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.

Pocket watch

Second Titanic watch said to have gone down with Astor sells in a US saleroom

24 April 2026

Two years after a Wiltshire auction house set a record for Titanic memorabilia with ‘the watch recovered from the body of John Jacob Astor’ at £900,000, another timekeeper making precisely the same claim has sold in Chicago for $800,000 (£592,000).

Morris & Co tile panels

Morris & Co Labours of the Month tiles work wonders in Edinburgh to reap a £75,000 auction reward

24 April 2026

The latest Design Since 1860 sale at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh was topped by four Morris & Co tile panels depicting the Labours of the Months dated to c.1865.

Australian Aboriginal cricket team poster

Souvenir poster celebrates proud 19th century Aussie pioneers of the cricket pitch

24 April 2026

The first Australian sporting team to tour internationally included players Johnny Mullagh (traditional name Unaarrimin), Harry Bullocky (Bullchanach), Dick-a-Dick (Jungunjinanuke), Johnny Cuzens (Zellanach) and Twopenny (Murrumgunarriman).

Japanese boro futongawa

The world of dealer Gordon Reece comes to Wiltshire

24 April 2026

As a dealer, collector and enthusiast of ethnographic art, Gordon Reece spent a lifetime travelling the globe in search of artefacts.

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Vintage wristwatches on a budget – is it still possible?

24 April 2026

As vintage wristwatches continue to dominate the watch market, finding interesting examples at reasonable prices has become a challenge. However, opportunities are out there

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Royal Alice sets sail ‘on sailcloth’ as naïve paintings charm bidders

24 April 2026

Among the most intriguing naïve pictures sold recently was a simple and ostensibly unassuming painting of a ship offered at a recent Dominic Winter (22% buyer’s premium) auction.

A marble bust

ATG letter: AI attributions – are we building up problems for the future through questionable ‘facts’?

24 April 2026

Railtons [auction house] received this heavy and rather grubby Victorian marble bust just as our end of March catalogue was going to press.

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Brounker Watts pocket watch up for grabs

24 April 2026

The London watch and clock maker Brounker Watts (c.1670-1717), an apprentice to Joseph Knibb, became a member of the Clockmakers Company in 1697.

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Natural history books from stock of Amsterdam specialist shine in London saleroom

24 April 2026

The global market for natural history books is alive and well as demonstrated by the 326-lot sale dubbed Natural History: the remaining stock of Antiquariaat Junk 1899-2026 at Forum Auctions (27/26% buyer’s premium).

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Kiwi pin cushion picked out as a rarity at Gloucestershire sale

24 April 2026

Flightless bird walks away with a new owner as silver novelty rarities catch the eye at Kinghams

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Anglo-Indian furniture in a good market place

24 April 2026

Though sourced separately, the two best-selling furniture lots at Gorringe’s (25% buyer’s premium) latest Fine Art & Interiors sale in Lewes were both products of colonial India.

Number plate ‘LOT 2’

And now we come to Lot 2, which is... well, it is Lot 2, literally

24 April 2026

What to buy the auctioneer who has it all?

Stretford End sign

Original Manchester United sign to be offered at Budds

23 April 2026

An original Manchester United sign that stood proudly aloft at Old Trafford is among the lots at Budds’ upcoming Made In Manchester sale.

Chilcotts
Kinghams' specialist Michael Jeffrey

Huge Flambé Landscape vase sets new record for any piece of Moorcroft pottery

21 April 2026

The quarter-century old auction record for Moorcroft pottery has been broken with the sale of a massive Flambé Landscape pattern vase for £32,000.

Buyer Clyde Lee and Christian Grundtvig

Singapore buyer flies to Denmark to collect Olympic medal secured at auction

21 April 2026

The buyer of an Olympic winner’s medal from the first Olympic Games has been revealed by auction house Bruun Rasmussen.

Ivon Hitchens landscape

Early Ivon Hitchens landscape tops estimate at Gloucestershire auction

20 April 2026

Among the Modern British art highlights sold in the English regions so far this spring was a striking landscape that made a significant sum for an early Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979) at Kinghams' (26% buyer’s premium) latest British Art & Design sale.

Victorian rosewood marquetry centre table
Walpole seal salver

Walpole’s first ‘seal’ salver found in New York comes to auction

17 April 2026

An historic piece of Georgian silver – the ‘pair’ to the famed Walpole ‘seal salver’ in the Victoria & Albert Museum – is being offered for sale following its recent rediscovery in New York.

Florence Nightingale letter

Florence Nightingale opines on the first Geneva Convention

17 April 2026

A letter written by Florence Nightingale in which she discusses the creation of the Red Cross and the Geneva Convention is being sold by Sworders.

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