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_22-3.jpg

First auction appearance for work by missionary who opened up Chinese language

31 August 2020

Robert Morrison, a protestant missionary, pioneer sinologist and author of several works on the Chinese language as well as a translator, has been called the ‘Father of Anglo-Chinese Literature’.

img_36-7.jpg

War club to be brandished in North Yorks

31 August 2020

This 4ft (1.2m) long Tongan Aku-Tau ironwood war club will feature in a sale of Militaria and Ethnographica to be held by Tennants in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, on September 4.

img_14-6.jpg

19th century German locomotive makes a princely purchase

31 August 2020

This Gauge II steam-powered locomotive below was made by Schoenner, the Nüremberg toymaker operating founded by Jean Schoenner in 1875.

img_19-2.jpg

Old Master canine portrait makes over 100-times estimate at Tennants

31 August 2020

Two pictures with animal appeal generated decent bidding at a North Yorkshire auction.

img_19-4.jpg

Affordable art: Three works sold for under £2100 including a Harry Clarke stained-glass window design

31 August 2020

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Harry Clarke.

img_22-1.jpg

Newton with musical support

31 August 2020

Mathematical work makes £300,000 in auction where composers also feature heavily

img_36-1.jpg

Oceanic objects surface in trio of British salerooms

31 August 2020

Pictured below are three lots of Oceanic art that proved to be in much demand during UK sales held in August.

img_4-2.jpg

Rolex Milsub brings house record in Birmingham

31 August 2020

A rare Rolex ‘Milsub’ – an enhanced version of the brand’s classic diving watch the Submariner – set a new record for a watch at Fellows last week with a hammer price of £140,000 (£165,200 including premium).

img_14-4.jpg

Plaque pun pulls the udder one

31 August 2020

This 12in (39cm) Portobello pottery plaque piece, c.1820, is a rare piece but one known in a number of different colour variations.

img_15-4.jpg

Classy canes draw interest in regional sales

31 August 2020

This sailor’s walking cane below displays many elements of the scrimshander’s art: a whalebone shaft carved with spiral fluting, collars inlaid with shell from the hawksbill turtle and a handle carved as a dove from the tooth of a sperm whale.

img_37-3.jpg

Lega mask makes appearance in Edinburgh

31 August 2020

Included in the African section of the African and Oceanic Art and Antiquities auction to be held by Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh on September 16, this 10in (25cm) high Lega mask is from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

img_37-4.jpg

Tobacco bag at Cowan’s auction conveys special powers of the elk

31 August 2020

This beaded hide Sioux Elk Dreamers’ Society tobacco bag is one of the pieces of beadwork from the Robert Jerich collection that is included in Cowan’s September 18 American Indian Art auction in Cincinnati.

img_37-1.jpg

Collection offered at auction highlights an engineer’s fascination in native history

31 August 2020

A number of single-owner collections feature in Woolley & Wallis of Salisbury’s September 22 Tribal Art and Antiquities auction. These include the Michael G Johnson collection which makes up over 100 lots in the North American section.

img_14-1.jpg

Norwich lion spoon takes pride of place at Salisbury auction

31 August 2020

Once the second city in the kingdom, Norwich had its own silver assay office during three periods between 1565 and 1702.

img_15-2.jpg

Liverpool auction looks to Asia

31 August 2020

This 7in (18cm) Satsuma 'koro' is modelled in the form of a 'yoroi bitsu' (Samurai armour storage box) with the 'kabuto' (traditional Japanese helmet) forming the lid.

img_15-6.jpg

17th century cabinet blending East and West style attracts interest in Henley auction

31 August 2020

This 17th century teak, ebony and ivory standing cabinet or contador is a type associated with the Indo-Portuguese settlement in Goa.

img_36-6.jpg

Eskimo baskets bring high demand at Skinner

31 August 2020

One of the highest prices in the large 650-plus lot American Indian and Ethnographic Arts auction held by Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) in Massachusetts was the $4000 (£3075) paid against a $400-600 guide for a trio of Eskimo baskets woven from baleen.

img_15-1.jpg

Chinese export cabinets at Bellmans come market-fresh from family

31 August 2020

A pair of Chinese export black lacquer chinoiserie decorated cabinets on stands came for sale at Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) in Wisborough Green, West Sussex on August 11 with a blue-chip provenance.

img_23-1.jpg

Rich variety of printed material sold in Cornwall auction

31 August 2020

Extensively interleaved with scholarly notes and running to over 700pp, a Japanese and English Dictionary compiled by JC Hepburn was a notable rarity in a Cornish summer sale.

Chiswick House & Forecourt.jpg

Jeremy Vine, Clare Balding and Chiswick Auctions among supporters of charity auction to help Chiswick House

29 August 2020

Chiswick House & Gardens in west London is an 18th century villa and gardens planned by Lord Burlington.

News

Categories