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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Fine feathers for faithful Lady Franklin

27 November 2014

Lady Jane Franklin (1791-1875) gained worldwide admiration for her efforts to trace her husband’s disappearance on his fatal 1845 voyage seeking the North West Passage.

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Where did you get that €1.5m hat?

26 November 2014

Arguably the most famous historic figure in French history and a princely provenance proved an irresistible combination earlier this month in France when a collection of Napoleonic memorabilia formed by the Grimaldi dynasty of Monaco went under the hammer.

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O’Keeffe sets $39.5m female artist record

24 November 2014

New York has witnessed some spectacular auction prices of late and another came last week as ‘Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1’ by Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was knocked down at $39.5m (£26.3m) at Sotheby’s American art sale.

Bonhams set date for Contemporary HK sale

24 November 2014

Bonhams will their launch their sales of Modern and Contemporary Art from Asia in Hong Kong on March 15 during the ‘Art Basel Hong Kong’ week.

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Fangs very much – an unexpected £88,000

19 November 2014

This 17in (43cm) Fang bieri guardian palmwood figure from Gabon in West Africa set a house record at Netherhampton Salerooms in Salisbury when it sold for £88,000.

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New high for timepiece at auction

18 November 2014

Sotheby’s Geneva managed to grab the headlines when the Henry Graves Supercomplication set a record for a timepiece at auction.

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Warhol’s Elvis helps Contemporary art frenzy reach record levels

17 November 2014

Christie’s latest evening sale of Contemporary art in New York posted a premium-inclusive total of $852.9m (£557.4m), a new record for any auction.

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Stanley Matthews’ FA Cup medal scores new record at £220,000

14 November 2014

Setting a record for a football medal at £220,000, Stanley Matthews's 1953 F.A. Cup Final winner's medal drew dramatic competition at Graham Budd’s sale of sporting memorabilia earlier this week.

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Claudel launches new home for Paris étude

12 November 2014

Piasa are not the only Paris étude to have moved to new premises this autumn. Cornette de Saint Cyr have now opened their new saleroom in a 19th century hôtel particulier on the avenue Hoche near the Parc Monceau.

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Twelve bidders compete for Peter Waals secretaire in Exeter

11 November 2014

A walnut secretaire cabinet by Peter Waals (1870-1937) has sold for £34,000 at Bearne Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter.

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Remembrance of a child from the battlefield

11 November 2014

This rare battlefield First World War rose goes under the hammer at Hansons in Etwall, Derbyshire, on November 24.

Art Workers’ Guild auction in London

10 November 2014

Guy Schwinge of Dukes will be on the rostrum in London on November 17 for The Hall Centenary Appeal Auction, raising money to modernise and remodel The Art Workers’ Guild Meeting Hall at 6 Queen Square.

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Giacometti’s Chariot leads the charge at Sotheby’s $370m record sale

10 November 2014

Works by Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, Alberto Giacometti and Amedeo Modigliani were the highlights of the latest series of Impressionist & Modern art series in New York.

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Christopher Dresser coffee pot makes £80,000 in Edinburgh

05 November 2014

A possibly unique electroplated coffee pot, designed by Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) and made by James Dixon & Sons in Sheffield, proved the highlight of Lyon & Turnbull’s sale auction ‘Decorative Arts: Design from 1860’ when it was knocked down for £80,000.

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Asian sales begin at a canter

29 October 2014

Mallams of Cheltenham saw this jade rolling horse, part of a private collection of Chinese handstone carvings, sell for £170,000 at their latest Asian art sale.

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Little-known Victorian amateur photographer’s archive up for sale

27 October 2014

Bonhams will offer an archive of over 350 unpublished images by the Victorian amateur photographer Emma Francis Johnston.

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Frieze week auctions set £197m total

23 October 2014

The Contemporary art auctions staged during London’s Frieze week showed no signs of letting up as the bidding took little account of the stockmarkets that were nosediving at the same time.

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Fabergé shines in Nottinghamshire

21 October 2014

This Fabergé enamelled silver and hardstone cigarette box sold for £46,500 at the latest sale held at Nicholas Mellors of Newark.

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Triple A add to the feast of Asian art

13 October 2014

The Association of Accredited Auctioneers (Triple A) are hosting a viewing event timed to coincide with Asian Art in London. This Qianlong ‘lotus and bats’ doucai jar and cover, estimated to bring £100,000-150,000 at Peter Wilson of Nantwich on November 27, is among the lots on view at Rountree Tryon Galleries of 7 Bury Street on November 2 from 12 noon-9pm.

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Soames auction sheds light on Churchill

10 October 2014

Paintings and objects from the estate of the late Mary Soames, the youngest daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, are to be sold at Sotheby’s in London.

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