Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters

Union Jack

UK buyer sought for Battle of Trafalgar Union flag

18 December 2025

An export block has been issued for a Battle of Trafalgar Union flag in the hope a UK institution will raise the £450,000 needed to keep it in the country.

Breuer building

Auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s reveal totals for 2025

17 December 2025

Christie’s posted projected global sales of $6.2bn (£4.65bn) for 2025 while Sotheby’s reported a figure of $7bn (£5.25bn).

Captain John Narbrough journal

UK buyer sought for 17th-century English maritime manuscript

16 December 2025

The manuscript journal of Captain John Narbrough (1640-88) has been temporarily blocked from export in the hope a UK institution can raise the more than £800,000 needed.

Helen Rosslyn and Alice St Clair

The London Original Print Fair reveals new dates for 2026

15 December 2025

The London Original Print Fair will run from May 14-17, 2026 at Somerset House in London.

Martyn Rowe

Cornwall auction house goes up for sale

10 December 2025

Art and antiques saleroom Truro Auction Centre has been put up for sale as a going concern after 35 years in business.

QC Auctions founders

Cheshire auction house launch planned for new year

09 December 2025

A dealer and estate agents are to open an auction house in Cheshire in the new year.

Movers & Shakers

New faces in Oxford, London and Germany across auction houses and fair organisers

08 December 2025

A round up of the latest Movers & Shakers in the UK and overseas

Studiolo

‘Micro’ fairs concept set to expand in the UK and internationally under new CEO

08 December 2025

The company behind ‘micro’ fairs 'Trois Crayons' and 'Studiolo' has hired a full-time chief executive officer ahead of expansion plans.

Elwin de Wolf

Collector interview: Silver boxes tell surprising stories on topics such as female artists

08 December 2025

Elwin de Wolf, based in the Netherlands, has been collecting silver enamel boxes for around 20 years.

coin hoard

Iron age coin hoard discovered in Dorset comes to market

05 December 2025

Gloucestershire numismatists Silbury Coins is offering a collection of Iron age coins dubbed the Tarrant Gunville Hoard.

Wainscot chair

Plea to track down 18th century 'bishops' chair stolen from Lancashire church

04 December 2025

A chair dated to 1703 has been stolen from St Marys the Virgin Church in Gisburn, Lancashire.

 London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square

Mayfair event cancellation leaves big gap in new year London line-up

01 December 2025

The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair has been cancelled for January 2026, leaving a hole in the new year fair calendar.

HMRC reveals fees for anti-money laundering supervision will rise

01 December 2025

HMRC is increasing its fees for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision.

img_51-2.jpg

New book: Riley-Smith ruminates on his art market journey

01 December 2025

Crispian Riley-Smith, managing director and CEO of Art Advisory Group, has written a book covering his 30-plus years in the art market.

Movers & Shakers

Auction house expansions, relocations and hires around the UK and US

01 December 2025

A round up of the latest Movers and Shakers

Cypriot jug

Pre-Christian Cypriot jug returns to Cyprus after government intervenes ahead of auction

28 November 2025

A jug dating to 750BC and due to be auctioned at Cotswold Auction Company in Cirencester will now be returning to Cyprus.

Money Laundering Directive

HMRC increases anti-money laundering fees

28 November 2025

HMRC will increase the fees for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision.

Devi Mahatmya image

UK buyer sought for collection of Hindu paintings from the Devi Mahatmya

27 November 2025

The British government has temporarily blocked the export of a group of 19th century Hindu paintings in the hope a UK institution will raise funds to buy them.

Chair

Church pleas for return of rare Mackintosh-style chair stolen in West Hampstead

26 November 2025

A church in north-west London is appealing for help to recover a stolen chair.

Henry House

Henry House to join Dreweatts as CEO

25 November 2025

Newbury auction house Dreweatts has hired Henry House from Sotheby’s.