Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Wassily Kandinsky abstract painting takes record £29m at Sotheby’s
22 June 2017A painting from 1913 by Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) drew an intense bidding battle at Sotheby’s latest evening sale of Impressionist and Modern art in London.
Telephone bidding battle lifts James Bateman’s view of the South Downs to £30,000
21 June 2017A dramatic bidding competition for a wartime farming scene by James Bateman (1893-1959) came at the latest sale held at Littleton Auctions in Worcestershire. Estimated at £3000-4000, ‘Ploughing the Downs’ was eventually knocked down at £30,000, a house record for the saleroom.
Hove at sunset – Algernon Newton painting bid to £80,000 at Bonhams’ auction
15 June 2017A painting of Hove by Algernon Newton (1880-1968) drew keen bidding at Bonhams’ sale of Modern British and Irish art yesterday.
10 highlights from London’s Russian art auctions
14 June 2017The Russian art auction series in London last week showed signs of some improvement in the market following a prolonged downturn since the bubble burst around a decade ago. The sales at Sotheby’s, Christie’s, MacDougall’s and Bonhams generated a premium-inclusive £23.2m, up from the £16.4m posted at the equivalent series last year.
William Roberts’ tea garden takes £700,000 at Sotheby’s
13 June 2017A quintessentially British scene by William Roberts (1895-1980) sparked lively bidding at Sotheby’s yesterday. ‘The Tea Garden’ from 1928 was estimated at £250,000-350,000 but was knocked down at £700,000, the second-highest price at auction for the artist.
'Little Gurie' Fabergé silver cup delivers £19,000 result
12 June 2017Among the pieces of Fabergé bringing competition at last week’s Russian art sales in London was this c.1909-13 silver vodka cup offered at Sotheby’s.
Essex sale benefits from Herculean effort
12 June 2017A major work by French academy painter Edouard Joseph Dantan (1846-97), unseen for over a century, has emerged at an auction in Colchester.
Modern British art in demand in Salisbury as Keith Vaughan’s ‘Sunbathers’ is bid to £120,000
07 June 2017Works by Keith Vaughan, John Minton, Christopher Wood and Paul Nash drew demand at a Woolley & Wallis auction featuring a prominent collection of 20th century British art.
Classical French salon painting rediscovered in Suffolk house offered at auction
07 June 2017A major work by French Academy painter Edouard Joseph Dantan (1846-97) apparently unseen in public for over a century has emerged at an auction in Colchester.
Unique picture book made by Hans Christian Andersen bid to £270,000
02 June 2017The only picture book made by Hans Christian Andersen that remains in private hands was sold at auction this week in Copenhagen.
Old Master view of Venice to appear at Sotheby’s following restitution agreement
01 June 2017A view of Venice by Michele Marieschi (1710-44) which was seized by the Nazis in 1940 will be offered at Sotheby’s this summer following an agreement over a longstanding restitution claim.
Sotheby's marks 100 years on Bond Street
30 May 2017Even in the days of online catalogues, internet bidding and timed sales, the importance of bricks and mortar premises for an auction house can hardly be overstated.
Maggs makes its new move
30 May 2017The builders were still applying the finishing touches to book dealership Maggs Bros’ new premises in London’s Bedford Square on the morning before the shop was officially opened with a party on May 23.
Book dealer Maggs opens doors of new premises in London’s Bedford Square
24 May 2017Stephen Fry and Dan Cruickshank were among the guests who turned up to last night’s party at Maggs Bros to open the book dealer’s new premises in London’s Bedford Square.
Auctioneers warned to check address to avoid scam
22 May 2017Auctioneers are again being warned to check addresses with shippers following reports of bidding scams.
Basquiat and Brancusi dominate NY art week
22 May 2017The flagship auctions of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art in New York last week showed a recovery after a difficult 2016.
They said what?! The week (15-21 May) in quotes from the art and antiques world
21 May 2017In our weekend series, Antiques Trade Gazette brings you a selection of quotes from dealers, auctioneers, collectors and others. This week, the Labour Party announces its position on ivory trading and a Japanese collector speaks about a $98m purchase.
Basquiat enters top-five highest ever auction prices after $98m sale at Sotheby’s
19 May 2017A painting Jean-Michel Basquiat set the fifth highest ever auction price in New York last night when it was knocked down for $98m (£76m) at Sotheby’s.
Christie’s top man in Asia returns to Europe
19 May 2017Christie’s chairman of the Asia Pacific region François Curiel is returning to Europe after being promoted by the company.
Solid selling rates in New York as Francis Bacon and Cy Twombly lead Christie’s contemporary art auction
18 May 2017Christie’s evening sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art in New York met with a robust response last night and was led by paintings by two of the biggest names in the market: Cy Twombly (1928-2011) and Francis Bacon (1909-92).