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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Profiles of the key Asian art selling centres around the world

21 September 2018

The global market for Asian art congregates around seven main centres. Here we present each area's strengths and different times of year for buyers to visit to experience the best Asian art auctions and fairs.

Light bulb

Shedding light on the first incandescent bulbs

20 September 2018

One of the earliest surviving incandescent light bulbs, made by the English physicist Sir Joseph Wilson Swan (1828-1914) in the 1870s, was snapped up at auction at Bonhams.

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‘Coups de Coeur’ – eight art market highlights from the Paris season

20 September 2018

The French art market was back in action in early September. The 30th staging of 'La Biennale Paris' and the latest edition of the 'Parcours des Mondes' tribal event were two highlights among a raft of gallery shows and auctions marking the return to work after the summer lull.

Tiara

Spanish ‘Belle Époque’ royal tiara comes to auction at Bonhams

17 September 2018

A Belle Époque diamond tiara, designed by Spanish royal jeweller Ansorena and owned by a Spanish noblewoman, is to be auctioned at Bonhams later this month.

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'The North American Indian' goes under the hammer at New York auction house where similar volume set a record in 2012

17 September 2018

An early photography book chronicling the lives and customs of Native American tribes is expected to reach $1.5m when it goes under the hammer in New York City next month.

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Chiswick Auctions shows its ambition with host of new starters and launches departments

17 September 2018

Chiswick Auctions’ hiring spree has continued with 12 new starters joining this summer, taking the firm to a headcount of 80.

Tang limestone sculpture

Chinese art consigned from outside US shines in New York auctions

17 September 2018

Ahead of a threatened import tax, overseas consignments of Chinese art were among the best sellers in the September Asian art sales in New York.

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Apple 1 computer bought for $300 estimated at over $300,000 in Boston

17 September 2018

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak produced about 200 of their ground-breaking Apple 1 computers for Paul Terrell, owner of The Byte Shop in Mountain View, California. It was one of the first personal computer stores in the world.

Assyrian relief at Christie's

Assyrian relief expected to raise over $10m at Christie’s New York

17 September 2018

A 3000-year-old Assyrian relief unearthed from the royal palace at Nimrud will be offered at Christie’s New York on October 31. It is expected to exceed $10m.

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Vases head to Hong Kong after Hertfordshire auction success

17 September 2018

This pair of Qing vases caught the eye of Hertfordshire auctioneer Richard Kluk when valuing jewellery at a London home.

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Copies of Ernest Shackleton’s 'Aurora Australis' emerge in New York and Chicago

17 September 2018

Bonhams’ September 25 Exploration and Travel sale in New York opens with the 80-lot Joe Fitzsimmons library devoted to works on Antarctic Exploration.

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Fine chalice choice at Stourbridge auction

17 September 2018

Two Worcester ‘Limoges’ chalices were the star lots at Stourbridge auction house Fieldings (21% buyer’s premium).

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Previews: £30,000 plus

17 September 2018

A painting by the Victorian Neo-classicist painter John Godward (1861-1922) not seen on the market since 1925 is going under the hammer at Bonhams in New Bond Street on September 26.

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Collection of dealer Robert Barley up at auction

17 September 2018

More than 500 lots of pictures, sculpture, furniture, textiles, architectural features and artefacts spanning 2000 years from the collection of the late Robert Barley, will come to auction at TW Gaze later this month.

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Old treasures return from the New World

17 September 2018

From antiquities to Chinese works of art and 20th century European sculpture, a sale in Maine showcases America’s rich supply of European and Asian art.

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Saleroom selection: three works under £500 including a costume design for the Ballets Russes

17 September 2018

Three modestly valued works in regional sales, all sold below £500.

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Several sales of the centuries as printed rarities set records

17 September 2018

Real rarities and record breakers are among items that feature in this first of a couple of reviews of more literary lots from the wealth of summer sales. Here the focus is principally on works of the last 200 years or so – and includes such diverse characters as Hugh the Heron and the Invisible Man.

Relief

Christie's to offer one of the earliest pieces of ancient art in the US

17 September 2018

One of the earliest pieces of ancient art in the US, an ancient Assyrian relief that arrived in Virginia before the American Civil War, is being offered at auction.

North American auction calendar: autumn 2018

17 September 2018

A list of auctions in the US and Canada from September to December 2018.

Banknotes book

Specimen banknotes set house record at auction in Tring

17 September 2018

A book of specimen banknotes printed for locations across the world has set a house record for Tring Market Auctions (17.5% buyer’s premium) by selling for £205,000.

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