bronze censer and Australian silverware – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week

20 December 2019

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a pair of 19th century electroplated cups from Australia featuring heads of Aborigine people that sold above predictions.

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Teenage diary of 18th century stained glass craftsman bought by York University

20 December 2019

A 90-page journal kept by a 15-year-old boy has been purchased by the University of York for £3200 at auction.

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Star Wars memorabilia stars at auction: Five recent saleroom highlights

19 December 2019

Star Wars has always made money. Even with lacklustre reviews its newest instalment, released today, is likely to clean up at the box office this season. The memorabilia attached to the 42-year-old franchise is also enduringly popular, revolutionising the toy industry and remaining a subject of interest for many collectors.

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