Auctioneers

The auction process is a key part of the secondary art and antiques market.

Firms of auctioneers usually specialise in a number of fields such as jewellery, ceramics, paintings, Asian art or coins but many also hold general sales where the goods available are not defined by a particular genre and are usually lower in value.

Auctioneers often provide other services such as probate and insurance valuations.

img_8-3.jpg

Glory days of a Gold Rush town reflected in a scarce photograph

16 January 2026

This ambrotype of a California Gold Rush town sold for £1500, six times the top estimate, as part of the Winter Fine Sale at Hartleys (20% buyer’s premium) in Ilkley on November 26.

img_12-1.jpg

Back in circulation: Royal Society of Medicine items released for auction from vast collection

16 January 2026

Lots from the Royal Society of Medicine boost Christie's sale result to best of its type since 2016

img_8-1.jpg

Carrick gunner and Thornycroft archer sculptures targeted in west London

16 January 2026

A highlight of the sale of European Works of Art, Objects & Silver at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in west London was The Gunner by Scottish monumental sculptor Alexander Carrick (1882-1966).

FA Cup design

The original drawing for the winning design of the FA Cup in 1911 is coming to auction with saleroom Budds

15 January 2026

A drawing giving a first glimpse of the now instantly recognisable trophy from the oldest national football competition in the world will be offered at auction next month.

Near the Somme by Paul Nash

Paul Nash WWI scene doubles estimate at Suffolk auction

14 January 2026

Wartime scenes by Paul Nash (1889-1946) are a seminal part of his oeuvre, especially his famous series of paintings from 1917-19 showing the blasted landscape of the Western Front.

img_6-5.jpg

Bought for buttons, now worth £48,000

09 January 2026

Bought for just £40 last year, two rare bronze buttons designed by Alberto Giacometti for Elsa Schiaparelli hammered for £48,000 at the latest Modern Decorative Art & Design sale at Bonhams Knightsbridge.

img_5-2.jpg

Penguin egg picked up by Ponting

09 January 2026

An Adelie penguin egg collected by Herbert Ponting (1871-1935) on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition came for sale in Nantwich on January 8.

Movers & Shakers

Auction house and dealer hires among the latest recruitment round up

09 January 2026

The latest Movers & Shakers in the UK and overseas

img_24-3.jpg

Beatrix Potter mania among collectors brings in father Rupert

09 January 2026

A scarce copy of Beatrix Potter’s 'The Fairy Caravan' sold for £3000 in Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) Books, Maps & Manuscripts Sale.

img_16-3.jpg

Bridesmaid’s York Rose brooch rated all white by buyer

09 January 2026

One of the eight York Rose brooches given by Prince Albert to the bridesmaids who attended his marriage to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 sold for £15,000.

img_16-5.jpg

Smoke detectors in the saleroom: bidders focus on a super tobacconist's figure

09 January 2026

This carved wooden tobacconist figure or ‘Cigar Indian’ came to Ewbank’s (25% buyer’s premium) auction in Send, Surrey, by descent through the vendor’s family.

img_25-3.jpg

Whisper about a Blyton debut

09 January 2026

A rare first edition of Enid Blyton’s first published book, Child Whispers, hammered at £1400 in the Thomson Roddick (20% buyer’s premium) book sale on December 4.

img_8-3.jpg

Indian art market on a roll

09 January 2026

Expect records to tumble in the market for Indian art and antiques in 2026.

img_20-5.jpg

Hero for both Leicester City and Scarborough fans

09 January 2026

Not that many footballers can be “as deeply woven into Leicester City and Scarborough football history as Colin Appleton (1936-2021)”, it is true.

img_20-3.jpg

Member of the still undefeated GB tug of war team pulls in £6000 at auction

09 January 2026

Did you know that Great Britain are still the Olympic tug of war champions? The City of London Police Team competed for GB in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, winning gold – and the category has not appeared since at a Games.

img_15-8.jpg

'Exceptional' vases boast a Brighton Pavilion link bonus

09 January 2026

This imposing pair of 3ft 8in (1.09m) high hexagonal form vases combine both early 19th century Chinese and later 19th century French craftsmanship.

img_17-1.jpg

The rarest Wisden – but which version?

09 January 2026

Auctioneer finds out there are two variations of the 1875 guide, but a record is achieved nevertheless

img_8-4.jpg

Bonhams’ new Big Apple HQ

09 January 2026

The opening date for Bonhams’ new US headquarters at 111 West 57th Street, New York, is February 9.

img_22-2.jpg

Eager eyes on the precocious George Richmond and 'supremely talented' Leon Bonvin in west London

09 January 2026

A group of works by George Richmond (1809-96) offered at auction at the end of last year showed plenty of life remains in the market for the London-born painter.

img_31-5.jpg

Early example of Gallé in demand as Japonisme foo dog vase makes seven times estimate

09 January 2026

A Japonisme foo dog vase by Émile Gallé (1846-1904) hammered for $35,000 (£26,440) against a guide of $3000-5000 at Rago (27% buyer’s premium) in Lambertville, New Jersey.

News

Categories