Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters

Art world legal disputes head to The Hague
29 May 2018An alternative to going to court over art world legal disputes will be launched in the Netherlands.
Trade associations press ahead with legal challenge as ivory bill published
28 May 2018The art and antiques trade associations are in a race against time in their bid to challenge aspects of the government’s planned ivory ban. The bill was published last week, earlier than expected.

Online Galleries defends price rises in line with increased traffic
28 May 2018UK antiques portal Online Galleries has significantly increased subscription costs, causing many dealers to complain of steep price rises.

Pop artist designs help whisky bottle to auction record at Bonhams Hong Kong
25 May 2018Whisky bottles decorated with illustrations by pop artists Valerio Adami and Sir Peter Blake set records at Bonhams’ Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky auction in Hong Kong.

Original 1960s Rolex Submariner watch clocks up £80,000 at auction
24 May 2018A rare and original 1960s Rolex Submariner watch, bought new from a jewellery shop in Doncaster for £69 in 1966, sold in a Wiltshire auction for £80,000.

Government launches bill for “one of the toughest bans on ivory sales in the world”
23 May 2018The government will launch its Ivory Bill in parliament today in a move that environment secretary Michael Gove described as “one of the toughest bans on ivory sales in the world”.

Regional firms weigh costs of credit card fees
21 May 2018Rising costs in the wake of the government ban on credit card fees are forcing auctioneers to end card transactions or consider raising buyer’s premium.

Lots that come under close scrutiny
21 May 2018Lenses and slides caught the eye of buyers at specialist science and early technology auctioneer Flints (20% + VAT buyer’s premium) at its two-day sale of Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine.

Blow to art lending market in UK as government scraps proposed new lending law
16 May 2018Art lending in the UK suffered a blow this week when the government announced it was abandoning a proposed bill to reform lending laws.

Saturday May 19 is a big day: Salerooms happy to compete with Royal wedding and FA Cup final
15 May 2018Football fans and royalists have a busy weekend ahead – Saturday, May 19, is when Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle and Chelsea take on Manchester United at Wembley in the FA Cup Final.

London salvage and antiques firm hosts architecture and design summer lecture series in Georgian mansion
14 May 2018Salvage and reclamation specialist LASSCO is hosting a series of talks on the history of design and architecture in its Georgian mansion, Brunswick House in Vauxhall, south London.

Hedge fund owner of Savile Row tailor plans online-only auction at Sotheby’s
14 May 2018Savile Row tailor Huntsman & Sons and financier Pierre Lagrange are to hold an online auction at Sotheby’s later this month.

Rare pre-First World War photographs of Winston Churchill painting come to auction in Bristol
14 May 2018Prime minister, politician, army officer, war journalist and writer - Winston Churchill had many talents, but it was while painting that he truly relaxed.

‘End of an era’ as Iconastas sells up
14 May 2018Dealer Chris Martin-Zakheim is selling his stock after closing Iconastas of Piccadilly due to ill health.

Antiques Roadshow regular David Battie to hold exhibition at Cotswold auction house Tayler & Fletcher
12 May 2018BBC Antiques Roadshow regular and Asian art expert David Battie is to host an exhibition and lecture at Cotswold auction house Tayler & Fletcher.

Criminals who targeted antique dealers finally jailed after 16 year crime spree
11 May 2018Two criminals who stole more than £300,000 of jewellery and antiques by targeting antiques dealers at their homes have been sentenced to six years and two months’ imprisonment each.

Napoleon’s Sèvres dessert service sells at $1.8m at Rockefeller auction in New York
10 May 2018A Sèvres dessert service commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and known as the ‘Marly Rouge’ service has been sold for a premium-inclusive $1.84m (£1.36m) at Christie’s New York Rockefeller sale.

Derbyshire family and police call on antiques trade to help locate stolen artefacts from private chapel
10 May 2018A family are calling on the antiques trade to help them locate brass artefacts stolen from a private chapel in Walton upon Trent in Derbyshire.

Scottish Colourists collection comes to auction at Sotheby’s
09 May 2018Paintings by the renowned Scottish Colourists have been unveiled at the Art Club in Glasgow ahead of a single-owner collection auction next month.

Church Street raises market profile as Alfies turns east
07 May 2018North-west London’s Church Street is strengthening its events calendar and increasing the variety of dealers with a series of initiatives to attract customers.