Auctioneers

Among the portraits bringing demand at the latest series of Old Master auctions in London was a pair of works depicting young women by Johann Zoffany (1733-1810).

Market for imperial Russian works of art appears to have shifted to US given global circumstances

Collector’s complete set of books from Morris’ publishing project comes to a saleroom for first time in 50 years

Private British buyers dominated proceedings as the Teddy Bears of Witney went under the hammer at Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium) in Newbury.

The core of the December 10 Out of Europe sale at the Cardiff rooms of Rogers Jones (22% buyer’s premium) was formed by the collection of Miss Annie Elizabeth Tookey.

Consignments have been thin on the ground but various lots attracted significant sums at the recent London series

These days it’s not unusual to see works that are not technically Old Masters appearing in Old Master auctions.

The highlight of an extensive selection of Barbie dolls offered at Wessex Auction Rooms (19% buyer’s premium) proved to be, as predicted, an example of the very earliest produced.

The upcoming Old Master sales in New York in early February will be the last flagship auction series to take place with Sotheby’s ‘simplified’ buyer’s premium structure in place.

A textbook example of British Arts & Crafts jewellery – a Guild of Handicraft peacock pendant necklace designed by Charles Robert Ashbee – sold for $35,000 (£28,100) in the US at the end of 2024.