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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Tomahawk tempts a buyer at $540,000

22 June 2020

The highlight of Morphy Auctions’ (23% buyer’s premium) sale of historical militaria from the independence struggle and War of 1812 era was a rare and extensively provenanced presentation pipe tomahawk.

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George III epergne offered at Case Antiques

22 June 2020

The summer fine art antiques and jewellery auction to be held by Case Antiques in Knoxville, Tennessee, on July 11-12 will include this George III silver epergne by Thomas Pitts I.

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David Bomberg coverage takes in Tower Bridge and Jerusalem

22 June 2020

Different in style, medium and subject but both bringing demand, two contrasting works by David Bomberg (1890-1957) sold above estimate at Sotheby’s auction of works from the Daniel Katz collection.

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Empire style comport comes to Roland Auctions

22 June 2020

This 19th century, c.1860, gilt bronze and cut-glass comport will feature in Roland Auctions’ June 27 Estates sale at Glen Cove, New York.

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Bidding contest for Nelson letter from HMS Victory and medal group from Battle of the Nile

22 June 2020

A signed memorandum letter sent by Nelson from HMS Victory to one of his captains sold for a mid-estimate £3200 at a recent TW Gaze (18% buyer’s premium) auction in Diss in Norfolk.

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Medal awarded to Victorian soldier wounded at Rorke’s Drift sells to doctor at auction

22 June 2020

A Zulu War medal awarded to a Victorian soldier severely wounded while fighting in the hospital building at Rorke’s Drift has been bought at auction – by a doctor.

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Auction previews: issue 2448

22 June 2020

Fifteen upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

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British voyages and a letter from Churchill star at Sotheby's

22 June 2020

The two most expensive lots in an online London books sale of just 100 lots could hardly have been more different.

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Georg Jensen brooch offered at Philadelphia auction

22 June 2020

This Danish silver, amber and agate brooch from c.1915 by Georg Jensen will feature in the art and design sale to be held by Freeman’s of Philadelphia on June 26.

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Bid Barometer: issue 2448

22 June 2020

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period June 11-17, 2020. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

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The other evacuation at the time of Dunkirk

22 June 2020

The 80th anniversary of Operation Dynamo, aka the Dunkirk evacuation in May-June 1940, has been in the headlines recently. However, less well known is the fate of the British 51st Highland Division almost 100 miles further along the French coast.

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JK Rowling's children's classic dumped in a skip, now £33,000

22 June 2020

Harry Potter first deemed too scruffy by a public library brings a spellbinding result

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Phoenix rises high amid a flurry of bidding

22 June 2020

The move towards online auctions during the lockdown has not led to the disappearance of intense bidding battles, as witnessed with a number of works at the Daniel Katz auction (see main report) and earlier at the Rafael Valls sale (see ATG No 2440).

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US saleroom Skinner reports record participation

22 June 2020

US auction house Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) reported record levels of participation at its latest American & European Works of Art sale.

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Portrait of star athlete killed in the Great War emerges at Maine sale

22 June 2020

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Maine will be holding a two-day weekend auction of more than 1000 lots on July 18-19.

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American collector secures original Second World War RAF ensign flag

22 June 2020

An American collector bought this original Second World War RAF ensign flag at a recent East Bristol Auctions (18% buyer’s premium).

British and Irish book auctions: June 23-July 4, 2020

22 June 2020

Our regular listing of books and works on paper auctions the UK and Ireland.

Silverplated nutmeg grater

William De Morgan jar and Portobello Road dealer’s nutmeg grater are among five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes

19 June 2020

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a William De Morgan red lustre jar that made five-times estimate and a silverplated nutmeg grater from the late Portobello Road market stalwart Joan Dunk (1930-2019) that went 15-times over estimate.

Qianlong porcelain vase

Qianlong porcelain vase sells for nearly €2m as Paris auctions get going

18 June 2020

As the Paris auction scene gets back to business after the lockdown, an extraordinary Qianlong mark and period porcelain vase sold this week for €1.95m (£1.77m) plus buyer’s premium.

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Tablet with ‘the earliest known record of any personal name in history’ offered at Bloomsbury Auctions

15 June 2020

An ancient writing tablet made famous by Yuval Noah Harari in his bestseller 'Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind' comes for auction in London next month.

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