Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Latest hires including picture specialist Richard Kay joining Woolley & Wallis
01 August 2025The latest Movers & Shakers including at auction houses Woolley & Wallis, Bonhams and 1818 Auctioneers.
Historic Piprahwa gems return to India in private sale after planned Sotheby’s auction cancelled
31 July 2025A collection of relics linked to the historical Buddha will now go on public display in India.
Plea to find gold and silver jewellery stolen from Wiltshire antiques shop
31 July 2025Wiltshire Police are appealing for information after gold and silver jewellery was targeted at Old Bank Antiques in Royal Wootton Bassett.
Second Louis Vuitton trunk steams into Surrey saleroom
30 July 2025Following the sale of a rare 1920s Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk for a hammer price of £130,000 at John Nicholson’s on June 11, a second example emerged at the Surrey auction house this month.
Fake or Fortune?: Two Renoirs - or are they?
29 July 2025The latest episode of Fake or Fortune? featured two separate artworks belonging to different owners purporting to be by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).
Signed first edition run of seven Harry Potter books takes six-figure sum at US auction
29 July 2025A group of seven first edition hardback copies of the Harry Potter books, all signed by author JK Rowling, were hammered down at $130,000/£97,500 (or $162,500 including premium) by Heritage Auctions.
Pair of paintings come to auction from first known black American professional portraitist
28 July 2025A pair of portraits by Joshua Johnson (c.1763-c.1825), one of the earliest black professional painters in the United States, is coming to auction this summer.
Plea to return Japanese elephant bronze stolen from Pimlico Road gallery
28 July 2025Pimlico Road gallery Anthony Outred is appealing for help to recover a Japanese Meiji period bronze elephant that was stolen from its premises.
Latest Arts Council annual report reveals six objects saved for the nation
25 July 2025Half a dozen artworks were saved for the nation in the past year and are on display at museums across the UK.
Jerwood expands collection with Nicholson auction purchase
23 July 2025Arts charity Jerwood Foundation has purchased another Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) artwork.
New book published by antiques specialist Steven Moore
22 July 2025Antiques dealer, auctioneer, museum curator and TV presenter Steven Moore is publishing his latest book this autumn.
Churchill or not: Fake or Fortune first episode verdict not clear cut
21 July 2025The first of six new episodes of the BBC’s 'Fake or Fortune?' had an ambiguous outcome.
Stolen 16th century painting recovered in Norfolk returns to Italy
21 July 2025A stolen painting of Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario (1465-1530) has been returned after more than 50 years.
Citizen Kane Rosebud sledge makes record sum at auction
18 July 2025The sledge becomes the second most-valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold
Cyber criminals make further attacks in art and antiques world
17 July 2025Book dealership Sotheran’s is the latest victim of cyber criminals.
Art and antiques trade braced for new EU cultural goods laws
16 July 2025Details of how to manage the new European Union regulations on importing cultural goods have emerged, sending shockwaves through the art and antiques trade.
Christie’s reports flat first half auction sales for 2025
15 July 2025Auction house Christie’s reported auction sales of $2.1bn (£1.6bn) in the first half of 2025, on a par with 2024.
Final plea to save Hepworth sculpture for the nation as 80% of funds raised
15 July 2025Yorkshire museum needs the final £600,000 by August 27 to save a Barbara Hepworth sculpture
Original Jane Birkin Hermès handbag takes €7m at Paris auction
11 July 2025A new record has been set for a luxury handbag as the 'original' Hermès Birkin bag was hammered down at €7m at Sotheby's in Paris.
Photo London to be first artworld event held at newly refurbished Olympia
10 July 2025The newly redeveloped Olympia, set to be unveiled later this year after a £1.3bn makeover, will host 'Photo London' in May 2026.