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.

William Rothenstein portrait

On offer in Oxford – William Rothenstein’s portraits of the Arts & Crafts home

02 December 2016

An archive of family drawings by Sir William Rothenstein (1872-1945) forms part of Mallams’ December 8 sale in Oxford.

Wallis Simpson wedding

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson wedding photos double estimate at auction at Bellmans

02 December 2016

Rarely seen photographs of the wedding that caused a constitutional crisis and rocked the British monarchy have been sold at £9200.

Paul Verlaine revolver

Paul Verlaine’s revolver takes €360,000 at Christie’s in Paris

01 December 2016

One of the most famous firearms in French literary history has sold for €360,000 (£305,605) at Christie’s in Paris.

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria’s silk jacket comes close to double estimate at Ewbank’s textile auction

01 December 2016

A pink silk jacket once worn by Queen Victoria was among the lots that led Ewbank’s recent textile auction to almost double its pre-sale expectations.

Vincennes porcelain jug

Vincennes porcelain jug with royal connection emerges at Bonhams

01 December 2016

This French porcelain hot water jug, or ‘pot à eau’ was made at the Vincennes factory in 1754, probably for the Dauphine Maria Josepha. The mother of King Louis XVI, who was guillotined during the French Revolution, she was an important patron of Vincennes.

Plastic bag

'Star Wars' plastic bag from Leicestershire toy factory makes eight times estimate at auction

30 November 2016

It might not be a Bag for Life but this plastic bag has set a collector back £240.

Graham Lay

Tributes pour in for Antiques Roadshow militaria expert Graham Lay

30 November 2016

Antiques Roadshow expert and militaria specialist Graham Lay has passed away. A well-known personality on the show for more than 25 years, his death was announced by the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

The IS silver porringer

Rare Irish silver porringer sold for five times estimate at Sworders’ auction

30 November 2016

A rare and recently rediscovered Irish Commonwealth/Charles II silver porringer sold today for £25,000 – five times its estimate – at Sworders’ auction in Essex.

Beethoven manuscript at centre of attribution debate fails to sell at Sotheby’s

29 November 2016

A musical manuscript at the centre of a row over whether it was handwritten by Ludwig van Beethoven or a copyist has failed to sell at an auction at Sotheby’s.

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Sword presented by grateful passengers saved from pirate attack peril on offer at London auction house Dix Noonan Webb

29 November 2016

Besides the danger of a dog bite, delivering the mail is not generally seen as a perilous business. However, as a presentation sword up at auction in London shows, on occasion it can be a matter of life or death.

Lord Nelson portrait at Charles Miller

Rare Nelson miniature portrait surfaces and sells at auction for £14,000

29 November 2016

A small and previously unrecorded portrait of Lord Nelson sold for £14,000 at Charles Miller’s latest Maritime and Scientific sale in West Kensington.

Peter Wilson vintage fashion

Vintage fashion fans strut into Cheshire for Peter Wilson auction

28 November 2016

An auction of the designer wardrobe of a socialite at Peter Wilson’s Nantwich saleroom attracted more than 100 people and raised £27,000.

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Six Old Masters to watch at Sotheby's auction

28 November 2016

Works from the Italian Renaissance and the Dutch and Flemish Golden Age feature in Sotheby’s Old Masters Evening Sale on December 7. Among the works are those that have remained in the same collection for centuries.

Eiffel Tower staircase at auction

Piece of Eiffel Tower staircase sells for over €500,000 at Paris auction

26 November 2016

Like the Statue of Liberty or Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower is symbolic of the skyline of one of the world’s great cities. The ultimate Parisian souvenir, sold in model form to tourists round the world, what would you give to have a piece of the real thing to take home?

April 57 (Arbia 2) by Ben Nicholson

Record for Ben Nicholson rounds off record year for Mod Brits at Christie’s

25 November 2016

Christie’s auctions of Modern British & Irish art this week helped lift their annual total in this category to £68m, the highest figure the firm has ever posted.

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War of the Worlds film poster from 1953 on offer at Dudley auction

25 November 2016

The War of the Worlds 1953 British quad film poster is regarded as a scarce must-have in that collecting market.

Anne Frank poem

Rare Anne Frank poem sells at auction

25 November 2016

A handwritten poem by Anne Frank has sold at auction in the Netherlands at €140,000 (£119,000).

Lego

Bristol auctioneer plans Lego-only sale

24 November 2016

East Bristol Auctions is holding a Lego sale next month. With more than 300 lots, the firm claims the auction will be the world’s first dedicated Lego toy sale.

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Nepalese bronze sets house record for Matthew Barton

24 November 2016

West London auction firm Matthew Barton has set a house record with the sale of a Nepalese bronze after it was hammered down at £85,000.

Ancient Egyptian model boat

London antiquities sales set sail with Bonhams offering ancient Egyptian model boat

24 November 2016

Specialist sales of antiquities in London kick off at Bonhams later this month with a 192-lot auction in New Bond Street on November 30.

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