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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Barbara Hepworth's 'Aegean' bronze heads to Chicago auction

13 May 2019

Hindman Auctioneers, formerly Leslie Hindman, is newly rebranded and has a busy calendar across its six US salerooms this year.

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Changing faces of the tinplate toy world

13 May 2019

This 9in (23cm) high tinplate toy, which comes with three interchangeable faces, is by the German firm of Distler.

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Classic special forces beret brings a very special price

13 May 2019

A classic SAS beige beret from the Second World War has sold for what is believed to be a record-breaking £17,500 hammer price.

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Gold 'pyxis' trinket box emerges at London auction

13 May 2019

In the Classical world, the so-called pyxis – a small round box used for storing trinkets, ointments or cosmetics – was often made from wood and other materials, but rarely in gold.

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French advertising poster for Terrot bicycles to be offered at Potter & Potter

13 May 2019

Among the 700-plus lots of posters included in Potter & Potter’s auction in Chicago on May 22 will be a 1913 French example advertising Terrot bicycles.

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Salerooms aim to create a home from home when dispersing traditional country house contents

13 May 2019

With ‘on the premises’ country house contents sales now so rare, the more usual practice is for the better pieces to be removed to saleroom bases.

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Frankenstein meets the sleepwalker

13 May 2019

An 1831, third (first illustrated) edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a version that not only contained a new introduction but added a new chapter to that famous work, sold for £2800 in a Norfolk sale.

British and Irish book auctions: May 14-25, 2019

13 May 2019

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from May 14-25, 2019.

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Previews: £30,000 plus

13 May 2019

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

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Brandt Art Deco table on offer in LA

13 May 2019

A 23in (58.5cm) diameter Art Deco table by the designer Edgar Brandt has been consigned to the two-day Design for the Home and Garden auction to be held by Andrew Jones in Los Angeles on May 18-19.

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Mars intaglio makes a multi-estimate sum at Salisbury sale

13 May 2019

This gold ring mounted with an oval intaglio of the Roman god Mars made a multi-estimate £9000 at a sale of jewellery at Salisbury saleroom Woolley & Wallis (25% buyer’s premium).

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New World music making at Swann's Americana sale

13 May 2019

Billed as the first music to be both composed and printed in the New World, Juan Navarro’s setting of '…Quatuor passions Christi' was one of several items of Mexican origin to do well in a recent Americana sale.

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Bust depicts a short-lived Roman emperor Didius Julianus

13 May 2019

This over life-sized marble bust depicts Emperor Didius Julianus, who ruled the Roman empire for just a few short months in the year 193AD. His fleeting 66-day reign took place during the tumultuous period known as ‘The Year of the Five Emperors’ and came to a grisly end when he was murdered by a common soldier.

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Fragment from Roman period sarcophagus – an example of very early recycling

13 May 2019

Although the antiquities market is more stringently regulated than ever before, the possibility of illicit material continues to cause concern for collectors of antiquities. This places a greater financial value on pieces with long watertight provenances.

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Pioneering 16th century French work dances its way to a five-figure auction result

13 May 2019

Pitched at £15,000-25,000, a rare 16th century French work made its lower estimate at Mellors & Kirk (20% buyer’s premium).

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Micromosaic panels in two US auctions

13 May 2019

These two 19th century micromosaic panels feature in different US auctions this month.

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Affordable art: Three works sold for under £1001 including an oil by Paul Gauguin's son

13 May 2019

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales below £1001, including an oil by Paul Gauguin's son Pola.

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Artefacts collected during extensive Indian travels for sale

13 May 2019

On May 17 Stair Galleries in Hudson, New York, is selling the collection of Indian artefacts from the estate of David Swope of Ossining, NY.

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Standards fly high in New York Old Master sales

13 May 2019

Among the top lots at Christie’s (25/20/13.5% buyer’s premium) trio of Old Master sales during ‘Classic Week’ was a rediscovered oil sketch by Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) for 'The Distribution of the Eagle Standards'.

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Collection of ‘London’s best-connected man’ Sir David Tang come to auction in Sussex

11 May 2019

Hong Kong businessman, philanthropist and socialite Sir David Tang, who died in August 2017, was a luxury goods entrepreneur who mixed with the rich and famous and counted members of the royal family as his friends.

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