Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters

Fake or Fortune mystery

Fake or Fortune? Does this artwork have the hand of artist Frances Hodgkins?

05 August 2025

The latest in the new 'Fake or Fortune?' series featured a work possibly by Frances Hodgkins (1869-1947).

Chris Gollon artwork

Sworders to host first London selling exhibition at its Cecil Court gallery

05 August 2025

Sworders’ London gallery at 15 Cecil Court is to host its first selling show this month.

img_5-3.jpg

Stolen Solario Madonna returns home to Italian museum

04 August 2025

A stolen painting of Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario (1465-1530) has been returned after more than 50 years.

img_9-7.jpg

Joshua Johnson duo up for auction in Boston

04 August 2025

A pair of portraits by Joshua Johnson (c.1763-c.1825), one of the earliest black professional painters in the US, are coming to auction on August 19.

img_23-4.jpg

Book covers the Marchant story

04 August 2025

Marchant Asian Art is under way with its move to its new home in Brook Street, Mayfair (to open in January 2026), and has unveiled details of some of its centenary celebrations.

Richard Kay

Latest hires including picture specialist Richard Kay joining Woolley & Wallis

01 August 2025

The latest Movers & Shakers including at auction houses Woolley & Wallis, Bonhams and 1818 Auctioneers.

Piprahwa Gems

Historic Piprahwa gems return to India in private sale after planned Sotheby’s auction cancelled

31 July 2025

A collection of relics linked to the historical Buddha will now go on public display in India.

Police image

Plea to find gold and silver jewellery stolen from Wiltshire antiques shop

31 July 2025

Wiltshire Police are appealing for information after gold and silver jewellery was targeted at Old Bank Antiques in Royal Wootton Bassett.

A zinc covered Louis Vuitton trunk

Second Louis Vuitton trunk steams into Surrey saleroom

30 July 2025

Following 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.

Portrait of a girl

Fake or Fortune?: Two Renoirs - or are they?

29 July 2025

The latest episode of Fake or Fortune? featured two separate artworks belonging to different owners purporting to be by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).

Harry Potter books

Signed first edition run of seven Harry Potter books takes six-figure sum at US auction

29 July 2025

A 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.

Joshua Johnson portrait

Pair of paintings come to auction from first known black American professional portraitist

28 July 2025

A 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.

Japanese Meiji period bronze elephant

Plea to return Japanese elephant bronze stolen from Pimlico Road gallery 

28 July 2025

Pimlico Road gallery Anthony Outred is appealing for help to recover a Japanese Meiji period bronze elephant that was stolen from its premises.

Needlework sampler display

Latest Arts Council annual report reveals six objects saved for the nation

25 July 2025

Half a dozen artworks were saved for the nation in the past year and are on display at museums across the UK.

Moon Jug by Ben Nicholson

Jerwood expands collection with Nicholson auction purchase

23 July 2025

Arts charity Jerwood Foundation has purchased another Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) artwork.

Steven Moore's new book

New book published by antiques specialist Steven Moore

22 July 2025

Antiques dealer, auctioneer, museum curator and TV presenter Steven Moore is publishing his latest book this autumn.

img_46-3.jpg

Churchill or not: Fake or Fortune first episode verdict not clear cut 

21 July 2025

The first of six new episodes of the BBC’s 'Fake or Fortune?' had an ambiguous outcome.

Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario

Stolen 16th century painting recovered in Norfolk returns to Italy

21 July 2025

A stolen painting of Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario (1465-1530) has been returned after more than 50 years.

Rosebud sledge

Citizen Kane Rosebud sledge makes record sum at auction

18 July 2025

The sledge becomes the second most-valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold

Websites

Cyber criminals make further attacks in art and antiques world

17 July 2025

Book dealership Sotheran’s is the latest victim of cyber criminals.