International

About 80% of the global art market by value takes place outside the UK. The largest art market in the world is the US with China in third place (after the UK) followed by France, Germany and Switzerland.

Many more nations have a rich art and antiques heritage with active auction, dealer, fair, gallery and museum sectors even if their market size by value is smaller.

Read the top stories and latest art and antiques news from all these countries.

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TEFAF pledges commitment to Maastricht venue as tough EU rules bite

30 June 2025

The incoming EU Regulation 2019/880 on the import of cultural goods, which became effective from June 28, continues to cause concern for the art and antiques market, with TEFAF the latest to warn of its impact.

Cape silver coffee pot

Cape silver collection on sale in South Africa

30 June 2025

A substantial collection of 18th and 19th century Cape silver, made by European silversmiths practising in South Africa, is coming for sale at Strauss & Co in Johannesberg.

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Flemish Old Master generates great excitement in Frankfurt

30 June 2025

The demand for a well-documented genre painting by the 17th century Flemish artist Jan Steen surprised the auctioneers at Döbritz (26% buyer’s premium) in Frankfurt.

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Stereo viewer dances up to five figures

30 June 2025

An unusual, possibly unique stereo viewer from the last decade of the 19th century attracted numerous bids at Auction Team Breker (21.8% buyer’s premium) in Cologne.

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Glowing example of Gallé vase at German auction

30 June 2025

Numerous bidders at a recent Mehlis (24% buyer’s premium) auction in Plauen were not prepared to let a late 19th century vase by Emile Gallé get away for the estimated €350.

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Swiss collection includes a Cranach the Elder success

30 June 2025

A spring sale at Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer (25% buyer’s premium) in Basel was devoted to works of art from an impressive, wide-ranging Swiss collection.

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Painting by follower of Hieronymus Bosch takes six-figure sum at auction

30 June 2025

A recently discovered floral still-life by Jan Davidsz de Heem sold for €2.8m.

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Touch of French animalier magic at German auction

30 June 2025

Roger Godchaux is regarded as one of the most accomplished French animalier sculptors of the first half of the 20th century.

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Rather startled Batman from Japan appears in German auction

30 June 2025

Since his inception in 1939, Batman, the Caped Crusader, has never really been out of fashion.

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Hidden chest discovered during demolition of a medieval house revealed silver treasures

30 June 2025

The workers who were given the task in 1869 of demolishing a medieval patrician house in the Bavarian city of Regensburg found much more than they had expected.

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Mask symbolises promise of protection to young boy

30 June 2025

One of the star lots at an auction of African and Oceanic works of art held by Zemanek-Münster (25% buyer’s premium) in Würzburg was a dance mask of the Telei people in the Buin district of Bougainville, one of the Solomon Islands.

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Enticing estimate for gold watch brings rapid exchange of bids

30 June 2025

An unusual 19th century gold watch by the Swiss maker Sylvain Mairet caught the eye of numerous bidders at a recent sale at Dr Crott (25% buyer’s premium) in Mannheim.

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Carriage clock reaches astronomical height

30 June 2025

A complicated astronomical carriage clock by Breguet & Fils, first sold in January 1826, went dramatically over the odds at Antiquorum (25% buyer’s premium) in Geneva.

Cecilia Gave and Knut Knutson

Swedish auction house take-over as Stockholms Auktionsverk buys Uppsala

26 June 2025

The latest saleroom round-up including news of Stockholms Auktionsverk acquiring fellow Swedish auction house Uppsala Auktionskammare

Italian parliament

Italy aims to become ‘increasingly competitive’ in the global art market after VAT cut

26 June 2025

Italy has announced a cut in VAT for art and antiques from 22% to 5%, making it lower than any other EU state. The country also aims to halve VAT on imports to 5%.

Movers June 25

Relocations and new gallery openings are among the latest Movers & Shakers

25 June 2025

The latest news from around auction houses, dealers and conservation specialists

Robin Starr

Bonhams Skinner settles in at ‘better Boston location’

23 June 2025

Bonhams Skinner has moved to a new location in Boston’s Back Bay neighbourhood.

Abraham Lincoln photograph

Only photograph of Abraham Lincoln with a family member emerges at Bonhams

23 June 2025

Bonhams is offering a rare portrait of former US President Abraham Lincoln seated with his young son Tad.

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Blaschkas recreated marine life as intricate glass models

23 June 2025

The Bohemian glassmaker Leopold Blaschka’s fascination with marine life began in 1853, when the ship in which he was travelling to the US became becalmed off the Azores.

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Porcelain producer Nast was regarded as rival to Sèvres

23 June 2025

In its day, the Parisian porcelain manufacture founded by the Austrian born Jean Népomucène Hermann Nast in 1783 was regarded as a worthy competitor to Sèvres.

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