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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From fairground to firemen: highlights from the Ivoire group of salerooms

15 December 2025

The Ivoire group of auction firms has salerooms across the French regions that regularly hold auctions covering a range of specialist categories as well as more general sales.

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Four Armory Show catalogues come to auction bound as one

15 December 2025

Four complete catalogues for the ground-breaking 1913 Armory Show, bound into a single volume, hammered for $7000 (£5315) against a guide of $10,000-15,000 at Swann (27% buyer’s premium) on October 23 in New York City.

Gabriele Ricciardelli view of Dublin Bay

18th century view of Dublin Bay bought by Irish institution ahead of auction

12 December 2025

Due to be offered at Adam’s earlier this month, a panoramic view over Dublin Bay by Italian painter Gabriele Ricciardelli (1690-1782) was bought by an Irish cultural institution ahead of the sale on December 4.

Polynesian wooden bowl

Bowl hits new high for Maori art sold in New Zealand

08 December 2025

A record has been set for a Maori work of art sold at auction in New Zealand.

Christopher Dresser sugar basin with scoop

British Aesthetic and Arts & Crafts silver items stand out in Cologne sale

08 December 2025

Numerous pieces of British Aesthetic movement and Arts & Crafts silver were up for sale at Lempertz (26% buyer’s premium) in Cologne on November 21.

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Doulton Portia takes centre stage

08 December 2025

Sir Henry Doulton placed great importance on international exhibitions to promote the work of both of his factories.

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Italian sculptures on offer, sober or extravagant style

08 December 2025

For most of the buttoned-up Grand Tourists who visited Florence in the final years of the 19th century, it was only proper to take home a marble copy of a sober Renaissance or antique masterpiece. The Bazzanti or Frilli galleries were the place to go for a David or a Venus.

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George II baskets top Krouse silver at Brunk

08 December 2025

Sale of collection with superb furniture included high-quality 18th century items in a different field

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Earth calls a Saturn lamp

08 December 2025

The Saturn table lamp was produced for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. While it is unclear which factory made them (some websites suggest the Houze Glass Company of Port Marion, Pennsylvania), they are considered classics of machine age Art Deco design.

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Gems courtesy of an Irish gentleman

08 December 2025

Nuremburg Chronicle, Chaucer and a work on witchcraft are among the highlights in Co Offaly saleroom

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Märklin menagerie price shows roar power

08 December 2025

In 1872 PT Barnum’s ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ became the first circus to travel by rail. It took 65 specially made wagons to haul the production from city to city.

Elwin de Wolf

Collector interview: Silver boxes tell surprising stories on topics such as female artists

08 December 2025

Elwin de Wolf, based in the Netherlands, has been collecting silver enamel boxes for around 20 years.

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Chinese works create pleasant surprises for US auctioneers

08 December 2025

Offered for sale as ‘a Chinese porcelain teapot’ with a $100-1000 estimate, a famille rose Buddhist ewer with a Qianlong mark hammered for $200,000 at Hill Auction Gallery (30/28/25% buyer’s premium) in Sunrise, Florida, on October 29. No date or period was given.

Guido Reni

Auction record set for Guido Reni at Artcurial

02 December 2025

A painting of David with the head of Goliath set a record for Guido Reni (1575-1642) when it was knocked down at €10.1m (£8.86m) at an auction in France.

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Patience rewarded as Oscar Wilde teapot makes $16,000

01 December 2025

The 1882 Royal Worcester porcelain Patience teapot has become a satirical emblem of the Aesthetic movement.

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How two birds were better than one in New Hampshire

01 December 2025

Late 19th century French or Swiss singing bird boxes are regular auction visitors. Double bird boxes are a much rarer breed.

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Third record now set by another Wedgwood Fairyland lustre piece from Pellet source

01 December 2025

For the third time in a year, a new auction record for Wedgwood Fairyland lustre has been set by Woody Auction in Douglass, Kansas.

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London dealer launches poster expert event

01 December 2025

London dealer Kirill Kalinin of AntikBar has launched a vintage poster symposium in New York City.

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The Bard for a third and fourth time in foil form

01 December 2025

While nowhere near the level of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s work, later versions are still big sellers

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Old Master sleepers awaken in American auctions

01 December 2025

Works by Ambrosius Benson and an unknown artist possibly from Antwerp go way beyond estimates

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