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.

img_49-3.jpg

From a San Fran apartment

11 November 2019

This small-scale wall mirror by Line Vautrin from c.1950 measures approximately 15in (38cm) in diameter.

img_49-1.jpg

Parisian panorama

11 November 2019

Among several auctions devoted to Old Master and 19th century paintings taking place in Paris this month will be the 66-lot sale held at Sotheby’s on November 19.

img_34-3.jpg

The worldwise works of HG Wells

11 November 2019

Sold for a record $2750 (£2220) at PBA Galleries (20/15% buyer’s premium) in California on October 10 was an inscribed copy of The World Set Free, a prophetic novel by HG Wells.

img_48-4.jpg

Folk art field trip in southern Moravia

11 November 2019

Going to the Fields by the Cezch artist Joža Uprka (1861-1940) is one of the potential best-sellers of Bonhams’ sale of 19th century European paintings in New York on November 20.

img_48-5.jpg

Ape appeal

11 November 2019

This sheet of studies of a monkey in red chalk on paper by the St Petersburg-born artist Alexander Jacovleff (1887-1938) will be offered in Il Ponte’s sale of 19th century paintings and sculpture in Milan on November 21.

img_49-2.jpg

Russian icons on offer

11 November 2019

A number of Russian icons are included in Crescent City Auction Gallery’s sale on November 16-17 in New Orleans, among them this 19th century Virgin of Kazan.

Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’ first edition

Hindman sets auction record for copy of Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’

08 November 2019

A record for a copy of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species came at Hindman’s sale of the library of a Midwestern collector in Chicago earlier this week.

US China flag.jpg

Christie’s seeks exemption from Chinese import tax in US

08 November 2019

Christie’s has been praised for its stance on US tariffs on Chinese art after it became the first art market firm to seek exclusion from the tax, part of the ongoing trade war between the US and China. Late in October, Christie’s applied for exemption from a “punishing” import tax on seven types of Chinese art.

img_4-6.jpg

Sculpture of Emperor Hadrian reigns supreme in Christie's Classic Week

04 November 2019

Christie’s latest ‘Classic week’ in New York raised a premium-inclusive $59.9m (£46.8m) from nine separate sales.

Evening in Spring by Jack Butler Yeats

Irish auction house Whyte’s teams up with Christie’s to disperse the Ernie O’Malley collection

04 November 2019

Dublin auction house Whyte’s will be offering works from the collection of leading Irish revolutionary Ernie O’Malley (1897-1957) on November 25. The sale is held in association with Christie’s and will take place at the Royal Dublin Society.

img_15-4.jpg

Collector with an eye for the birds

04 November 2019

A sale at Rago Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in its New Jersey rooms offered potential buyers the Andrew Furer and Elle Douglas collection: 27 lots of Martinware (mostly composed of the potters’ iconic Wally Bird creations).

British and Irish book auctions: November 4-21, 2019

04 November 2019

Our regular listing of British and Irish book auctions.

img_34-2.jpg

Golf guide chips in for a sport surprise

04 November 2019

Golf books do not bring as many really high prices as was once the case, but the most recent of the regular sales in this category held by a Californian saleroom did contain a couple of surprises.

img_50-1.jpg

Paris fair aims at fine arts revival

04 November 2019

The Carrousel du Louvre will be the setting for the 'Fine Arts Paris' fair which opens to the public next week with a five-day run from November 13-17.

img_32-4.jpg

Melville library in demand at Swann

04 November 2019

Two books from Herman Melville’s library, both volumes of classical poetry that were annotated throughout and in one instance signed, topped a recent New York sale.

img_10-2.jpg

Pick of the week: Buyer gets claws into rare St James’s

04 November 2019

This sculptural white porcelain group of Ganymede and the Eagle is a rare survivor from the St James’s factory run by Charles Gouyn in London c.1749-60.

French auction reform closer to reality as bill passes through Paris’ Senate

01 November 2019

A draft bill recommending further reform to the French auction system has passed through the Senate in Paris.

Lot 5 Jane Austen. Autograph Letter Signed (J. Austen), to her sister Cassandra.jpg

New Jane Austen auction record for signed letter in New York

31 October 2019

A rare handwritten letter by Jane Austen (1775-1817) detailing a visit to the dentist has set a new auction record for a signed autograph letter by her.

Star wars.jpg

Rare prototype Star Wars figures could make auction record

30 October 2019

A new record for any Star Wars toy is anticipated next month with the appearance at auction of a rare prototype action figure.

Charles F Stewart, CEO of Sotheby’s

New CEO for Sotheby’s following Patrick Drahi acquisition

28 October 2019

Sotheby’s has appointed Charles F Stewart as chief executive officer. Joining from communications and media company Altice USA, he takes over from Tad Smith who has served as CEO since 2015.

News

Categories