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.

George III rococo silver coffee pot

Pick of the Pix comes to auction to benefit Ashmolean Museum

15 September 2025

Part of an extensive collection of British and continental silver and glass, recently bequeathed to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford by a couple who lived in the Loire Valley, will be sold at auction in France.

Indian national flag

India flag first to fly in the UK emerges at auction

15 September 2025

The national flag of India on offer at west London saleroom Lots Road in a Two Day Fine Interiors Auction was by the appearance alone seemingly nothing special.

William Burges jade bowl

Burges jade bowl revealed as Bedford museum purchase from Scottish auction

15 September 2025

The long journey through private collections, auctions and dealerships taken by a William Burges (1827-81) jade bowl has ended at a museum and art gallery in Bedford, it has emerged.

img_54-1.jpg

New Zealand relic carved for a Scot comes up for auction in Australia

15 September 2025

The kumete whakairo (presentation bowl) shown here is one of three large and historically significant figure-supported bowls carved between 1865-85 by master carver Patoromu Tamatea.

img_75-2.jpg

It’s sail day on Isle of Wight

15 September 2025

Forum Auctions won the shield of the annual inter-auction house sailing regatta at Seaview, Isle of Wight.

Cold painted bronze owl

Eccentric Trading: Pieces that found fame as screen props

15 September 2025

On September 24-25, Lyon & Turnbull presents The Secret Life of Props: The Eccentric Trading Collection, a two-day single-owner auction of items that have shaped British film and television for a generation.

img_50-1.jpg

Collection of prominent Perth couple provides a piece of Australian history

15 September 2025

Portrait of first governor of Western Australia stands out in a 745-lot auction offering colonial-era items

img_22-1.jpg

Delftware salt at Salisbury auction is rare survivor

15 September 2025

Altar-like form of an item usually attributed to one of two Southwark makers reflects the reverence that the commodity once held

img_28-1.jpg

Sparks ignites more sale interest

15 September 2025

Artist’s masterpiece sold earlier this year is followed up by plates, prints and paintings from same source

img_26-2.jpg

Dieter Rams: Designer whose influence was not left on the shelf

15 September 2025

From electronics to furniture, Dieter Rams laid the foundations for modern industrial design

Sotheby's

News in brief including Sotheby's reporting a $248m annual loss

15 September 2025

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including Sotheby's latest results

img_34-4.jpg

Bidders run rule over first book in English to look at laws that related to women

15 September 2025

The Lawes Resolutions of Women’s Rights: or the Lawes Provision for Women, attributed to the English lawyer Thomas Edgar and printed in 1632 by John More, is recognised as the earliest book in the English language to compile laws relating to women.

img_23-1.jpg

Silver with scandalous ladies and ducal provenances

15 September 2025

Silver flatware once owned by the so-called Ladies of Llangollen was offered in Cheffins’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Jewellery, Silver & Watches auction in Cambridge.

img_54-3.jpg

Minnie showcased for max effect

15 September 2025

Often remembered as the matriarch of an artistically gifted family, Emma Minnie Boyd (1858-1936) was an artist in her own right, exhibiting prolifically in Australia and also at the Royal Academy of Art in London.

img_32-1.jpg

Rare prison records judged to be worth an £11,000 bid

15 September 2025

Calendars listing details of prisoners in a 17th century gaol prove popular in North Yorkshire saleroom

Peter Pan sculpture by George Frampton

Cast of George Frampton’s Peter Pan sculpture takes £350,000 at Dreweatts

11 September 2025

A posthumous cast of George Frampton’s (1860-1928) best-known sculpture was the subject of strenuous bidding at Dreweatts this week.

Christ on the Cross attributed to Peter Paul Rubens

Crucifixion scene gains ‘Rubens’ attribution and appears at Osenat auction

10 September 2025

A previously unknown depiction of Christ on the cross believed to have been painted by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) has emerged at French auction house Osenat.

Paul Bril painting

Rediscovered Old Masters draw interest in Salisbury

10 September 2025

Two Dutch and Flemish Old Masters offered fresh to the market and with a sense of rediscovery drew notable competition at Woolley & Wallis’ latest Old Masters, British & European Paintings sale.

Movers & Shakers

New appointments, shops and premises – a round up across the world of art and antiques

09 September 2025

A new chairman at Fellows and shops opened by dealers feature in the latest Movers & Shakers

Tony Playing the Cello by Beryl Cook

Beryl Cook strikes a chord at sale of her old friend Tony Martin’s collection

09 September 2025

Art from the West Country featured prominently in the collection of the late antiques dealer Tony Martin.

News

Categories