Auctions

News and previews of art and antiques sold at auctions throughout the UK and overseas, from multi-million-pound blockbusters to affordable collectables.


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Previews: issue 2693

12 May 2025

Our selection of lots at seven upcoming auctions.

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Toulouse-Lautrec doodles show talent

12 May 2025

A Latin to French dictionary that belonged to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was among the highlights a recent sale of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps at Doyle New York (28/27% buyer’s premium).

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Bid Barometer: issue 2693

12 May 2025

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

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Spirited performances for books at German auction

12 May 2025

ATG takes a look at some stand-out lots sold recently at an auction in Berlin

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Treasures from a ‘miniature V&A’ family home crammed full with art and antiques

12 May 2025

Graham Slater’s collection that packed a Cambridge house provided 670 lots over two auctions

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Oscar winners: how Wilde's works have become highly sought after by collectors

12 May 2025

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about,” Oscar Wilde wrote in The Picture of Dorian Gray - a prescient observation that has proven remarkably true.

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Dame Edna was wild about Wilde

12 May 2025

The public may have been surprised to discover that Barry Humphries (1934-2023), the creator of Dame Edna Everage, was a great bibliophile with a passion for rare books by the ‘decadent’ writers of the fin de siècle.

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Key text by Locke takes $120,000

12 May 2025

A recent Freeman’s Hindman (28/27% buyer’s premium) sale in Chicago included a first edition of John Locke’s foundational text on civil society and the nature of government 'Two Treatises of Government….'

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Our selection of upcoming books and works on paper auction previews

12 May 2025

Stand-out lots from Shakespeare to Sendak, Marie-Antoinette to Mary Queen of Scots, Gill to Waugh and Turing to Buffalo Bill

Books and works on paper auction calendar, May 13 to June 2, 2025

12 May 2025

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

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Top stories this week including a drawing from Leonardo’s studio making five times estimate

11 May 2025

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of the auction of a Salvator Mundi drawing attributed to an artist from Leonardo da Vinci's workshop.

William Nicholson portrait

William Nicholson’s portrait of his daughter triples its estimate

09 May 2025

Despite ongoing concerns that the current economic uncertainty, anaemic growth and trade tariffs is affecting the supply of major lots, the value to auction houses of paintings by ‘big names’ was underlined at Lyon &Turnbull’s latest Modern Made auction.

Ganpatrao Mhatre gouache

Indian sculptor’s earliest known work on paper turns heads at Chiswick Auctions

09 May 2025

The earliest known painted work by the Indian sculptor Ganpatrao Mhatre (1879-1947) drew international interest at a recent sale at Chiswick Auctions (26% buyer’s premium).

Battle of Flodden

Battle of Flodden sword makes 30 times estimate in Nottingham

08 May 2025

A Scottish dirk believed to have been used at the Battle of Flodden recently surfaced at Arthur Johnson & Sons in Nottingham.

Canaletto Venice Ascension Day

Canaletto once owned by Robert Walpole headlines Christie’s Old Master sale

08 May 2025

One of Canaletto’s ‘prime-period’ views of Venice which once hung in 10 Downing Street has emerged at Christie’s.

Suffragettes

Autographs of early 20th century political and cultural figures emerge at Chiswick Auctions

07 May 2025

An autograph album containing the signatures of notable figures from the early 20th century is to appear at Chiswick Auctions in a timed sale ending May 18.

Piprahwa Gems

Sotheby’s halts sale of Piprahwa Gems after protest from Indian government

07 May 2025

Following opposition from the Indian state, Sotheby's took the 11th hour decision to cancel a Hong Kong auction of a collection of relics linked to the historical Buddha.

The Wife by Tirzah Garwood

Rediscovered Tirzah Garwood prints and drawings emerge at Cheffins

07 May 2025

The largest group of works by Tirzah Garwood (1908-51) to ever come on the open market in one go will be offered at Cheffins later this month.

Indian Mutiny Journal And Letter

Hand-written account of Indian Mutiny makes six times estimate

06 May 2025

A handwritten first-hand account of the Indian Mutiny contained in a journal kept from April 1857 to March 1858 hammered down at six times its £600-800 estimate to achieve £5200 at Reeman Dansie in Colchester on May 1.

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Brave RAF Lancaster bomber pilot flew nine times in the 'Battle of Berlin'

05 May 2025

Noonans’ Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria sale on April 9 included a rare group of medals awarded to Lancaster Bomber pilot, Warrant Officer, later Flight Lieutenant, Edward Sydney Ellis of 625 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

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