Latest News Articles by Matt Ball
Introduction: The hot ticket
23 June 2025Summer brings us both fine weather and fine art. It is the perfect time to get out and about.
Collector Interview: From Little Red Riding Hood to a nationwide exhibition
12 May 2025Helen Day is a language teacher, collector of Ladybird books and expert on the history of the books and the company behind them.
Philosopher born into slavery
12 May 2025Greek philosopher Epictetus (c.50-c.135AD) is best-known for his contribution to Stoicism.
Selling art in challenging times: Art Market Report 2025
12 May 2025A recent survey reveals a drop in dealers’ sales combined with a sharp rise in costs
Education, education, education at Fellows
05 May 2025The Jewellery department at Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham is celebrating three new qualifications for its team.
UK regains second place as global art market cools
14 April 2025The global art market contracted by 12% in 2024, achieving an estimated $57.5bn in total sales, according the latest edition of The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report. It found that this decline reflects “ongoing geopolitical tensions, economic pressures, and shifting buyer behaviours”.
Trade urged to be alert over financial sanctions reporting
14 April 2025Art market businesses in the UK will shortly become subject to reporting requirements for financial sanctions.
UK regains second place as global art market cools
11 April 2025The global art market contracted by 12% in 2024, achieving an estimated $57.5bn in total sales, according to a new report.
The tale of Great Aunt Betty, key British designer of the 1920s-30s and a fiercely independent woman
03 March 2025“To the inhabitants of Wyndham Road, an unremarkable cul-desac of bungalows in Andover in Hampshire, Mary Stewart Lockhart, the white-haired old lady in number 5, must have seemed equally unremarkable… None of them could have realised that between the World Wars she had been one of the leading furniture makers, designers and businesswomen in the country.”
Collector interview: It all started with just one plate to go on a dresser…
17 February 2025Susan Pickett, a retired community nurse from Cornwall, is vice-chairman of The Daniel Ceramic Circle. Her own collection of items made by the H&R Daniel manufactory began when she was looking for a plate to fit a space on a dresser. One piece soon became three, which later became more than 200.
Collector interview: much more than just a spoonful of expertise served up by a specialist
27 January 2025To say that retired police officer Brab Hallowes has a passion for collecting would be something of an understatement.
Single-owner Mason collection racks up all-sold result
27 January 2025With estimates set at modest levels, Bourne End Auction Rooms (17.5% buyer’s premium) notched up a 100% sold rate for its offering of the Velma Young collection on January 7.
White glove sale for collection of Mason’s pottery
13 January 2025With estimates set at modest levels, Bourne End Auction Rooms notched up a 100% sold roster for its offering of the Velma Young collection on January 7.
Single-owner collection of Mason’s pottery comes to Buckinghamshire auction
02 January 2025Bourne End Auction Rooms is set to offer for sale 111 lots from the Velma Young collection on January 7.
List of major fair dates for 2025
02 January 2025As 2025 gets underway, most of the world's largest art and antiques fairs have already announced their dates for this year.
Review of the year 2024: Tough at the top, brighter for the mid-tier
16 December 2024While the big hitter auction houses found the environment challenging, the mid-tier salerooms, dealers and fairs enjoyed a generally more positive experience this year
Visitor book includes four entries for a certain Elizabeth R
14 October 2024Michael Ramsey (1904-88) who served as the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961-74, curated his own personal visitor book that tracked his career from 1942-87.
Buy a rostrum offered from the rostrum
07 October 2024The Autumn Auction at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter on October 15-16 includes an array of unusual objects from the collection of the late Christopher Hawkings, who at one time was the co-owner of Phillips, Son & Neale in London’s Bond Street (the firm that later became Phillips).
Going big on Bellany at Adam Partridge
20 September 2024The two-day sale at Adam Partridge in Macclesfield includes seven works by John Bellany (1942-2013).
Historic hall to become new headquarters of Bonhams in New York late next year
16 September 2024Bonhams is set to relocate its New York headquarters from 580 Madison Avenue to the historic Steinway Hall at 111 West 57th Street.