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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Pugin’s christening gift draws strong interest

13 January 2020

This small Gothic Revival beaker was made by ecclesiastical metal manufacturer John Hardman (Birmingham, 1848) at the height of the first partnership with AWN Pugin.

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Silver coffee pots: a selection of hammer highlights

13 January 2020

The typical Georgian silver coffee pot is one of the great bargains of 21st century antiques collecting.

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Sales reach Olympic heights

13 January 2020

Games manifesto from 1892 and Audubon’s classic head a selection of money-spinners.

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Performing elephant silver novelty sells well above predictions

13 January 2020

Victorian silver novelties do not come much better than this claret jug, formed as a 9in (23cm) tall kneeling elephant by James Barclay Hennell, London 1881. The hinged head (currently lacking tusks) forms the cover.

James McCabe carriage clock

Poole Pottery vase, Omega Seamaster watch and James McCabe carriage clock – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week

10 January 2020

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a Poole pottery vase that made 17-times estimate and a Victorian carriage clock by James McCabe that sold above predictions.

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Unseen Christine Keeler photos and letters come to market

10 January 2020

Previously unpublished letters and photos belonging to the late Christine Keeler, who was the centre of a political scandal in the early 1960s after having affairs with both a government minister and a Russian diplomat, have emerged at auction and at a dealership.

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Bonhams launches fashion and handbags auctions in Knightsbridge

07 January 2020

A handbag and fashion department has been created within Bonhams’ luxury division in its Knightsbridge saleroom.

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Regent’s treat: Rediscovered Prince of Wales portrait sold for €325,000

06 January 2020

This rediscovered drawing of the future George IV (1762-1830) is believed to have been owned by his true love Maria Fitzherbert (1756-1837).

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Pick of the week: Embroidery panels point to six figures

06 January 2020

A sale of art and antiques from a Worcestershire manor house included the rare appearance at auction of two examples of Opus Anglicanum.

Specialist firm adopts ‘live but online’ auction selling model

06 January 2020

Scientific instruments and photographica specialist Flints Auctions has opened new premises and is launching a fresh type of sale.

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Rusting BP enamel sign is The Winner in Welsh sale

06 January 2020

Rescued from a skip, a rusting British enamel advertising sign sold for £10,400 (plus 24% buyer’s premium) at auction in Carmarthen.

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Falangcai enamel bowl heads Paris Asian series at €3.25m

06 January 2020

A Yongzheng (1723-35) mark and period falangcai enamel bowl sold for €3.25m (£2.8m) to lead the recent round of Asian art sales in Paris.

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Medals earned by a Hardy band of brothers

06 January 2020

Peninsular War medals featuring 13 or 14 clasps – showing how many actions the recipient fought in – are impressive enough in themselves. But three of them awarded to brothers who served in the same regiment, offered as a single lot at auction, takes demand to a different level.

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Wedgwood vase, Minton tile and Victorian carriage clock – six lots to watch at auction this week

06 January 2020

With estimates from £40-12,000 here are six previews of upcoming items this week.

Sense of Taste by Michael Sweerts

Senses and sensibility – Trio of Michael Sweerts portraits emerge over two months

06 January 2020

Several portraits by the 17th century Flemish artist Michael Sweerts (1618-64) have been achieving six-figure sums at auctions in Europe recently.

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Warfare manual given to a prince

06 January 2020

A superb copy of Henry Hexham’s 'Principles of the Art Militarie' of 1637 was last seen at Sotheby’s in April 1919, as part of the library of the Earl of Chesterfield.

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Boy pilot takes flight

06 January 2020

As implied by a plaque to the base titled 'Aeroplane Par Omertz' [sic], this gilt bronze and ivory figure of a boy in an aeroplane was by Georges Omerth (fl.1895-1925).

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John Gould’s ‘masterpiece’ is offered at auction in a rare complete set of 25 original parts

06 January 2020

Bid just short of the high estimate to sell at £56,000 in a Dominic Winter (20% buyer’s premium) sale was a rare complete set in 25 original parts of John Gould’s 'Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming Birds' of 1849-61.

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Australasian artefacts sell at Tennants

06 January 2020

Australasia provided the talking points and two main buyers at the recent Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) specialist sale in the Yorkshire Dales.

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Spartan artwork sparkles at £5700

06 January 2020

As in its September auction, a double-page Frank Bellamy artwork featuring ‘Heros the Spartan’ proved a star turn in the latest Comic Book Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) online sale on thesaleroom.com.

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