Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Auction house Christie’s to sell Old Masters from collection of late Italian dealer
08 September 2020Christie’s is staging an online auction of works formerly in the collection of the late Old Master dealer Piero Corsini.
Major general sought after by militaria fans
07 September 2020A group of three watercolours depicting Indian scenes attributed to Major General John Brownrigg Ballasis (1806-90) attracted interest at a timed sale held this summer by 1818 Auctioneers (20% buyer’s premium) in Milnthorpe, Cumbria.
Himalayan raja rises to £4600 when reoffered
07 September 2020An intriguing Indian miniature portrait drew strenuous competition against an estimate of just £30-50 at Clarke’s (18% buyer’s premium) in Shaftesbury, Dorset.
Indian miniatures expand appeal as demand grows on the subcontinent
07 September 2020Indian miniatures are a common sight at UK auctions. With a keen, dedicated and often very knowledgeable collecting base, they remain a somewhat independent but active sub-set of the art market.
Contemporary art duo draw strong interest at Roseberys
03 September 2020Roseberys’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Modern & Contemporary British art had a stronger focus than usual on works from the second half of the 20th century.
Klimt drawing from Beethoven Frieze makes £32,000 at Chiswick Auctions
31 August 2020A drawing by Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) sold to a phone bidder for £32,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Chiswick Auctions last week.
Gustav Klimt sketch for the Beethoven Frieze emerges at Chiswick Auctions
25 August 2020A drawing by Gustav Klimt is being offered at Chiswick Auctions this week.
Bonhams sticks to early offering
24 August 2020While Sotheby’s and Christie’s shifted their main Old Master offerings to the end of July, Bonhams (27.5/25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) maintained its auction earlier in the month with a sale in New Bond Street on July 7-8.
Even Old Masters have to wait
24 August 2020Leading works held back until mixed-category July auctions in a drawn-out sales season.
Scotland tightens the rules on face coverings at auctions
17 August 2020The Scottish government has updated its guidance on face coverings.
18th century French gift box and Edward the Confessor silver penny are among the five lots to watch at auction this week
17 August 2020With estimates from £180-9000 here are five previews of upcoming items this week.
Brangwyn pushes the boat out
17 August 2020A group of works on paper generated decent action at Keys’ (20% buyer’s premium) online-only sale of 20th Century design and modern art this summer.
Sale inspired by new age thinking
17 August 2020A mix of works across different periods and genres drew attention at the first Pictures through the Ages auction at Mallams (27% buyer’s premium) of Oxford.
Affordable art: Three works sold for under £750 including a Landseer ink on paper
17 August 2020Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including an work on paper by Sir Edwin Landseer.
Heaps of Victorian silver scrapped after another spike in precious metal prices
07 August 2020Another bounce in precious metal prices has led to more antique pieces of gold and silver being scrapped.
Glass image of Nelson laying in state features in our pick of five auction highlights this week
07 August 2020ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a reverse engraving on glass of Admiral Lord Nelson lying in state at Greenwich Hospital. It sold for 22-times estimate in Norfolk.
Government makes face-coverings mandatory at auction houses in England
05 August 2020Wearing a face-covering when attending an auction house in England will become mandatory from Saturday August 8.
Individual highlights at London 'high season' sales but totals hit as vendors hang on to works
03 August 2020The ‘high season’ of summer auctions in London held by Sotheby’s and Christie’s generated £205.8m including premium last week.
Seven highlights from the John Richardson collection at Sotheby’s
03 August 2020A collection of paintings, sculpture, works on paper and prints owned by the late art historian John Richardson is being offered at Sotheby’s later this year.
Two tastes of Yorkshire
03 August 2020Two works by Fred Stead (1863-1940) drew strong interest at Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) in West Sussex thanks, in part, to here-to-be-sold estimates. They were being consigned from a deceased estate.