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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Monumental Hans Coper vessel unearthed in London back garden

24 February 2025

A key work by the Anglo-German studio potter Hans Coper (1920-81) has been found in a garden in London.

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Paris dealer wins auction battle for Kwele mask

24 February 2025

The Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury on February 19 included this striking tribal mask from central Africa.

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Pick of the Week: Peter Rabbit second printing prized

24 February 2025

Turned down by several publishers, Beatrix Potter shouldered the expense of privately printing The Tale of Peter Rabbit with Strangeways Printers in December 1901.

Gold stater of king Caratacus

Record-breaking Iron Age coin heads back to the auction block

24 February 2025

A gold stater of king Caratacus (15-54AD) that broke the record for a single Iron Age coin at auction in 2020 is returning to auction on March 12.

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Modernist Scandinavian lounge chair is among five lots to watch

24 February 2025

With estimates from £1000, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

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Blown off course to occupied territory, Tommy the pigeon became an accidental hero to the Allies

24 February 2025

Tommy nearly made the supreme sacrifice to support the Allied cause in the Second World War.

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Bid Barometer: issue 2682

24 February 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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Postponed Hammers v Hatters match programme turns out to be a ‘grail’ purchase for collectors

24 February 2025

When bad weather made the Upton Park pitch unfit for play on Saturday, January 17, 1959, it must have seemed fairly unremarkable.

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Cartier Courtauld jewels on display at Eltham Palace after £19,000 auction buy

24 February 2025

Two Cartier brooches commissioned by Sir Stephen Courtauld for his wife have gone on display at Eltham Palace, eight months after they were sold at auction by Dreweatts in Newbury.

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Heroic sea rescue recognised

24 February 2025

An atypical entry to the March 4-9 sale at the Harwich antiquities specialist TimeLine is this gold medal struck in Philadelphia following the sinking of American steamship Casper, on December 23, 1928.

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Captured by the Shadow Catcher: Edward Curtis photographs at auction

24 February 2025

Edward Curtis is famed for his photographs documenting the disappearing world of Native Americans

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GC and VC make this a sale to see

24 February 2025

Two excellent examples of the highest British awards for courage are coming up in the same London auction on March 11.

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Camouflage airborne smock concealed remarkable secret

24 February 2025

A British airborne forces smock offered in the C&T (22% buyer’s premium) February 12-13 auction told its own tale thanks to a remarkable discovery concealed within.

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Go with the grain for an unusual Victorian pictorial souvenir

24 February 2025

A rare visitor to the auction room came in the form of this pocket-sized Victorian sand picture book.

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In defence of a British military disaster

24 February 2025

Lieutenant General John Burgoyne (1722-92) was put in command of the British forces in Canada in 1777 after outlining the shortcomings of his own commanding officer.

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Against the odds – honours for the doomed Wilson's Patrol

24 February 2025

Although much less well known than many ‘last stands’, medals for the Wilson’s Patrol in 1893 are prized by collectors

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‘It is time to declutter’ declares earl as Holkham Hall contents hit the auction block

24 February 2025

Cellars and attics at famous Norfolk estate are cleared out as part of ‘housework’ to allow guided tours

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Robert-Houdin mystery clock greeted by real bidder interest

24 February 2025

Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805-71) began to develop the very first mystery clocks in c.1830.

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Sotheby’s reaps rewards as Renaissance portraits impress

24 February 2025

De’ Conti and Tintoretto works shine as part of the Old Master sales in New York

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Whale attack, cannibalism and a boy wizard debut on offer

24 February 2025

A first edition copy of a book documenting the sinking of a ship by a sperm whale in 1820 went under the hammer at Potter & Potter (25% buyer’s premium).

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