Front Page and News

Important works of European sculpture were stars of the London auction season’s highpoint last week.

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period June 28-July 4. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

An archive relating to three Suffragette sisters has been bought at a Hansons auction by a well-known dealer in memorabilia.

Australia gains three new auction houses as specialists go it alone in Melbourne

The government’s imminent ivory law change has forced an international collectors’ conference to pull out of London and move overseas.

Unmistakably the work of the Viennese avant-garde, this gem-set silver plated table clock sold for €205,000 (£186,000) at a recent sale held by the Rotterdam auctioneer Vendu Notarishuis.

The antiquarian book trade is lobbying for changes to the proposed EU law designed to crack down on imports of cultural goods ‘more than 250 years old’.

Christie’s has added a top-end sale of 19th century art to its calendar of New York auctions in October.

Trade bodies seeking to legally challenge the government’s plan for a near-total UK ban on the sale of ivory have been told they must wait until the bill receives Royal Assent.

A pocket watch worn by Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar and probably given to him after his triumph at the Battle of the Nile is to be offered at auction next month.

This hitherto unknown iron – part of select group of perhaps a dozen very early golf clubs from the late 17th or early 18th century – emerged at Gorringe’s in Lewes on June 26.

The countdown to save winter Olympia has begun as the organisers warn that advanced dealer commitment is crucial.

The mammoth disposal of the Aristophil collections of historic manuscripts began last week with a premium-inclusive €17.6m series of seven June auctions offered over four days at Drouot (June 15 and 18-20).

The Horlicks collection of Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson furniture will be sold at auction in Stansted Mountfitchet this autumn.

A long-running legal dispute over a Fatimid rock crystal ewer that had been due to sell at Sotheby’s has been settled in court.

"He had taken a taxi from Heathrow to Easingwold. After fierce bidding on the phones and internet he bought it, put it in his suitcase and the taxi was still waiting outside the saleroom with the meter ticking to go back to Heathrow.”

Market rebounds with £13.5m Franz Marc record at Christie’s after guaranteed works fail at Sotheby’s...

A trio of auctioneers have announced plans for further expansion into the London market. Joined by specialists in new disciplines, The Pedestal has plans for a London sale, Tennants has taken offices in the capital while Chiswick Auctions is hiring more staff.

MPs have called for a “quick, affordable and not too bureaucratic” registration process for items containing less than 10% ivory under the bill that will usher in a near-total ban on the trade in ivory objects.

The Works on Paper Fair has ceased running after more than 30 years – a reflection of a contracting market, dealers say.