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.

Baby House-style doll

Early doll coming to auction could be a royal memento gift

16 June 2025

A highlight of the The Dolls’ House, Doll, Teddy Bear and Toy sale taking place at Special Auction Services on June 24-26 is a mid-17th century wooden doll, just 5½in (14cm) high.

Arthur William Devis portrait

Devis in demand: ‘Relaxed’ portrait of a civil servant bid to £140,000

16 June 2025

Over recent years, works painted in India by Arthur William Devis (1762-1822) have become a valuable proposition.

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Brace yourselves for Brooker Part 2 at Olympia Auctions

16 June 2025

Foremost among Olympia Auctions’ several collections on offer in the June 25-26 sale are the 96 lots from Robert Brooker’s collection.

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Oh dear, I missed a couple of ‘0’s: musical box sings at US auction

16 June 2025

Lynbrook, New York auctioneer Phil Weiss of Weiss Auctions (18% buyer’s premium) admitted to a minor slip when cataloguing a silver gilt and enamel singing bird music box.

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Dashing cavalry helmet owned by a John Trotter

16 June 2025

A striking household cavalry officer’s 1817 pattern helmet offered at Antony Cribb (25% buyer’s premium) had the considerable bonus of retaining its “very rare” japanned storage tin with the owner’s name legible.

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Life’s rich tapestries: French silk and wool examples outperform estimates

16 June 2025

French silk and wool Coriolanus scenes go well over predictions in US auction

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Persian version of Voltaire’s Peter the Great sells at £14,000

16 June 2025

This extraordinary Persian manuscript sold by Roseberys (26% buyer’s premium) is a translation of 'Voltaire’s Histoire de l’empire de Russie sous Pierre-le-Grand' and his 'Histoire de Charles XII, Roi du Suede'.

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Armour of the winged warriors who saved Vienna

16 June 2025

Polish items were in high demand at German saleroom Hermann Historica (29.5% buyer’s premium inc tax) during the Spring Auction series.

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Hans up for sale then knocked down

16 June 2025

Scarce complete small pamphlets produced by the fairy tales author Hans Christian Andersen come to auction ‘for first time’

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Pair of pistols was ‘given to duke as diplomatic gift’

16 June 2025

The auction history of this highly decorative cased pair of Spanish 22 bore convertible ‘Madrid’ lock pistols goes all the way back to 1843 - with a royal connection.

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Helmet high achievers at Sussex auction

16 June 2025

A strong selection of 18th and 19th century British helmets impressed at East Sussex saleroom Wallis & Wallis (24% buyer’s premium) on May 29, many bringing strong four-figure sums well above estimate.

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Largest Tirzah Garwood group to emerge in one go sets a test of the market

16 June 2025

The most extensive selection of works to come on the open market provides an opportunity to assess the market for the Modern British print specialist

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Scimitar ‘presented by Napoleon’ stars in London specialist sale

16 June 2025

Sword linked to former emperor is one of the highlights at London sale held by maritime specialist

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May Morris embroidery auctioned in Chicago covers the wishes of a diehard Anglophile

16 June 2025

When a c.1890 May Morris for Morris & Co embroidery came up for sale at Toomey & Co (27% buyer’s premium), the timing was less than perfect for the midwestern lady who was destined to become its new owner.

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Sikh dome helmet designed to fit distinctive hair

16 June 2025

This distinctive domed form of this carefully forged helmet gives a big clue to its origin.

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Illustrator also provides a 007 cover story

16 June 2025

A fine association copy of Ian Fleming’s You Only Live Twice was sold by Reeman Dansie (25% buyer’s premium) in Colchester on April 30.

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Vendor very much smiling at that price

16 June 2025

In the early to mid-1930s, the German company Saalheimer & Strauss produced four versions of tin litho banks with an image of Mickey Mouse on them.

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Cannon combines naval technology with aristocratic flair

16 June 2025

A George III cast bronze two-pounder sold on June 3 came from a group of 12 cast for a commission by second Viscount William Courtenay, most probably for his private yacht Dolphin in 1775. The cannon was later removed to Powderham Castle, Devon.

Iznik tile

Magnificent Iznik tile takes £195,000 price at auction

16 June 2025

A rare Iznik pottery tile made for the Çini li Hamam bathhouse during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent sold for £195,000 at Lyon & Turnbull.

2698NE Vuitton Nicholsons 1

Louis Vuitton trunk steams in to the saleroom and takes £130,000

12 June 2025

A scarce Louis Vuitton wardrobe steamer trunk dating from the 1920s or earlier sold for £130,000 hammer (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at John Nicholson’s on June 11.

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