Private Sales

Auctioneers conducting private sales was once an almost unthinkable practice in the art and antiques trade. But since around 2000 it become an increasingly notable part of the business, especially for Sotheby’s, Christie’s and other of the world’s leading salerooms.


Jan Wijnants’ painting

English Heritage buys Dutch Golden Age picture

12 October 2023

English Heritage has bought a Dutch Golden Age painting that had previously been on loan to one of its properties in South Yorkshire.

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Edward VIII collection comes up for sale

01 May 2023

An extensive collection of Edward VIII memorabilia amassed over 55 years has been put up for sale by its owner.

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Herschel museum buys manuscript memoir

02 January 2023

Two Herschel family-related historic items – a Royal Society King’s medal and a manuscript memoir – have changed hands at auction and in a private sale.

Ozengell Hoard

Anglo-Saxon hoard bought by Kent Archaeological Society ahead of London auction

27 October 2022

A large group of c.6-7th century Anglo-Saxon artefacts, known as the Ozengell Hoard, have been bought by Kent Archaeological Society.

Manuscript

Bath astronomy museum to raise £108,000 to buy manuscript via Christie’s private sale

28 September 2022

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Bath has launched a fundraising campaign to buy a Caroline Herschel memoir.

Silver casket with Dr Anna Groundwater

Mary, Queen of Scots silver casket sold to Scottish museum for £1.8m

24 May 2022

A casket believed to have once belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots has been bought by the National Museum of Scotland with help from donors and art funds.

Joseph Wright of Derby

Derby museum brings Wright of Derby painting ‘home’

16 May 2022

A Wright of Derby (1734-97) self-portrait, in private hands for 250 years, has been bought by Derby Museum and Art Gallery with the help of donations and a government tax scheme.

Thomas Lawrence's 'The Red Boy'

Lawrence’s ‘The Red Boy’ bought by The National Gallery in deal via Christie’s

24 July 2021

The National Gallery is to acquire a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) with the help of charitable donations and advice from Christie’s.

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Books by Jane Austen’s favourite poet return home to Chawton House

11 January 2021

Chawton House has bought a rare first edition of Poems by Jane Austen’s favourite poet, William Cowper, which was once owned by her brother.

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Dorset museum raises funds to secure Thomas Hardy archive from London book dealer

07 January 2021

The Dorset Archives Trust (DAT) has raised the final £5000 needed to purchase a collection of important manuscript and printed material once owned by novelist and poet Thomas Hardy (1840-1928).

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Sotheby’s opens shop in Bond Street saleroom as auction houses grow their focus on private and retail sales

05 October 2020

Sotheby’s has opened a new shop in its Bond Street galleries retailing art, design and luxury items.

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The Magic Circle reunited with lost copy of the earliest known English book on performing magic

26 August 2020

The 16th century book 'The Discoverie of Witchcraft' by Reginald Scot is the earliest known book in English explaining how to perform magic.

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Silver cup ‘rewarded to a loyal Jacobite’ offered jointly by auction house and dealer

10 August 2020

Is this the silver cup given by Bonnie Prince Charlie to a trusted aide for his role in returning Jacobite gold to France? Auction house Spink and dealer Martyn Downer believe it is and are looking for a buyer at around £150,000.

Qianlong period Imperial white jade teapot

Sotheby’s launches hybrid format combining elements of auctions and private sales

16 May 2020

Sotheby’s has launched a new hybrid sale format which is a cross between an auction and private sale.

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Rare Edward VIII sovereign sets new British coin record at £1m

17 January 2020

A UK private collector has paid £1m for a 22ct Edward VIII coin, helping the 1937 sovereign regain its place as what is believed to be the most expensive British coin.

Simon de Pury

Judge dismisses appeal against Simon de Pury in court case over 'gentleman's agreement’

17 May 2019

The Court of Appeals in London has upheld a decision that said advisor Simon de Pury was entitled to a $10m fee on the strength of a handshake agreement.

David Norman of Phillips

Phillips bolsters US business with former Sotheby's hires and Christie’s focuses on private sales - the latest Movers and Shakers

30 April 2019

A selection of appointments across the art and antiques market including Phillips hiring former Sotheby’s head of Impressionist & Modern art David Norman.

Tony Benn archive heads to British Library after help from auction house Christie’s

06 March 2019

The archive of Labour’s longest-serving MP Tony Benn (1925-2014) has been accepted by the British Library.

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Final painting of Mod Brit artist Julian Trevelyan showing Strawberry Hill sells at new art fair

30 January 2019

Julian Trevelyan’s last painting, depicting Strawberry Hill against a pink sky, sold in the first hours of Connect Art Fair’s inaugural staging yesterday.

Dickens

Charles Dickens 'lost portrait' purchase for the nation fundraising hits £60,000

21 January 2019

A public fund-raising effort to purchase the ‘lost’ portrait of Charles Dickens for the nation from dealership Philip Mould & Company has reached £60,000, a third of the asking price.

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