Auctions

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


Ferenc Puskás shirt at auction

Ferenc Puskás shirt worn in last European game tops sale at 10 times estimate

23 May 2025

A Real Madrid shirt worn by Ferenc Puskás against Kilmarnock in the 1965-66 European Cup made 10 times its estimate at Graham Budd’s Scottish sporting memorabilia auction at Trades Hall of Glasgow on May 21.

Abraham Lincoln gloves

Record for Lincoln memorabilia as bloodstained gloves take $1.2m

23 May 2025

A consignment of historic material relating to Abraham Lincoln drew extensive interest at Freeman's Hindman in Chicago on May 21. The sale included a pair of the gloves that posted an auction record for any artefact related to the US President.

Frans Hals portraits

Saunders collection raises $64.7m at Sotheby’s but misses overall target

22 May 2025

It was billed as the ‘first ever $100m collection of Old Masters to come to auction’ but the auction of the Saunders collection at Sotheby’s New York last night came in significantly below expectations.

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Vendors’ ‘garden statue’ turns out to be a six-figure Roman marble

21 May 2025

A Roman marble thought by its vendors to be a garden statue turned heads at Toovey’s where it sold earlier this month.

Mary Potter still life

Demand emerges for Mary Potter still life at specialist East Anglian art sale

21 May 2025

A string of works by East Anglian artists, each with their own well-established market, drew notable attention at the latest specialist sale held by Reeman Dansie (25% buyer’s premium).

Jan Davidsz de Heem still life

‘A feast for the eyes’: Luxurious de Heem still life emerges at Christie’s

21 May 2025

Christie’s has announced a major highlight for its Old Masters evening sale in London on July 1.

James Ross medals

Tottenham Hotspur buy Military Cross awarded to officer who played for club

20 May 2025

A Military Cross awarded to an officer who served on the Western Front and later played professional football for Tottenham Hotspur has been bought by the club at auction.

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Pick of the Week: Vulliamy’s public clocks

19 May 2025

Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780-1854) was clockmaker to George III and also to The Prince Regent, later George IV.

Fabergé animals at Sotheby's

Castle Howard Fabergé animals land big prices in Sotheby’s sale

19 May 2025

Sotheby’s offered a collection of 30 Fabergé animals from the Castle Howard estate in a timed online sale ending May 16.

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Chinese table screen is among five lots to watch

19 May 2025

With estimates from £3000, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

Abraham Lincoln's gloves

‘One of the most important Lincoln collections ever brought to market’

19 May 2025

Auction house Freeman's Hindman is offering an extensive collection of historic materials relating to US President Abraham Lincoln.

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Modern and contemporary art: Studio source brings strong results

19 May 2025

Works coming to auction from artists’ estates give a never-seen-before quality and personal attraction

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Japanese art auctions moving out of London leaves a gap for others

19 May 2025

While few will welcome the news that Bonhams – the last of the major auction houses to hold regular sales Japanese works of art in London – is moving its department to Paris (ATG No 2690), there will be opportunities for UK salerooms that continue to plough this selective but occasionally fruitful furrow.

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Roman statuary sought after in Dublin

19 May 2025

Although cautiously catalogued, the Library Collection sale at Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dublin on April 29 included three pieces of Roman statuary that had been in an Irish private collection since around 1940.

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Witness to Napoleon’s death: fascinating letters emerge from a family archive

19 May 2025

Letters found in family archive include first-hand accounts from St Helena in 1821

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Märklin model of doomed airship Hindenburg surpasses estimate

19 May 2025

The toy manufacturer Märklin did not just produce models for private use.

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Anatomical studies stand out as highlight of Paris drawings sale

19 May 2025

Sheet of various figures and body parts in red and white chalk set an auction record for Primaticcio

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007 gold-plated 2CV model motors its way up to £2600

19 May 2025

A Citroën 2CV toy car is not quite as glamorous as a Lotus Esprit, even when the full-size version helps to save James Bond in an epic chase.

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Bid Barometer: issue 2694

19 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

Books and works on paper auction calendar, May 21 to June 4, 2025

19 May 2025

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

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