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.

Alexander Rotter of Christie's

Alexander Rotter named new global president at Christie’s

02 May 2025

Alexander Rotter has been appointed global president of Christie’s with immediate effect.

Alan Taylor's FA Cup final shirt

Two-goal hero’s FA Cup shirt doubles estimate at Essex auction

02 May 2025

Alan Taylor’s West Ham United shirt from the 1975 FA Cup final draws interest at Stacey’s in Chelmsford

V2 rocket launch

Photograph of first V2 space rocket shoots past estimate in NASA photograph sale

01 May 2025

A collection of early NASA photographs from the collection of space historian Victor Martin-Malburet appeared at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris in an online sale running from April 14-28.

Fernando Llanos drawing

Salvator Mundi drawing from Leonardo’s studio makes five times estimate

01 May 2025

An unfinished drawing of the Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo da Vinci's workshop drew strong competition at Dorotheum of Vienna this week.

'Church and Mine' by George Chapman

Church and mine: Auction record set for George Chapman at Rogers Jones

30 April 2025

At the time that the London-born artist George Chapman (1908-1993) first encountered the Rhondda Valley in 1953, he happened to be reading a series of books by US writer William Faulkner.

The Blue Goats by Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione)

Rare Qianlong period painting headlines upcoming Hong Kong auction series

30 April 2025

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Asian Art Week is led by one of the great imperial Qianlong period paintings in private hands – The Blue Goats by the Italian Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione and the Chinese court artist Jin Tingbiao.

Harry Potter printer's sheets

Only known set of unbound sheets for first Harry Potter book heads to auction

29 April 2025

The only known set of unbound sheets for JK Rowling’s debut 1997 novel 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' will be offered by Heritage Auctions in Dallas on May 8-9.

Rao Jie calligraphy

Sotheby's conducts its ‘longest ever bidding battle' as 20ft Chinese scroll flies over estimate

29 April 2025

Hong Kong auctioneer CC Wang conducted Sotheby’s ‘longest ever bidding battle’ when a calligraphy handscroll by a Yuan dynasty master took over 200 bids and 97 minutes to sell.

img_8-1.jpg

Pick of the Week: Watching Georgian life in a goldfish bowl

28 April 2025

Stands and side tables were a prominent feature in many large Georgian houses and were used for a variety of quite specific purposes. However, it is extremely rare to find a piece of furniture designed specifically to take a goldfish bowl.

img_5-2.jpg

Fashion expert Kerry Taylor expands offerings stateside

28 April 2025

Kerry Taylor Auctions is expanding with new premises in Jersey City, US.

img_4-3.jpg

Arms and armour specialist David Williams joins Olympia Auctions

28 April 2025

Veteran antique arms and armour specialist David Williams is joining the Olympia Auctions team as senior consultant.

img_6-5.jpg

Reform Club acquires William IV clock that appeared at Cirencester auction

28 April 2025

A new addition to the permanent collection of the Reform Club on Pall Mall is a William IV Scottish eight-day painted dial longcase.

Shakespeare’s Four Folios

Sotheby’s to offer copies of all four Shakespeare Folios as a single lot

28 April 2025

Sotheby's is staging a single-lot auction next month, offering copies of all four Shakespeare Folios.

img_23-1.jpg

Dandelion depiction attributed to Beatrix Potter shoots to £2600

28 April 2025

A watercolour of a dandelion attributed to Beatrix Potter estimated at £200-300 ended up selling at a hammer price of £2600.

img_9-2.jpg

‘Nomadic’ dealer’s items set for new home

28 April 2025

Sworders’ run of single-owner sales continues with a two-day auction on May 13-14 titled Paul Atkinson, The Nomadic Collector.

img_16-4.jpg

Miniature globes put the world in your pocket

28 April 2025

Several middle-market pocket globes have appeared at regional salerooms recently – here is a selection

img_17-1.jpg

‘Conventionality is deadness’: textile produced by Lady Morrell and one for her by the Lawrences

28 April 2025

A notable collection of textiles from English aristocrat and society hostess Lady Ottoline Morrell (1873-1938) attracted considerable interest at Dominic Winter (22% buyer’s premium) in Cirencester.

img_12-1.jpg

Game on: the new modern collecting categories coming into play

28 April 2025

From Pokémon trading cards to retro gaming consoles, the growing market in modern collectables is bringing new buyers and consignors to the market – and providing new business opportunities

img_17-4.jpg

Reticulation adulation for Royal Worcester

28 April 2025

A large-scale work by Royal Worcester’s near-legendary craftsman George Owen (1845-1912) led a recent sale at Philip Serrell (20% buyer’s premium) in Malvern, Worcestershire.

img_22-2.jpg

Auction turns over an old leaf: fragment from the Gutenberg Bible

28 April 2025

Fragment found in an attic with receipt for £25 now sells for £39,000 hammer price

News

Categories