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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Descheemaeker the dealmaker

20 March 2026

Whether it’s at a hotel, a restaurant or even in a car, he secures sales without an actual fair presence

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We are taking a break from TEFAF Maastricht for a year but will be back

20 March 2026

Galerie Bel Etage of Vienna took a year off exhibiting at TEFAF Maastricht, opting to put out a catalogue, Masterpieces 2026.

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Advertising board and epergne with British links shoot to high sums at a US auction

20 March 2026

Witherell (25/26% buyer’s premium) in Sacramento, California, posted healthy results for two markedly different lots of British origin: a scarce sporting cartridge advertising display and a silver epergne.

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Icart print given beauty treatment at LA auction

20 March 2026

The 1931 etching, drypoint, and aquatint titled Two Beauties by French artist Louis Icart (1888-1950) features subjects he knew and loved.

TEFAF 2026

Museums and collectors help boost first day sales at TEFAF Maastricht

13 March 2026

A bustling and busy first preview day at TEFAF Maastricht heralded the start of significant sales at the annual fair.

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Come rain or shine, city or country, peepshow gives glimpse of the UK

13 March 2026

This seven-panel peepshow, an elaborate advertising campaign for Shell Oil, is offered for $2850 by Philip Salmon & Company at the Ephemera Society of America’s annual fair.

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Kelly captures look of a mysterious lady in black

13 March 2026

Eton pupil and Cambridge graduate Sir Gerald Festus Kelly (1879-1972) threw himself into art studies in Paris and ultimately became a successful society portraitist.

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Cloisonné enamel presentation cup by Rückert screams quality right away to a thrilled auctioneer

13 March 2026

Within a matter of a week, two US auction houses sold works of Russian decorative art from the era of Tsar Nicholas II for six-figure sums.

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City of London salutes Arctic explorer Ross with a freedom box

13 March 2026

A piece of British naval history and polar exploration history appeared at Millea Bros (25% buyer’s premium) in Boonton, New Jersey.

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Egypt brought to life in just two dimensions

13 March 2026

The artist Joseph Lindon Smith (1863-1950) is considered one of the most important figures in 20th century American Egyptology.

The Cornfield by John Constable

Texas museum’s Constable ‘copy’ now revealed as an autograph work ahead of auction

12 March 2026

A previously unknown study for The Cornfield by John Constable is being offered by Heritage Auctions in June.

Clare McAndrew

Global art market returns to growth but sales remain below 2022 peak

12 March 2026

The art market grew 4% in 2025 with an estimated $59.6bn of global sales. The rise follows two consecutive years of declining values.

TEFAF Maastricht 2025

Belgian railway strikes mean travellers plan alternative routes for TEFAF Maastricht preview

11 March 2026

Transport strikes in Belgium are causing difficulties for some travellers trying to make it to the opening preview of TEFAF Maastricht this year.

Christie's CEO Bonnie Brennan

Chippendale out, Ive in – Christie’s unveils new rostrum design

10 March 2026

Christie’s has replaced its traditional Chippendale-style rostrums with a new version designed by Sir Jony Ive and made by furniture maker Benchmark.

Goblet

Rare Dutch glass goblet sails in to take €50,000

06 March 2026

Rediscovered during a routine valuation, a wheel-engraved glass goblet by master engraver Jacob Sang (1720-86) has sold at auction in the Netherlands.

Flower by James Bateman

Forum Auctions to sell last stock from Dutch dealership

06 March 2026

With the recent retirement of Allard Schierenberg and Jeanne van Bruggen, the remaining stock of Dutch dealership Antiquariaat Junk will be sold at auction.

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Polish painter Buchbinder goes for gold in Frankfurt

06 March 2026

Prices for the 19th century Polish genre painter Simeon (Szymon) Buchbinder moved to a new level at a sale at Blank (22% buyer’s premium) in Bad Vilbel, near Frankfurt.

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Bulky bronze bovine brings in a beefy six-figure sum

06 March 2026

Although he produced numerous bronze figures for public monuments and decorative elements for religious building, the German sculptor Ewald Mataré (1887-1965) is best known for his numerous figures of cows in a multitude of styles from realistic to cubistic.

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A rare Vizagapatam visitor stars in German auction

06 March 2026

It has been some years since a good piece of Vizagapatam furniture turned up at a German auction, so it was quite an event when Bieberle (21.42% buyer’s premium) in Magdeburg offered a writing cabinet.

Märklin carousel

Märklin carousels are money-spinners at German auction

06 March 2026

While two early Märklin carousels went round and round, the bids at Hohenstaufen (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Göppingen went up and up.

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