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.

Piprahwa Gems

Sotheby’s halts sale of Piprahwa Gems after protest from Indian government

07 May 2025

Following opposition from the Indian state, Sotheby's took the 11th hour decision to cancel a Hong Kong auction of a collection of relics linked to the historical Buddha.

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Trompe l’oeil painting reveals hint of a Medici connection

05 May 2025

Painting of a cabinet includes letter fixed to the door with possible mention of Grand Duke Cosimo III

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Vases demonstrate changing styles of Berlin porcelain

05 May 2025

The evolution of Berlin porcelain – produced by Royal Porcelain Factory founded in 1763 by King Frederick II of Prussia – was well illustrated by two vases which both went way over the estimates in recent sales.

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Bosschaert rediscovery blooms in the saleroom

05 May 2025

A floral still-life by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, discovered only recently in a European private collection, was one of the stars at a recent sale at Koller (25/22% buyer’s premium) in Zurich.

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Venetian glass smashes estimate

05 May 2025

Two enticingly estimated, early glasses from a west German private collection were fiercely contested in the online sale held by Wendl (21% buyer’s premium) in Rudolstadt.

Alexander Rotter of Christie's

Alexander Rotter named new global president at Christie’s

02 May 2025

Alexander Rotter has been appointed global president of Christie’s with immediate effect.

V2 rocket launch

Photograph of first V2 space rocket shoots past estimate in NASA photograph sale

01 May 2025

A collection of early NASA photographs from the collection of space historian Victor Martin-Malburet appeared at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris in an online sale running from April 14-28.

Fernando Llanos drawing

Salvator Mundi drawing from Leonardo’s studio makes five times estimate

01 May 2025

An unfinished drawing of the Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo da Vinci's workshop drew strong competition at Dorotheum of Vienna this week.

The Blue Goats by Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione)

Rare Qianlong period painting headlines upcoming Hong Kong auction series

30 April 2025

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Asian Art Week is led by one of the great imperial Qianlong period paintings in private hands – The Blue Goats by the Italian Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione and the Chinese court artist Jin Tingbiao.

Harry Potter printer's sheets

Only known set of unbound sheets for first Harry Potter book heads to auction

29 April 2025

The only known set of unbound sheets for JK Rowling’s debut 1997 novel 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' will be offered by Heritage Auctions in Dallas on May 8-9.

Rao Jie calligraphy

Sotheby's conducts its ‘longest ever bidding battle' as 20ft Chinese scroll flies over estimate

29 April 2025

Hong Kong auctioneer CC Wang conducted Sotheby’s ‘longest ever bidding battle’ when a calligraphy handscroll by a Yuan dynasty master took over 200 bids and 97 minutes to sell.

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Fashion expert Kerry Taylor expands offerings stateside

28 April 2025

Kerry Taylor Auctions is expanding with new premises in Jersey City, US.

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Prisoners-of-war portrait bid to 80 times estimate

28 April 2025

Best known for his fairly routine genre portraits of German peasants and ordinary folk, Thomas Baumgartner (1892-1962) also produced an intriguing series of paintings depicting soldiers from the First World War.

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Foliot’s chair keenly contested

28 April 2025

A traditional ensemble of art and antiques that had come from a property in the department of Ille et Vilaine attracted no shortage of attention when it went under the hammer at Ivoire Nantes (24% buyer’s premium) earlier this year.

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Watches marked a time of aviation achievement

28 April 2025

Collection included timepieces presented to intrepid French pilots

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Dunand deco design fires the imagination

28 April 2025

Jean Dunand was an Art Deco period craftsman known above all for his skill in the technique of lacquer and a good example of his craftsmanship was the star turn in a sale of decorative arts held by Tajan (26/21/14% buyer’s premium).

D4506 X

London dealer David Aaron makes debut at TEFAF New York

24 April 2025

The 10th edition of TEFAF New York returns between May 9-13. One London dealer is hoping to make a splash with its first showing

The Annunciation by Overbeck

Overbeck’s early Nazarene painting sells at Tajan

24 April 2025

A previously lost and unpublished work by Johann Friedrich Overbeck (1789-1869) sold for €104,000 (£87,000) as part of the Tajan (26% buyer’s premium) latest Old Master Paintings and Drawings sale.

John Bonham's drumhead

John Bonham’s Led Zeppelin drumhead sells at Heritage Auctions

23 April 2025

The only known bass drumhead featuring John Bonham’s personal symbol – the interlocking rings that became his mark after Led Zeppelin’s fourth album – knocked down at $70,000 (£53,000) plus 25% buyer’s premium on April 17 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas.

Christ Carrying the Cross by Luis de Morales

Dealer Daniel Katz sells Spanish Old Master to Getty Museum

23 April 2025

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has bought a 16th-century painting by Spanish Renaissance painter Luis de Morales (1509-86).

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