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.

Essex Book By Chase Owen

First-hand account of ill-fated whaleship that inspired Moby-Dick heads to auction

09 January 2025

A first-hand account documenting the 1820 sinking of American whaleship the Essex heads to auction on January 16.

Spencer Davis Guitars Group Shot

Spencer Davis' guitars highlight Bonhams' Pop Culture sale

09 January 2025

An online Pop Culture sale at Bonhams offers a tuneful slice of rock history from a musician who helped define the 1960s in Britain.

Ruby Slippers

Heritage Auctions records highest-ever total for 2024

08 January 2025

Landmark entertainment, sports and comics auctions contributed to a fourth consecutive record-setting year for the US auction house

Maarten Ten Holder

Art advisor Gurr Johns appoints new CEO in the US

08 January 2025

Gurr Johns, the art advisory and appraisals firm, has appointed Maarten ten Holder as chief executive of the group’s North American operation.

Brown Derby Pilsner beer can

A market coming of age: Record for an American beer can broken for third time in a year

07 January 2025

An American beer can achieved a record $80,000 (£63,850) at Morean Auctions in Brimfield, Massachusetts, at the end of last year. With buyer's premium added, the price was $93,600.

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Pick of the Week: St Patrick’s relic rings out in electrotype

06 January 2025

During the 1860s the South Kensington Museum in London (now the Victoria and Albert Museum) campaigned to have electrotypes made of important historic artefacts.

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Harry Houdini King of Cards poster had been collected by Yorkshireman spellbound by magic

06 January 2025

Erik Weisz (1864-1926) launched his monumental career as the illusionist Harry Houdini in 1891 as a specialist in card tricks.

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Moore bronze comes out of Manhattan

06 January 2025

A late but textbook bronze by Henry Moore (1898-1986) sold for $75,000 (£59,000) at a 145-lot sale held in New York by Auctions at Showplace (25% buyer’s premium).

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Handy for a bit of sharp practice at the card table

06 January 2025

Gambling today - particularly card playing - is a largely sanitised affair, occurring in luxurious settings under strict observation in town centre casinos.

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Boivin necklace provenanced to pair of prominent socialites is the talk of New York

06 January 2025

Jewellery dating to c.1960 was once owned by well-known women in New York and Palm Beach

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How French king’s mistress concealed her pregnancy

06 January 2025

Initially conceived of and worn by Madame de Montespan, Louis XIV’s most prominent mistress, to conceal her pregnancies, the robe à la française or sack-back dress became a dominant form of fashion in the mid- to late-18th century.

TEFAF Maastricht

List of major fair dates for 2025

02 January 2025

As 2025 gets underway, most of the world's largest art and antiques fairs have already announced their dates for this year.

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Meissen and more from the Pettey collection sits pretty at German auction

30 December 2024

Top Meissen pieces amassed by US buyer attract interest worldwide but many will stay in Germany

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Gaillard vase flies to over 20 times its guide

30 December 2024

A bronze vase by the Parisian goldsmith Lucien Gaillard caused a stir at Dobiaschofsky (25% buyer’s premium) in Bern.

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US Constitution ratified by eager buyer as worth $9m

30 December 2024

Passed down through generations at the historic Hayes Plantation in Edenton, North Carolina, the only privately held Ratification copy of the American Constitution dating to 1787 sold for a whopping $9m (£6.94m).

Hans Coper

Hans Coper mural to go on display in Winchester after auction purchase

27 December 2024

The Hans Coper (1920-81) mural that sold at a recent auction in Germany will be going in display in the UK this month, it has emerged.

William Morris CHAUCER THE FINEST BOOK SINCE THE GUTENBERG BIBLE. Bonhams

William Morris’s Kelmscott Press books achieve white glove result at Bonhams

23 December 2024

A complete collection of the books published by 19th century designer William Morris (1834-1896) from his printing company Kelmscott Press achieved white glove results at Bonhams New York.

Martin Wilson of Phillips

Martin Wilson to succeed Ed Dolman as chief executive at Phillips

20 December 2024

Executive chairman of Phillips Ed Dolman is standing down in 2025 and will be succeeded by Martin Wilson.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Derelict by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Sotheby’s makes dramatic u-turn over buyers’ and sellers’ fees

20 December 2024

Auction house Sotheby’s is to roll back the commission structure it introduced just seven months ago.

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