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The most popular stories on this website over the last week included news of Adams Fairs’ interesting approach to discourage exhibitors from leaving early.

The government is proposing to strengthen the Treasure Act to include important finds that do not fit the current legal definition.

The well-known works of art dealer Peter Petrou offered 150 lots from his eclectic collection at Christie’s in a dedicated sale called Tales of the Unexpected.

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week include a Chelsea white-glazed model of a red squirrel and a 17th century portrait miniature.

The potential for vendors, and auctioneers, to strike it rich in the field of Chinese works of art is alive and well.

Christie’s has raised its buyer’s premium, increasing the level at which its 25% threshold applies and adding an extra percentage point to its charges above £3m. The new schedule takes effect from February 1.

A life-sized portrait by Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) set a record for any female Old Master when it was knocked down at $6.1m (£4.67m) at Sotheby’s New York last night.

A large haul of vintage costume jewellery has been stolen from a car in Birmingham and its owner is appealing to the trade to help recover the items.

A sketch by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) that formerly belonged to the Dutch King William II and his wife Anna Pavlovna has set an auction record for a drawing by the artist at Sotheby’s New York.

Julian Trevelyan’s last painting, depicting Strawberry Hill against a pink sky, sold in the first hours of Connect Art Fair’s inaugural staging yesterday.

Pictures by Mod Brit artists including Barbara Hepworth and Julian Trevelyan will go under the hammer at Cambridge auction house Cheffins following a council’s decision to offload artworks from storage.

Industry trade bodies are today launching a survey that will attempt to measure the financial impact of the Ivory Act (2018) which comes into force later this year. Collectors, dealers and auctioneers of antique ivory are being encouraged to take part.

The London auctions ‘hub’ of 25 Blythe Road will now operate under a single banner of Olympia Auctions.

The antiques trade descended on The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle for the opening of an exhibition celebrating dealers’ shops, tastes, practices and their role in the creation of museum collections.

Around 100 dealers will gather at the House of Lords next month for the latest annual LAPADA conference.