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2025

The Guennol Grasshopper

Guennol Grasshopper: Controversial Egyptian vessel comes to auction

24 July 2025

An ancient Egyptian cosmetic vessel made in the form of a grasshopper or cicada comes to auction in London this week.

Phillips auction house London

Phillips raises buyer’s premium – but reduces it for ‘early engagement’

23 July 2025

Auction house Phillips has introduced a new format for its buyer’s premium.

Deer in a Woodland by Rosa Bonheur

Rosa Bonheur deer study makes 16 times estimate in Surrey auction

23 July 2025

French artist Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) is described in the Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists as ‘a colourful and formidable character, outspoken in her feminine independence’.

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.

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BADA Prize call for submission as fifth edition announced

22 July 2025

‘Antiques of tomorrow’ celebrated in contemporary art award

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.

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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.

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William De Morgan red lustre charger is among five lots to watch

21 July 2025

With estimates from £200, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Top stories this week including new EU cultural goods laws sending shockwaves through the trade

20 July 2025

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of the trade trying to come to terms with the impact of the new European Union regulations on importing cultural goods

Art Nouveau brooch

Giants of Art Nouveau reunited in Southend as striking brooch doubles estimate

18 July 2025

A large gold, enamel and gemset jewel combining the talents of two giants of French Art Nouveau has surfaced for sale in Southend-on-Sea.

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

Katsushika Hokusai's Great Wave print

Copy of Hokusai’s ‘Great Wave’ print makes £300,000 at Dreweatts

18 July 2025

A hammer price of £300,000 sounds like a pretty hefty sum for any print sold in the UK regions. But when it comes to the legendary Katsushika Hokusai’s (1760-1849) ‘Great Wave’, it’s actually a relatively middling amount.

Silver dealer Michael Baggott

First part of the Michael Baggott silver collection raises nearly £100,000 at auction

17 July 2025

Woolley & Wallis sold the first tranche of the private collection and stock of silver specialist Michael Baggott (1973-2025) on July 16.

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.

Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi by Clare Leighton

Only known portrait that Gandhi sat for sells for £120,000

17 July 2025

A portrait of Mahatma Gandhi – believed to be the only oil painting for which the leader of the Indian independence movement sat – has sold for £120,000.

Covent Garden Fruit Market by Edward Bawden

Bawden prints in demand as artworks from Kent County Council’s collection make over £40,000 at auction

16 July 2025

A group of prints tucked away in the basement of Kent County Council’s County Hall in Maidstone has sold at a Sworders auction.

European Union

Art and antiques trade braced for new EU cultural goods laws

16 July 2025

Details of how to manage the new European Union regulations on importing cultural goods have emerged, sending shockwaves through the art and antiques trade.

Christie’s

Christie’s reports flat first half auction sales for 2025

15 July 2025

Auction house Christie’s reported auction sales of $2.1bn (£1.6bn) in the first half of 2025, on a par with 2024.

Sotheby’s Old Master specialist Greg Rubinstein

Sotheby’s launches ‘The Specialist’ podcast series

15 July 2025

Sotheby’s has launched a new series of podcasts titled ‘The Specialist’ in which the auction house’s experts give a behind-the-scenes look at the auction world.