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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How old values still stand firm today

30 March 2020

Three Victorian bangles were among the most popular lots of Dreweatts’ (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) sale of Fine Jewellery, Silver, Watches and Objects of Vertu.

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Natural topaz commands a premium at Barbara Kirk

30 March 2020

Topaz in its natural state is a golden brown to yellow, a characteristic which means it is sometimes confused with the less valuable gemstone citrine.

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Shell out for unusual furniture

30 March 2020

As a young man in the 1960s, British creative designer Anthony Redmile (b.1937) took the London interior design scene by storm. Although his work was hugely eclectic, he became best known for his quirky designs taken from the animal kingdom.

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Cuneo captures the last of steam

30 March 2020

Painting of Evening Star reflects end of an era as coal-fired locomotives started to hit the buffers.

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The joys of a simple life from William Conor

30 March 2020

Irish painter William Conor (1881-1968) received many official commissions during a prolific artistic career, including from King George V, but it was his warm and sympathetic portrayals of working-class life in Ulster that are best known today.

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Affordable art: Three works sold for under £2500 including a William Gear acrylic painting

30 March 2020

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a William Gear acrylic painting.

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Inscription in Harry Potter book acknowledges the person who spotted its potential

30 March 2020

Key to a price tag of £95,000 for a slightly bumped first impression copy of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' offered in a recent Bonhams sale lay in an inscription.

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A collection of Georgian and Victorian jewellery to remember

30 March 2020

A recent Stroud Auctions sale featured a private collection of more than 120 pieces of Georgian and Victorian jewellery. Most were rings, among them many examples of mourning jewellery in a wide range of forms and materials.

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A ‘sing-song’ for the inventive James Cox

30 March 2020

The London entrepreneur James Cox (c.1723-1800) is best known as a specialist in the intricate clockwork curios encrusted with gold, silver and jewel, referred to as ‘sing-songs.’

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Bid Barometer: issue 2436

30 March 2020

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period March 19-25, 2020. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

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Eros and the grasshopper

30 March 2020

This Grand Tour-era ring sold at Great Western Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow features an unusual banded carnelian intaglio carved with a putti holding the leg of a large grasshopper.

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Poniatowski ‘fakes’ bring £15,500

30 March 2020

This collection of 10 carnelian intaglios carved to depict classical figures and scenes once formed part of the collection of Prince Stanislas Poniatowski (1754-1833). His past possessions are always of interest to collectors.

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Timely reminder of Byron in the saleroom

30 March 2020

Association with the name boosts value as part of a sale dedicated to the poet.

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Collection of husband-and-wife artistic duo Stieglitz and O'Keeffe sells in New York

30 March 2020

Works by artist Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) and her husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz (1864- 1946), were the chief focus of a sale held by Sotheby’s (25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) in New York.

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Digging for Britain

30 March 2020

An aquamarine pendant telling the story of the founder of the Women’s Land Army and a rare Tudor ring shine at Dix Noonan Webb. By Roland Arkell and John Benjamin.

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Key work of American political theory sold at Heritage

30 March 2020

Comprising essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, all of which were published under the same pen name, ‘Publius’, The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution… is a key American contribution to political theory.

British and Irish book auctions (all online only): March 31-April 11, 2020

30 March 2020

British and Irish book auctions, March 31-April 11, 2020.

Fellows auction

Fellows sticks to family values as jewellery auction is staged from owner’s home

27 March 2020

Auction house Fellows of Birmingham has started holding live online sales of jewellery and watches ‘from home’. Managing director and auctioneer Stephen Whittaker conducted the latest sale in his own front room in rural Shropshire.

May Morris embroidery

Vendors support Lyon & Turnbull’s move to sell online

27 March 2020

The Edinburgh and London auction house Lyon & Turnbull is to press ahead with its two April sales as ‘live online only’ events. The firm’s sales of Decorative Arts: Design since 1860 (April 1) and Contemporary & Post-War Art (April 16) will feature auctioneer Gavin Strang on the rostrum in Edinburgh but no one else in the room.

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Rembrandt self-portrait, yachting watch and a portrait by a British society artist – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes

27 March 2020

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes an early self-portrait print by Rembrandt selling at 40 times its top estimate and a portrait of a young woman by British ‘society’ artist Ambrose McEvoy.

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