Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Appeal for stolen Roman marble lamp
22 December 2021A dealership on London’s Pimlico Road is appealing for help to recover a stolen lamp.
UK buyer sought for rare portrait of the future King William IV
22 December 2021An export block has been placed on a portrait of the future King William IV painted during the American Revolutionary war, in the hope a UK buyer can be found.
Ex-Christie’s duo appeal for mentees
21 December 2021Former Christie’s executives Cat Manson and Caroline Sayan’s initiative, Art Market Mentors, is open for mentee applications for 2022.
Christie’s sales hit a five-year high but slip behind Sotheby’s for 2021
20 December 2021Auction house Christie’s reported preliminary total sales of $7.1bn (£5.2bn) including fees for 2021.
Export stop for Fromanteel’s £3m longcase
20 December 2021The UK government has issued a temporary export bar for a Fromanteel longcase clock dating to c.1660.
Dawsons invests in larger premises
20 December 2021Dawsons Auctioneers is relocating to a larger new premises and plans to hold all its sales as live online-only without room bidding.
Temporary stop placed on rare portrait
20 December 2021The UK government also issued a temporary export bar for a rare mid-17th century painting depicting a black female sitter alongside her white companion.
Collector interview: Meet the ‘Belgravian hermit’
20 December 2021A lawyer who likes to keep it local also has an insatiable curiosity about art and antiques.
Historic library connected to Brontë family saved for the nation in £15.3m purchase with help from Britain’s richest man
18 December 2021The Honresfield Library of British Literature, containing more than 500 manuscripts, first editions and letters including works by the Brontë family, Robert Burns and Walter Scott, has been purchased by the Friends of the National Libraries for £15.3m.
TEFAF Maastricht 2022 fair postponed due to “global volatility” of pandemic
16 December 2021Organisers The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) announced the March 2022 edition of the Maastricht fair has been postponed.
Sotheby’s announces best ever year for sales with new bidders and online growth a big boost
15 December 2021Auction house Sotheby’s has reported total sales (including associated fees) for the year to date at $7.3bn (£5.5bn).
Promotions, appointments and new sales – a round-up of Movers and Shakers in the UK, US and Europe
15 December 2021The latest jobs news across dealers and auction houses.
Rare 17th century English School allegorical painting barred from export in hope it is saved for the nation
14 December 2021The UK government has issued a temporary export bar for a rare 17th century painting depicting a black female sitter alongside her white companion.
Forum and Dreweatts to create new powerhouse
13 December 2021Gurr Johns acquires London works on paper specialist in auction market shake-up.
The record £16m love affair with Aphrodite
13 December 2021More than 70 years after it was last seen in public, an Imperial Roman sculpture dubbed ‘The Hamilton Aphrodite’ has set a record for any ancient marble at auction.
Gurr Johns to buy Forum Auctions
09 December 2021Art consultancy and valuation firm Gurr Johns has bought books and prints specialist Forum Auctions in an all-share deal.
Aphrodite back on sale after 70 years takes £16m at Sotheby's setting an auction record
08 December 2021More than 70 years after it was last seen in public, a sculpture dubbed 'The Hamilton Aphrodite' set a record for any ancient marble sculpture at auction.
Refurbished Lavery studio to be unveiled at Cromwell Place gallery hub
07 December 2021A new studio will open following a major refurbishment at a gallery hub in Kensington.
Royal Mail blip adds books to EU banned list
06 December 2021Art and antiques dealers were temporarily banned from sending items to certain European countries after a botched list was published by the Royal Mail.
Ken Spelman bookshop to close in York
06 December 2021One of York’s oldest bookshops is closing next year.