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.

Martin Luther King’s Stride Toward Freedom

Inscribed book by Martin Luther King Jnr discovered at Oxfam sells at Bonhams’ auction

30 March 2026

An author-inscribed book by Martin Luther King Jnr donated to a small Oxfordshire Oxfam store has raised £2560 including premium at Bonhams

Mary Anning letter

Dorset museum’s fundraising secures letter from pioneering fossil hunter Mary Anning at Bonhams auction

27 March 2026

The Lyme Regis Philpot Museum’s fundraising campaign raised enough to buy a letter fragment from Mary Anning (1799-1847) offered at a Bonhams auction.

Stepney Tyres sign

Bulldog spirit drives sign to £71,000 record

27 March 2026

An extensive collection of automobilia housed in not one but two Cambridgeshire barns included an eye-catching example of the most sought-after British enamel signs.

Wedgwood chess set

Pick of the week: Wedgwood made a move with Flaxman chess set

27 March 2026

The first mention of plans for a Wedgwood earthenware chess set occurs in a bill from a 30-year-old John Flaxman dated March 8, 1785.

Böttger Meissen coffee pot

German porcelain, vendor in east Asia… Paris sale

27 March 2026

Eighteenth century Meissen bought by a porcelain enthusiast from east Asia comes for sale at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris on April 22.

The late Jesper Bruun-Rasmussen taking a sale at his auction house

Obituary – Jesper Bruun-Rasmussen (1942-2026)

27 March 2026

An era in Danish cultural life has drawn to a close.

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‘Clear recognition of George Sherwood Hunter’s distinctive vision and technical accomplishment’

27 March 2026

A large group of works by George Sherwood Hunter (1846-1919) that had remained in the artist’s family for over a century was dispersed at two sales conducted by Anderson & Garland (25% buyer’s premium) over the last six months.

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Tests of faith and legal learning in East Sussex

27 March 2026

English religious manuscript and Italian academic diplomas catch the eye

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Focus on art from unusual angles

27 March 2026

Works in demand at auction do not always reflect the subjects and themes that artists are best known for

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No jacket, no big problem for a first edition Hobbit

27 March 2026

A first edition, first impression of The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien is a valuable proposition even without its dustjacket.

Stepney Tyres sign

Huge automobilia ‘barn find’ was more of a ‘two-barn find’

27 March 2026

A record price will always stand out, but this comprehensive collection also boasted a much wider range of strong prices underlying a buoyant market

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Long-distance flight moves from experiment to reality thanks to pioneers such as Lombardi

27 March 2026

A rare surviving group of unseen early aviation photographs documenting the pioneering long-distance flights of Italian pilot Carlo Francesco ‘Francis’ Lombardi (1897-1983) was offered at Roseberys (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) in south London on March 11.

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Motor oil can fuels a £1700 auction price

27 March 2026

This British Aero Lubricants AMG No 1 motor oil can estimated at £100-150 sold instead via thesaleroom.com for a £1700 hammer price.

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Lalique car mascots out of financial reach? Maybe try an Ashay instead

27 March 2026

With the most sought-after Lalique glass car mascots making prices up to tens of thousands of pounds at auction, collecting in that market can become very expensive very quickly if you want a wide range.

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Nancy Mitford's Pursuit of Love made an immediate impression

27 March 2026

First editions of the books that made Nancy Mitford’s name – The Pursuit of Love (1945) and Love in a Cold Climate (1949) – sold for £1600 at Reeman Dansie (25% buyer’s premium) in Colchester.

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The collection of dealer Paul Fitzsimmons: a life in oak told across 700 lots in a Salisbury saleroom

27 March 2026

Specialist dealer sells items from his collection in two-day auction as he heads towards semi-retirement

Bacino di San Marco painting

Venice provides allure as Cotswolds estate yields series of pictures to Kinghams

26 March 2026

A group of Venetian scenes were among the lots bringing interest at the latest Fine, Decorative Arts & Design sale at Gloucestershire saleroom Kinghams (26% buyer’s premium).

Michael Rand at home with family

Collection from former art editor and director of The Sunday Times Magazine comes to auction

26 March 2026

Part of the private art collection of Michael Rand (1929-2025), the art editor and director of The Sunday Times Magazine, will be offered at Sworders.

World championship match 1972

The Arbiter’s Archive: Sotheby’s to auction extraordinary chess collection

25 March 2026

In the world of chess, few names command as much quiet authority as Lothar Schmid.

Hans Baldung drawing

French government declares Old Master drawing National Treasure ahead of auction

24 March 2026

The auction of a rare and unpublished drawing by Hans Baldung (c.1484-1545) that was due to take place in Paris on March 23 has been postponed after the work was declared a National Treasure by the French government.

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