UK

The United Kingdom accounts for more than one fifth of the global art market sales and is the second biggest art market after the US.

Through auctioneers, dealers, fairs and markets - and a burgeoning online sector - buyers, collectors and sellers of art and antiques can easily access a vibrant network of intermediaries and events around the country. The UK's museums also house a wealth of impressive collections

Japanese Edo period suit of armour

Major Japanese arms and armour collection offered in Cheltenham auction

21 October 2017

A substantial collection of Japanese arms and armour formed by a Dutch collector will be offered at auction in Cheltenham next week.

Chinese vase offered at auction

Chinese vase estimated at £1.5m-2m fails to sell at Glasgow auction

20 October 2017

A ‘late 18th century Qing famille rose bottle vase’ offered for sale by Glasgow auctioneers Mulberry Bank with an estimate of £1.5m-2m failed to sell earlier today (October 20).

Hungarian silver-gilt cup and cover

Hungarian silver cup brings strong contest at SJ Phillips sale

20 October 2017

A 16th century Hungarian silver-gilt cup and cover proved the most eagerly-contested lot at Sotheby’s sale of items from the stock of SJ Phillips earlier this week.

 William III ‘elephant and castle’ five guineas

Last-minute consignment to Chichester auctioneer is rare William III gold coin

19 October 2017

A rare William III five-guineas has been consigned to Stride & Son just over a week before its specialist coin sale.

Thames Tunnel, Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Can you dig it: Brunel Thames Tunnel archive of designs on offer in London auction

19 October 2017

London is a city now thoroughly used to tunnels. Tube travel has become a normal way to get about the bustling capital and has been for many years. Meanwhile, the huge Crossrail project tunnel section heading east from Paddington is scheduled for December next year.

P Lamaison Van Heenvliet

Impressive militaria at auction and a moustache to match

19 October 2017

Apart from having one of the best moustaches you will ever see and a title almost as long as his facial decoration, De Weledg Heer P Lamaison Van Heenvliet put togather an impressive collection of military and related tribal artefacts.

Sidney Barnsley furniture

Sidney Barnsley oak settee draws strong bidding and sells at £33,000 in Somerset

18 October 2017

A large Arts & Crafts oak settee by Sidney Barnsley was among the star lots sold at Lawrences’ latest sale in Crewkerne.

Eugène Delacroix sketch

Sketch for Delacroix’s seminal painting ‘Liberty Leading the People’ offered at auction

18 October 2017

Auction house Christie’s is expecting a sketch for Eugène Delacroix’s (1798-1863) great painting ‘Liberty Leading the People’ to fetch up to £1m when offered in December.

British Railways totem station sign

British Rail totem sign sale reveals poetic tale of Dilton Marsh

18 October 2017

When all the horrible roads are finally done for, and there’s no more petrol left in the world to burn, here to the halt from Salisbury and from Bristol, steam trains will return. So wrote John Betjeman in his 1969 in his poem in defence of the closure-threatened Dilton Marsh Halt.

William Turnbull bronze figure

Offer Waterman explores the career of William Turnbull

17 October 2017

Offer Waterman’s William Turnbull (1922-2012) retrospective offers the gallery’s most comprehensive solo show of his work since it took on his estate in 2015.

Jane Oakley of Sworders

Sworders seeks to boost its fine art auctions with appointment of former CSK and Sotheby's specialist

17 October 2017

Sworders has appointed former Sotheby’s, Christie’s South Kensington and Bonhams picture specialist, Jane Oakley, to expand the scope and frequency of its fine art auctions.

Thomas Bewick sketchbook

Sketchbook of Thomas Bewick published in limited edition

17 October 2017

The sketchbook of engraver, author and natural historian Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) has been reproduced for the first time.

Stokes mortar bombs

Bomb alerts triggered off at two auction houses in same week

16 October 2017

Bomb alerts disrupted two separate northern auction houses last week when the alarm was sounded over militaria items included in sales.

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Olympia fair welcomes venue redevelopment

16 October 2017

Clarion Events has welcomed the news that the Olympia exhibition site is to be redeveloped.

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Where’s Wally? In the Etwall saleroom

16 October 2017

Among the most coveted of all Martinware is the ‘Wally’ bird. These quirky and grotesque jars (really caricatures of people in Victorian London), were produced from the early 1880s onwards and were named after their maker Robert Wallace Martin, one of four brothers who ran the famous British pottery.

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Last edition of the year for Cotswolds decorative fair

16 October 2017

The final 2017 edition of the Cotswolds Decorative Antiques & Art Fair takes place from October 27-29 in Westonbirt School, Gloucestershire.

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Bath’s Assembly Rooms host upcoming wedding show

16 October 2017

There is nothing so stylish in the world of vintage frocks as a 1930s wedding dress – all Hollywood-style glamour with long silky satin gowns.

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Controversial Meissen figure can leave the UK

16 October 2017

The estate of a prominent Jewish art collector has failed to secure the return of a rare Meissen figure that was the subject of a recent export stop.

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Further journeys worldwide via the Bonham library

16 October 2017

Last week’s first report on the fine travel library of John and Suzanne Bonham at Sotheby’s (25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) focused on the Middle East, India, Central Asia and the Far East. This second selection begins with an African discovery and ends at the South Pole.

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Fortune favours Maori art again

16 October 2017

The currently vibrant market for Oceanic art was made plain to staff at John Nicholson’s (24% buyer’s premium) of Fernhurst in February this year when a Maori putorino or bugle flute, estimated at £50-100, sold to French dealer for £140,000. Surely, similar good fortune would not be repeated any time soon?

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