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.

Mahogany table belonging to Margaret Thatcher

Steely demand as Margaret Thatcher's desk makes 60 times estimate

05 December 2024

Sloane Street Auctions’ sale saw 39 Thatcher-related lots sell for £330,000 in total including premium

The Virgin and Child enthroned by Sandro Botticelli

Botticelli Virgin and Child bid to £8.6m at Sotheby’s

05 December 2024

A painting known as ‘the Wantage Botticelli’ which emerged from a British aristocratic collection after 120 years drew a strong bidding battle at Sotheby’s latest Old Master evening sale in London.

1818 Auctioneers

1818 Auctioneers doubles in size with second saleroom

04 December 2024

The expansion is a vote of confidence to the method of timed sales

van Dyck painting

Van Dyck horse portrait tops Christie’s Old Master sale

04 December 2024

An Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) equine painting led Christie’s latest evening sale of Old Masters in London.

Eileen Mayo portrait by Dod Procter

Dod Procter portraits at the double indicate growing demand

04 December 2024

Over the last decade, portraits from the 1920s by Dod Procter (1891-1972) have become increasingly valuable.

Barbara Hepworth sculpture

Barbara Hepworth sculpture from ‘pivotal moment’ in her career blocked from export

03 December 2024

A unique sculpture by Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) has been blocked from export following its sale at Christie’s in London earlier this year.

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Celebrating a skilled Sèvres decorator as cup and saucer fly to 80 times estimate

02 December 2024

A cabinet cup and saucer decorated by perhaps the most skilled of all Sèvres painters was spotted for sale in Derbyshire.

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Pick of the Week: Bond girl Kissy is the main attraction in doll form

02 December 2024

It was overshadowed by the James Bond doll when it was released in 1966 and was granted a shorter production run, but the Kissy Suzuki doll from the film 'You Only Live Twice' was star of the show at C&T Auctioneers.

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Art collection saved from the flames (twice) comes to auction

02 December 2024

More pieces appear from a collection that survived a couple of devastating blazes at the family home

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Seed testing took root with Sutton's as a pioneering firm

02 December 2024

In the 19th century Sutton's Seeds was leading the way in formulating policy for seed testing.

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‘My style is my signature’: Why Belperron felt her unsigned pieces were sufficiently distinctive

02 December 2024

The influential 20th century jewellery designer Suzanne Belperron (1900-83) had a wide-ranging clientele during her lifetime spanning royalty, artists and people from the worlds of fashion and entertainment.

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Trippel oil can more than doubles the top estimate

02 December 2024

The latest sale of Petroliana at Richard Edmonds Auctions (12/20% buyer’s premium) in Chippenham included a super-rare English oil can.

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Treen unseen: the collector who bought on trust

02 December 2024

A “once-in-a-generation” collection of treen containing all manner of small turned objects, from a toasting dog to a decorated busk stay, was the major feature in a timed online sale of vernacular furniture, folk art and textiles at Bonhams Knightsbridge (28/27% buyer’s premium).

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Advertising antiques: Cadbury's signs and many more in demand

02 December 2024

Following more than four decades of collecting, advertising signs such as Cadbury classics have entered the mainstream

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Sizeable pick of Capiello posters in Paris

02 December 2024

A collection of just over 50 artworks for posters by the designer Leonetto Cappiello (1875-1942) enjoyed considerable success when they went under the hammer at Ader (25/20/15% buyer’s premium) in Paris.

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Charming chimer or luxury Cartier to tick your boxes

02 December 2024

Pictured here are two very different timekeepers from sales held in Paris by Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr (28/27/21/14.5% buyer’s premium).

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Call of the kitsch: the Maharajah travels the world to promote Air India

02 December 2024

Poster specialist Antikbar (20% buyer’s premium) offered a 10-lot collection of 1960s Air India posters featuring the popular comic ‘Maharajah’ character.

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Tarot cards sell for more than foreseen

02 December 2024

A rare set of Belgian tarot cards, c.1750, came from the Estate of Christopher Rayner, long-standing member of the International Society of Playing Cards and at various times secretary, chairman, vice-president and president of the society.

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Early English oak carvings catch the eye at Chorley’s

02 December 2024

Pre-17th century English oak carving tends to generate a certain amount of market excitement on the basis that much less of it survives.

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Ronner-Knip feline work is catnip to eager collectors

02 December 2024

Pictures by the Dutch artist Henriette Ronner-Knip (1821- 1909) are pretty abundant on the market but the considerable popularity of her characterful feline studies means they are invariably a valuable proposition.

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