Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Judge's copy of 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' barred from leaving country in hope of finding UK buyer
15 May 2019The government has temporarily stopped the export of the judge's copy of 'Lady Chatterley’s Lover' from the infamous obscenity trial.
Police appeal for help to catch ram-raiders of Petworth antiques fair
14 May 2019Burglars in a pick-up truck and an SUV ram raided the Petworth antiques fair at the weekend, stealing jewellery and cash belonging to dealers exhibiting at the three-day fair.
Prince Charles painting, Churchill funeral memento and HP Sauce –Harold and Mary Wilson auction takes £226,000
14 May 2019Harold Wilson (1916-95) was Britain’s prime minister twice and won four out of five general elections, more than any other post-war British leader of any party.
Government consultation ahead of new anti-money laundering laws
13 May 2019The government is seeking views from the art and antiques market on how new anti-money laundering laws will impact the trade.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including a Lichenstein panel for Brigitte Bardot, a Suffragette medal and musical table clock
13 May 2019With estimates from £100-$1m, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.
Collection of ‘London’s best-connected man’ Sir David Tang come to auction in Sussex
11 May 2019Hong Kong businessman, philanthropist and socialite Sir David Tang, who died in August 2017, was a luxury goods entrepreneur who mixed with the rich and famous and counted members of the royal family as his friends.
Jerwood Collection buys Michael Ayrton picture from Hertfordshire council auction at Cheffins
10 May 2019The Jerwood Collection of Modern British art has emerged as the buyer of ‘Encounter No 1’, an oil painting by Michael Ayrton (1921-75). After selling at the recent auction it will now go on public view.
Antiques market launched to boost local trade in Peterborough city centre
10 May 2019Traders in the Cowgate area of Peterborough are hoping to revive the struggling thoroughfare with a weekly antiques market.
Sofa where Edward Prince of Wales met Wallis Simpson comes to auction in Northamptonshire
08 May 2019The 'love seat' said to have played a part in the abdication crisis of 1936 is to be offered at auction this week at Humbert & Ellis.
Dealer Wartski and BADA Friends to host networking event for the ‘future’ of the trade
07 May 2019BADA Friends will host its latest Young Friends Dealer Networking Evening next week with the aim of bringing together the younger generation of the trade.
Pick of the week: Du Maurier dazzles as buyers worldwide snap up all 354 lots of writer's archive
06 May 2019A manuscript for Rebecca and a favourite typewriter were among the top lots in a collection of objects and ephemera once owned by author and playwright Daphne du Maurier (1907-89) sold at Rowley’s in Ely (22.5% buyer’s premium).
Lymington Auctions takes on George Kidner rooms
06 May 2019A toy specialist and his son have bought the former auction house of George Kidner in Hampshire and will relaunch auctions and open an antiques centre on the site.
Spicer breathes new life into East Yorkshire fine art auctions
06 May 2019The fine art auction business of Dee Atkinson & Harrison in Yorkshire has been renamed Spicers by former employee Andrew Spicer.
Rare book dealer Bernard Quaritch heads north to Holborn
06 May 2019Book dealership Bernard Quaritch is relocating to the Holborn area of London, from Mayfair.
Collector interview: The man who also explores old worlds
06 May 2019In the latest of our occasional series of collector interviews, we talk to entrepreneur Algy Cluff, a former army officer and oil and mining business supremo, about his collecting tastes
Call for help to recover pictures and sculptures stolen from Leicestershire home
03 May 2019Pictures by contemporary artists Howard Hodgkin, Sir Peter Blake and Gilbert & George and sculptures by William Turnbull have been stolen from a home in Leicestershire.
Memories of Queen Victoria’s favourite dog among collection of Royal memorabilia heading to auction in north London
02 May 2019A collection of items relating to Queen Victoria including a memento mori for her beloved dog are to be offered at a north London auction house.
Online art and antiques marketplace 1stdibs to close sister company Online Galleries
01 May 2019Dealer portal Online Galleries is to close on July 1 with its US owner choosing to focus instead on growing the art, antiques and vintage online marketplace 1stdibs.
Collector takes the Lusitania lifeboat biscuit at £300,000 Titanic sale in Wiltshire
01 May 2019A hard tack biscuit, purportedly taken from a lifeboat during the sinking of RMS Lusitania, sold for £4000 at Henry Aldridge & Son’s latest Titanic, White Star and Transport Memorabilia sale (20% buyer's premium).
Phillips bolsters US business with former Sotheby's hires and Christie’s focuses on private sales - the latest Movers and Shakers
30 April 2019A selection of appointments across the art and antiques market including Phillips hiring former Sotheby’s head of Impressionist & Modern art David Norman.