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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New record set for sculptor Georg Kolbe at Berlin auction

06 March 2026

Stehende Frau (Standing Woman) by Georg Kolbe soared to a new record at Grisebach (32% buyer’s premium) in Berlin.

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Austrian artistry in the spotlight at auction

06 March 2026

Vienna sale includes sought-after works by local creative talents Moser, Hoffmann and Marenzeller

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Art Nouveau vase by Henri Bergé for Daum blossomed at German sale

06 March 2026

From 1897, when he joined Daum in Nancy, until his death in 1937, Henri Bergé was one of the leading designers at the firm.

The team from Wilson's Yard

Architectural salvage dealer plans retirement auction

03 March 2026

Salvage dealer Wilson’s Yard in Dromore, County Down is closing and selling its remaining stock with Cavan auction house Victor Mee Auctions.

Olympic medal

Winner’s medal from first Olympic Games in Athens takes six-figure sum at auction

02 March 2026

A winner’s medal from the first Olympic Games which took place in Athens in 1896 took a hammer price of £105,730 (or £135,334 including buyer’s premium), three-times its estimate.

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Trump tariffs ‘have slashed UK antiques exports to the US’, says BADA

27 February 2026

The value of exports of antiques from Britain to the US may have fallen by as much as 49% since US President Donald Trump began his tariff announcements in April 2025.

Dutch genre painting

Painting showing archduke's gallery visit now attributed to Antwerp artist after research

27 February 2026

After receiving a photograph of this 17th century Dutch genre painting, Lille auctioneer Hugues Watine contacted Old Master specialist Cabinet Turquin.

Salon Du Dessin 2024 044

Salon du Dessin seeks new drawing collectors

27 February 2026

The Salon du Dessin, France’s annual fair devoted to drawings and works on paper, is an event which regularly brings an international influx of drawing afficionados to the French capital.

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Gentileschi’s Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy acquired by American gallery

27 February 2026

Coinciding with the latest Old Master auction series in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, announced the acquisition of Artemisia Gentileschi’s Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy.

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Bidding battle for battered teaching book shows rising demand for social artefacts

27 February 2026

Pristine first editions from sought-after authors or documents written by the luminaries of times past are usually the ones that command the greatest attention at book auctions.

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Take it to the bridge: Boney ready for painting

27 February 2026

A preparatory drawing for a famous painting of Napoleon Bonaparte that is in the Palace of Versailles is to go under the hammer.

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This could be a ‘transformational era in comic collecting’ says US auction house

27 February 2026

Records continue to tumble in the vibrant US market. Hardly a week goes by without another new marker being established as comics thrive in a remarkably buoyant collectables collecting scene, or sought-after high-grade copies attract rocketing prices.

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Boxwood sculpture triptych tickles a buyer’s fancy at French auction

27 February 2026

Fantastically detailed boxwood sculpture can be traced to the couple who commissioned the work

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Old Masters look lively as the market shows signs of rising demand

27 February 2026

High selling rates, prices beating estimates and decent auction totals suggest the market is in a good place

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French 18th century female painter snapped up by Versailles ahead of auction

27 February 2026

One of the highlights of a sale of Old Master works held by Tajan (26/21/14% buyer’s premium) was a pastel self-portrait by the 18th century French portrait painter Adélaïde Labille-Guiard (1749-1803).

Joshua Reynolds portrait

Reynolds portrait of Princess Diana’s ancestor emerges at Monaco auction

25 February 2026

A portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) of Lavinia Bingham (1762-1831), Countess Spencer, will be offered at an auction in Monaco next month.

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Padamsee prime period work comes for sale

20 February 2026

A newly discovered prime period work by Indian Modernist Akbar Padamsee (1928-2020) comes for sale at Roland Auctions in New York state on March 28.

Olympic medal

Winner’s medal from first Olympic games comes to auction

20 February 2026

A winner’s medal from the first modern Olympic Games will be offered at Bruun Rasmussen in Denmark next month.

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The TEFAF view from a dealer: Stuart Lochhead gives his take on the huge selling event

20 February 2026

Stuart Lochhead, the London specialist in European sculpture, sells big and fast at TEFAF Maastricht.

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My search to identify a mystery Staffordshire figure

20 February 2026

Collector’s diligence and resolve pay off as he tracks down the crucial evidence

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