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.

img_45-1.jpg

Virtual letter: What a chatbot told us about the digital art market

17 July 2023

Last month Sotheby’s announced it would be using the Dutch auction format – whereby the price starts high and is reduced until a buyer is found – for some sales of digital art, sparking a flurry of online media coverage. Its new Gen Art Program will start with an auction on July 26.

Christie’s selling Jean-Michel Basquiat

Christie’s reports sales slowdown in first half of 2023 amid consignor hesitation

13 July 2023

Christie’s reported total sales of $3.2bn (£2.5bn) for the first half of 2023, down 23% on the same period the previous year.

Bonhams

Bonhams reports best ever first-half results after buying spree in 2022

12 July 2023

Auction house Bonhams has reported turnover for the first half of 2023 grew 32%, the best result in its history.

Sir Roger Moore

For Your Eyes Only: Roger Moore memorabilia comes to auction

11 July 2023

Items from the collection of the late actor Sir Roger Moore are coming to auction at Bonhams this autumn.

Michael Sweerts picture

Old Master auction series posts best total since 2017

10 July 2023

The latest Old Master auctions in London posted the highest total for a series in this category in the capital since 2017.

Chinese clothing rack

Clothing stand racks up six figures at US auction

10 July 2023

Although the mid-week sales at US auction house Stair Galleries typically focus on affordable property, there are some exceptions.

Multi-blade penknife

Pick of the week: Knives collection proves a cut above

10 July 2023

An amazing penknife proved a cut above in a sale from the David Hayden-Wright collection of antique knives offered at west London saleroom Olympia Auctions.

Ivory netsuke

No fanfare as ivory netsuke sets a new record

10 July 2023

A new auction record for netsuke – over three times the previous high – has been set in France.

Bonhams

Buyer’s premium now raised at all the major players

10 July 2023

The flagship London summer sales were the first to take place since the major auction houses all raised their buyer’s premiums in the first half of 2023.

img_14-1.jpg

Tempting machine that is full of socks appeal

10 July 2023

The Harrison semi-automatic pedestal knitting machine was designed c.1900 for producing rib socks.

img_20-2.jpg

Two hundred years of the Cotmans celebrated as a single collection

10 July 2023

Family group at auction offered works by several generations including the renowned John Sell Cotman

img_34-1.jpg

Sumptuous porcelain takes pride of place in salerooms

10 July 2023

Auctions held in Australia and Germany rack up strong prices for major European makers

img_14-3.jpg

Very early TV set that’s a must for connoisseurs

10 July 2023

The HMV 900 was one of first television receivers designed by the Marconi-EMI Television Company, the firm that also provided the technology for Britain’s first television service.

img_16-5.jpg

Very desirable, very Moorish

10 July 2023

Furniture attributable to Gillows demonstrates demand for desirable pieces

img_16-1.jpg

Royal Worcester by renowned designer George Owen doubles up at auction

10 July 2023

Classic examples of distinctive porcelain take four-figure sums in Gloucestershire

img_19-1.jpg

You’ve got the hook: Maori jewellery

10 July 2023

The best-known type of Maori jewellery is the pounamu (greenstone) hei tiki pendants, the figural carvings representing ‘the first man’ that were typically worn by women.

img_14-5.jpg

Hello, can I speak to a royal please?

10 July 2023

A telephone exchange removed from Buckingham Palace during refurbishment 25 years ago sold in west London for £3000.

img_28-2.jpg

Book specialist Vickers stands down at Lyon & Turnbull for consultancy role

10 July 2023

Book specialist Simon Vickers is retiring from his full-time role at Lyon & Turnbull to become a consultant.

img_10-1.jpg

Rationality and religion combined

10 July 2023

Like many scientists and eminent thinkers of the time, Isaac Newton was also a devout Christian who thought deeply about religious matters, as a manuscript sold at auction in New York reveals.

img_12-1.jpg

Take a peek before ‘glass and brass’ microscopes appear

10 July 2023

A lucernal microscope is a rare survivor.

News

Categories