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.

Casino Royale first edition by Ian Fleming

James Bond’s big number comes up in Carlisle auction as ‘Casino Royale’ first edition takes £22,500

29 June 2017

The novel that introduced the world to James Bond, ‘Casino Royale’ of 1953, has long been a key target for collectors. Anyone who laid out 10/6d for a copy over 60 years ago and has kept good care of the book will have done themselves or their descendants proud.

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Dambusters bouncing bomb release button on offer at auction for the first time

28 June 2017

The bomb release button from the Lancaster bomber of 617 Squadron that released the ‘bouncing bomb’ which destroyed the Möhne Dam on May 17, 1943 is being offered at auction for the first time.

Max Beckmann

Auction record for Beckmann at Christie’s as 'Birds' Hell' sells for £32m hammer

27 June 2017

Max Beckmann’s terrifying image of hell, representing the horror of the Nazi regime in Germany, has sold at Christie’s for a record-breaking £32m hammer price to dealer Larry Gagosian.

Family Group by Henry Moore

Asian buyer wins bidding battle for Henry Moore’s family group at Christie’s auction

27 June 2017

A bronze family group by Henry Moore (1898-1986) led Christie’s evening sale of Modern British & Irish art in London last night, selling at £3.3m to an Asian collector.

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Focus on the war artist friend of Eric Ravilious who also went missing in action

27 June 2017

It may seem a blindingly obvious thing to say, but being a war artist can be a dangerous business. Eric Ravilious, now one of the most sought-after Modern British artists, was never seen again after joining a Second World War rescue flight which itself ended up as missing in action.

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New world record price achieved for Australian artist at auction

26 June 2017

A painting by UK-born Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale (1912-1981) has fetched AUD$2.97m when it was sold by Mossgreen in Adelaide on Sunday 25 June. The price is the fifth highest at auction for any Australian artwork.

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Massive faience charger leads Burmantofts bonanza

26 June 2017

A massive Burmantofts faience charger sold for £13,000 (plus 22% buyer’s premium) at Woolley & Wallis of Salisbury on June 22 – the highlight of a remarkable collection of more than 700 pieces by the Leeds factory.

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Safety first as miners’ lamp shines at Cirencester auction

26 June 2017

A miners‘ lamp lit up bidding at a Cotswold saleroom to set a record for a George Stephenson model.

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Small and simple miniature book... but big price at auction

26 June 2017

An exceptionally rare miniature book, a 'Kalendarium Evangelia' printed by Christopher Plantin in Antwerp in 1570, measuring just 35mm high appeared at a recent Bonhams sale.

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You’re so 19th century, darling

26 June 2017

It is tempting to write off 19th century pictures as passé. A field relegated to the dusty corners of the art market, while contemporary art reigns supreme.

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Christie’s auction call to prayer in London

26 June 2017

More 19th century pictures will go under the hammer this summer at auction houses in London. Christie’s dedicated sale in King Street on July 13 is led by a collection of 46 Orientalist works.

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London auction call to arms

26 June 2017

Showing some internal staining, browning and other soiling, this 1517 Lyon printing of one of the works of GB Castiglione, a humanist and sometime tutor to the future Elizabeth I, sports a contemporary English binding of blind-stamped calf.

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Mark Law to revive general sales at Dreweatts

26 June 2017

The new owner of Dreweatts in Newbury is to bring back a monthly general sale.

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Collection of Greenwich's The Spread Eagle pub consigned to Gorringes

26 June 2017

Until its conversion into a pizzeria and cocktail bar three years ago, The Spread Eagle pub in Greenwich had hardly changed since its origins as a 17th century coaching inn.

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Auction previews - Egyptian and Greek antiquities

26 June 2017

ATG previews a couple of upcoming lots at London auctions.

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Hunting tales tracked down at auction

26 June 2017

Some of the more successful lots in a June 1 sale at PBA Galleries (20/15% buyer’s premium) of the first portion of the Richard Beagle collection of angling and sporting books were scarce accounts of early hunting trips in the Yukon and Wyoming.

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Seats you sir: 20th century furniture design classics

26 June 2017

Two pieces of seating furniture which no early 20th century wealthy middle-class home would have lacked went comfortably over estimates at sales from Hampshire to Yorkshire in May.

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The bumper book sales season

26 June 2017

As in many previous years, the months of June and July signal the arrival of large numbers of important book, manuscript and related sales.

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Pioneering study of native Americans

26 June 2017

Karl Bodmer, a Swiss artist, was engaged by Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied to provide a pictorial record of his 1833-34 travels among the Indians of the Upper Missouri regions of North America.

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The fresh face of antiquity

26 June 2017

The antiquities trade’s packed summer schedule got off to a bright start at Sotheby’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) in London. The ancient art sale was the second to be held since the auction house reopened its London unit in 2016. Over the last two decades, Sotheby’s had sold ancient art through its New York saleroom only.

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