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.

Sotheby’s contemporary art evening sale

Hockney record helps modern and contemporary auction series to $2bn total in New York

17 November 2018

The latest series of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art auctions in New York generated an overall total of close to $2bn.

‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)’ by David Hockney

Auction record for a living artist as David Hockney swimming pool scene makes $80m at Christie's

16 November 2018

David Hockney’s ‘Portrait of an ‘Artist (Pool with Two Figures)’ from 1972 became the most expensive work by a living artist when it was knocked down for $80m (£61.6m) at Christie's in New York last night.

Pendant from Marie Antoinette's collection

Marie Antoinette’s pendant sets auction record for a natural pearl at Sotheby’s in Geneva

15 November 2018

A pearl and diamond pendant from the French Queen Marie Antoinette’s personal collection has set a record price at auction for a natural pearl at Sotheby’s Geneva.

Leonardo da Vinci drawing auction

Tajan to offer Leonardo drawing after ‘national treasure’ deadline expires

14 November 2018

French auction house Tajan has announced a date next year for the sale of the Leonardo da Vinci drawing that it discovered in 2016.

A marquetry commode by Emile Gallé

‘Japonisme’: 7 lots from Christie’s themed sale showing Japanese influence on Western art

12 November 2018

It is 150 years since the beginning of the Meiji era in Japan and 160 since the country finally opened up to foreign trading after years of isolation.

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Taste of Japan from Rago

12 November 2018

Tiffany exhibited only gold jewellery at the 1878 Paris exposition, including a collection of ‘Japanesque’ pieces.

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Leslie Hindman brooch to Georges Braque design

12 November 2018

This 18ct two-colour gold and enamel Hebe brooch to a design by Georges Braque, c.1962, carries an estimate of $2500-3500 at Leslie Hindman’s Important Jewelry sale in Chicago on December 3.

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Colonial silver portable altarpiece consigned to San Sebastian sale

12 November 2018

Anteo Subastas in San Sebastian, Spain, is offering an example of a Mexican colonial silver devotional altarpiece in its next auction on November 28.

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Trade excluded from future TEFAF vetting

12 November 2018

Art dealers and auction house specialists have been removed from all TEFAF vetting panels to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

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Sensational royal jewels at Sotheby’s

12 November 2018

In the end, it was diamonds, not cake, that triggered the tragic downfall of Marie-Antoinette (1755-93) and her family. Even though the doomed queen was innocent of conspiracy, it was the affair of a diamond necklace that lit the powder-keg of revolution.

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Musical bracket clock offered at latest horological auction in Massachusetts

12 November 2018

Fontaine’s in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is holding one of its periodic horological auctions on November 17.

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Golfosaurians and other course tales

12 November 2018

One of just 100 first edition copies of National Golf Links of America by Charles Blair MacDonald was the top lot in a recent US golf sale at $15,000 (£11,450).

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Louis XVI secrétaire emerges at Drouot sale

12 November 2018

Art Richelieu Castor-Hara is offering a single-owner French collection featuring Old Masters and modern paintings, and classic furniture in a sale at Drouot.

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Online giant AbeBooks to continue trade in four countries after dealers remove books from site

12 November 2018

A mass boycott by more than 580 book dealers across 27 countries has forced AbeBooks to U-turn on its planned withdrawal from four countries.

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Tiara with Danish royal provenance emerges in Copenhagen auction

12 November 2018

This diamond and sapphire tiara, which is to be offered for sale by Bruun Rasmussen on November 30 in Copenhagen, has a long and distinguished Danish royal provenance.

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18th century Scottish Doune pistols offered in Pennsylvania

12 November 2018

The Scottish gun-making workshop of Doune in Perthshire produced pistols that were a firearm of choice for highland clansmen but were also favoured by wealthy socialites.

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Another section of the Eiffel Tower's staircase to be offered at Artcurial in Paris

12 November 2018

Artcurial has made something of a habit of offering parts of the Eiffel Tower, pieces that were removed as part of periodic restorations of the famous landmark on the Paris skyline.

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Rare Native American pipe offered in Boston

12 November 2018

A North-west Coast Tlingit pipe in the form of a bear will be offered at an upcoming auction in Boston.

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Doyle offers California style in New York

12 November 2018

The sale titled California Jewelry held by Doyle in New York on November 19 includes some fine period pieces sourced by the Manhattan firm via its West Coast office.

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Van Cleef & Arpels in tune at Skinner

12 November 2018

This novel 14ct gold, cabochon emerald, diamond, and ruby brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels carries an estimate of $5000-7000 at Skinner of Boston’s sale of Important Jewelry on December 4.

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