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Almost a quarter of a million pounds in fines have been issued to art dealers and auction houses by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in the six months to September 30, 2025.

Visitors to London at the end of the 17th century needed to take care: banditts, adamtilers and fencing-cullies were out looking to prey on unwitting buzzards, fat culls and fuddlecaps.

In this the 250th anniversary year of American Independence being declared, a rare printed silk map of British North America emerged for sale in Dorset.

Sèvres had high hopes of royal approval and purchase but the Service des Départements was rejected

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including the export block of an 18th century animal sculpture.

Delphin Massier, the creator of a large cachepot on stand sold by Dannenberg (28% buyer’s premium) in Berlin, was a member of the dynasty of ceramic artists who worked in Vallauris from the 18th century onwards.

In many parts of the German-speaking world, it was once customary for a newly married couple to drink together from a silver or parcel gilt bridal beaker.

This array of jewels formed part of the first tranche of a remarkable private collection sold by Catherine Southon (23% buyer’s premium) in Chislehurst.

Liner china – ceramics associated with shipping lines and the golden age of maritime travel – can occasionally throw up surprising results.

A group of five pictures by Clifford Hall (1904-73) came to Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Farnham sale courtesy of the daughter of a collector who used to paint with the artist.

ATG’s pick of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com, featuring both the highest prices over-estimate and the top prices paid online

This pair of late Georgian silver spurs are hallmarked for London 1812 and carry the maker’s mark JA, probably for the specialist buckle maker John Atkins.

A handsome 19th century kingwood and ormolu decanter box offered by Hutchinson Scott (25% buyer’s premium) in Skipton, North Yorkshire was of particular note for its armorial and an inscription to the lock reading Maharaja Duleep Singh.

Gordon’s working life began as an English and drama teacher but his love of antiques led him to begin dealing from stalls at Bermondsey and Portobello Road Markets in the 1960s, fitting his antique life around his teaching job while raising a young family.