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.

JRR Tolkien's Merton College desk

JRR Tolkien ‘Lord of the Rings’ desk triples estimate at Christie's

12 December 2025

A desk used by JRR Tolkien during the final revisions to the Lord of the Rings trilogy has sold at auction in London for £260,000 (£330,200 including 27% buyer’s premium).

Gabriele Ricciardelli view of Dublin Bay

18th century view of Dublin Bay bought by Irish institution ahead of auction

12 December 2025

Due to be offered at Adam’s earlier this month, a panoramic view over Dublin Bay by Italian painter Gabriele Ricciardelli (1690-1782) was bought by an Irish cultural institution ahead of the sale on December 4.

Number plate

Number plate from 'Lotus driving auctioneer' comes to auction for first time in around 40 years

11 December 2025

A rare ‘three by one’ number plate tailor made for any successful auctioneer comes for sale in Herefordshire.

The Horse Fair by Agnes Miller Parker

Major record for Scottish artist as rare 1920s painting emerges fresh to the market

10 December 2025

Works by the multi-faceted Scottish wood-engraver, book illustrator, painter and teacher Agnes Miller Parker (1895-1980) come to the market only occasionally, and when they do emerge they are almost always prints.

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

Triptych with the Five Miracles of Christ

London Old Masters bring cheering results

08 December 2025

The latest Old Master auctions in London produced the highest total for a December series for seven years.

Queen Anne spoon

Spoon struck in first year of Newcastle assay office makes over six-times estimate

08 December 2025

The city of Newcastle enjoyed a long gold and silversmithing tradition.

Polynesian wooden bowl

Bowl hits new high for Maori art sold in New Zealand

08 December 2025

A record has been set for a Maori work of art sold at auction in New Zealand.

Christopher Dresser sugar basin with scoop

British Aesthetic and Arts & Crafts silver items stand out in Cologne sale

08 December 2025

Numerous pieces of British Aesthetic movement and Arts & Crafts silver were up for sale at Lempertz (26% buyer’s premium) in Cologne on November 21.

Josephine Lewington's medals

Pick of the week: Medals at Spink bring secret work at Bletchley Park into the light

08 December 2025

While Alan Turing has for some time now quite rightly received credit for his work at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, the contributions of the women who worked there can still be overlooked.

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Richardson's view of St Paul’s inspired by Canaletto doubles estimate at Sworders

08 December 2025

If this view of London by William Richardson (1814-99) looks as if St Paul’s Cathedral has been magically transported to the mouth of the Grand Canal in Venice, that might not be too surprising.

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Gimson comes courtesy of Griggs

08 December 2025

Ernest Gimson (1864-1919), a central figure in the British Arts & Crafts Movement, applied a clear, pared-back design approach influenced by William Morris.

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Antiques shop owner saw through surface level grime to make an astute purchase

08 December 2025

A small number of intriguing 18th and 19th century pictures were among the works bringing the strongest competition in terms of the pictures at Gorringe’s (25% buyer’s premium) latest Fine Art & Interiors auction.

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Extensive single-owner collection of Victorian revival tiles takes centre stage

08 December 2025

Collector Michael Blood’s passion for Victorian tiles was ignited at Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire when two 19th-century examples pressed into his hands during restoration first caught his eye.

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Staffordshire windmill and houses stand tall among desirable tiles at Gloucestershire sale

08 December 2025

The Zena Kwiatkowski Corrigan collection of tiles was sold by Kinghams (26% buyer’s premium) in Moreton-in-Marsh over 291 lots on October 30.

Rembrandt print Arnout Tholinx, Inspector

Rare Rembrandt etching at Christie’s sets auction record for any Old Master print

04 December 2025

A rare copy of one of Rembrandt’s greatest portrait etchings established a new saleroom high for an Old Master print.

Sherborne Almshouse Triptych

Sherborne almshouse triptych makes £5.2m at Sotheby’s auction

04 December 2025

A beautifully preserved and vibrantly coloured 15th century triptych with a remarkable backstory drew strenuous competition at Sotheby’s latest Old Master evening sale.

The Tyger by William Blake

Burning bright: New high at auction for a print by William Blake

03 December 2025

Christie’s broke the 13-year-old auction record for a print by William Blake (1757-1827) at its Old Masters to Modern day sale on December 3.

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