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.

Born to Run

Bruce Springsteen’s handwritten manuscript for ‘Born to Run’ goes up for auction

20 April 2018

A handwritten working manuscript of the 1975 Bruce Springsteen breakout hit 'Born to Run' comes up for auction at Sotheby’s online in June.

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The trailblazing bicycle design made instantly redundant by the pneumatic tyre comes to auction

20 April 2018

You have to feel some sympathy for the innovative designers Charles Linley and John Biggs. Having just perfected a classic bicycle using an ingenious method of shock absorbing for a solid-tyre bike, then the pneumatic tyre came along.

Washington letter

American War of Independence letters head to auction on both sides of the Atlantic

19 April 2018

Letters from some of the famous participants in the American War of Independence written during the conflict will feature in sales on both sides of the Atlantic over the coming weeks.

Tapestry

Sumptuous tapestries help country house auction to total a hefty £1.75m for Sworders

19 April 2018

The primary contents of North Mymms Park in Hertfordshire – including a collection of European tapestries that have been at the property for over a century - have sold at auction for close to £2m.

Christie's

Auction house to host technology summit to tackle questions on blockchain in the art world

19 April 2018

Christie’s is to host a one-day conference called Art+Tech Summit to investigate the potential applications of blockchain within the art market.

Bronzes

Bronze sculptures from the court of the Sun King come to auction at Christie’s

18 April 2018

Two bronze sculptures from the court of the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV of France estimated to fetch £15m are to go on tour ahead of a sale at Christie’s this summer.

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Magnificent travelling case for the gentleman who needs everything is up at auction

18 April 2018

Nowadays a ‘gentleman’ travelling is probably more concerned about a mobile phone charger than the delights contained in an extraordinary case coming up at auction on May 1.

Thomas Bompard

Movers and shakers: latest arts and antiques appointments

17 April 2018

A look at the latest moves across the trade.

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Huddersfield Town and Manchester United football legends remembered in auction lots

17 April 2018

What do Denis Law and George ‘Bomber’ Brown have in common? The answer is Huddersfield Town, whose miraculous survival in the Premier League seems to have been confirmed after beating Watford 1-0 in the latest round of games.

Astronaut

Archive packed with iconic space photographs to sell for thousands in New York

17 April 2018

An archive of 1500 photos recording the early days of the US space programme goes under the hammer at Swann Auction Galleries this week.

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Gramophone needle tins up at auction show the appeal of niche collecting

16 April 2018

By the law of averages, there must be a collector out there for just about any antique. So while gramophone collecting is not that unusual, gramophone needle tins definitely push into the ‘niche’ category.

Sotheby’s online-only sales no longer all premium-free

16 April 2018

Sotheby’s has made a u-turn on its pledge to scrap fees for purchasers at its online-only auctions.

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The SAS – from the man who designed the badge

16 April 2018

Even in the hugely popular world of SAS medal collecting, where extraordinary deeds and great stories are taken as read, every now and again a consignment will come along with that ‘wow’ factor.

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Surge in market earning its wings

16 April 2018

Spink specialist observes extra interest ahead of sale marking centenary of RAF’s founding.

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‘The largest collection of its type on the market in memory’

16 April 2018

Prof Antony Charles Thomas (1928- 2016) may have been a “towering figure in British academic archaeology during the second half of the 20th century” but another area of interest is betrayed by his Who’s Who entry.

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Another Grosvenor tranche in Leyburn

16 April 2018

Modern British art from a variety of movements dominated proceedings at the Spring Fine Art sale held at Tennants (17.5% buyer’s premium).

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Valuation day Belleroche posts record

16 April 2018

Essex saleroom Sworders (23% buyer’s premium) set a new auction high for Belle Epoque artist Albert de Belleroche (1864-1944).

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Music marks abolitionist’s return from exile

16 April 2018

Composed to mark the departure from these shores after two years of self-imposed exile in Ireland and England, a Farewell Song of Frederick Douglass, on Quitting England for America – the Land of his Birth was published in London in 1847.

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Second World War Leitz lens clearly a £70 bargain

16 April 2018

Bought recently for just £70 in a job lot, this German military-issue Leitz lens below sold for £5500 in Special Auction Services (17.5 buyer’s premium) Photographica sale on March 13. The Hektor 13.5cm f/4.5 lens, offered with an estimate of £4000-6000, sold to the European trade.

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Administrators ‘wrong to charge Mossgreen consignors for returns’

16 April 2018

Consignors to collapsed Australian auction house Mossgreen will not have to pay fees to have items returned, a Sydney court has ruled.

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