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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German tropical grandeur embodied in an elaborate pith helmet

11 August 2025

When the situation demanded it, German consular officials in the tropics were required to wear a ceremonial helmet.

Caitlin Riley

Hobbit first edition rediscovered in house clearance takes five-figure sum

07 August 2025

A “once in a lifetime” discovery of a 1937 jacketless first impression of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit smashed expectations, selling for £43,000 (£52,030 with fees) at auction.

‘Grandfather's Pride’ by Robert Jobling

Large group of Robert Jobling lots attract bidders to Newcastle auction

07 August 2025

One of the largest groups of pictures by Robert Jobling (1841-1923) ever to come to the market in a single sale appeared at Anderson & Garland’s (25% buyer’s premium) latest fine art auction.

2705NEDI Live Aid Lockdales 1

Concert programme signed by Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Sting and Phil Collins at Live Aid sells for £4500

07 August 2025

This year marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most extraordinary music concerts ever held: Live Aid.

Sihtric I silver coin

Metal detectorist’s 10th century silver penny proves to be a market first

06 August 2025

A previously unknown Anglo-Saxon era silver penny, recently found by a metal detectorist in Lincolnshire, is expected to sell for between £20,000-30,000 at auction in the autumn.

Spanish Roof by Peter Jackson

Large body of work by artist Peter Jackson hits the auction block in Suffolk

06 August 2025

In an auction that helped establish a secondary market for the artist and sculptor Peter Jackson (1930-2019), Suffolk saleroom Lacy Scott & Knight (22.5% buyer’s premium) offered a group of 245 works from the collection of the artist’s widow.

Florence Hess painting

New high for Florence Hess as cook’s pictures are served up at auction

05 August 2025

Tennants’ latest picture sale in Leyburn featured a group of 26 British Impressionist paintings relating to the artistic communities at Staithes and Fylingdales in North Yorkshire. They raised a hammer total of £32,180.

Edward Burne-Jones by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Rossetti sketches including Burne-Jones portrait turn heads in Norfolk auction

04 August 2025

Two works catalogued as ‘circle of Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)’ caught the attention at a recent sale at Keys (25% buyer’s premium) in Aylsham, one creeping over estimate but the other smashing it spectacularly.

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Lloyd George's cabinet is among five lots to watch

04 August 2025

With estimates from £300, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Bid Barometer: issue 2704

04 August 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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ATG letter: Was this £600 stool one that got away?

04 August 2025

My local auction house Burstow & Hewett at Battle raised their status with remarkable singleowner collection (ATG No 2702).

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Pamphlet sold in West Sussex shows William Wordsworth turning from revolutionary to reactionary

04 August 2025

The books section at a recent Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium) auction included a volume containing more than a dozen early 19th century political pamphlets concerning the issue of reform.

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Louis XIV bronze cannons fire up a château sale

04 August 2025

French château contents sales, like their equivalent country house sales in the UK, still surface occasionally on the auction market.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, August 6-26, 2025

04 August 2025

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

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Sandoz rabbit hops into Kent sale

04 August 2025

Along with Francois Pompon and Rembrandt Bugatti, Edouard Marcel Sandoz (1881-1971) was one of the leading animal sculptors of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.

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Titus rises: Another Roman antiquity success at Essex saleroom

04 August 2025

Bust once thought to be 18th century reassessed as 1st century AD after auction house’s research

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Ruskin Spear's portrait of Margaret Thatcher bags attention as part of prime ministers picture line-up

04 August 2025

A set of pictures thought to be the largest collection of portraits of British prime ministers in private hands emerged at Sloane Street Auctions (26.5% buyer’s premium) earlier this summer.

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Immerse yourself in John Miller’s art

04 August 2025

Image of room with indoor swimming pool is set to star in second auction staged by Messum’s

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Holy Family from Sacred Heart - but in whose hand?

04 August 2025

Among the Italian Old Masters bringing interest at auctions across the country over the summer was an intriguing painting of the Holy Family that emerged at Lyon & Turnbull (26% buyer’s premium) in Edinburgh.

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Two Churchill maquettes by Oscar Nemon appear at auction seven days apart

04 August 2025

When Clementine Ogilvy Spencer Churchill, the wife of Sir Winston, first saw a now-famous bronze sculpture by Oscar Nemon showing her late husband reclining in his seat, she remarked: “This is how I see him and that is how I love him.”

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