Auctions

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


img_26-1.jpg

Netsuke fans look further afield

12 March 2018

With Bonhams the only one of the ‘big three’ in this market, other salerooms carve out a role...

img_36-1.jpg

Satirical university challenge

12 March 2018

Magazine by ‘heathen staff’ sells for 10-times top estimate in the city where it was produced...

img_52-1.jpg

Paris drawings auctions: French 17th century works take centre stage

12 March 2018

Artcurial has a large number of works on paper as part of its March 21 auction of Old Master and 19th century paintings and drawings at its Paris rooms, accounting for around 40% of the 195 lots.

‘La Dormeuse’ by Pablo Picasso

Picasso portrait from key year of 1932 helps Phillips to house-record total

10 March 2018

Phillips posted the highest total for an auction in the company’s history when its 20th Century & Contemporary Art evening sale this week generated £97.8m including premium.

Goldscheider glazed figures

New premises for auctioneer Kingham & Orme in Worcestershire

09 March 2018

Worcestershire auction house Kingham & Orme Auctioneers has relocated to a new premises a year after its debut auction.

Il Guercino painting

Old Master dog portrait knocked down for £570,000 at Cambridge auction – video

08 March 2018

A previously unrecorded canine portrait by the Italian Old Master known as il Guercino (1591-1666) drew a dramatic bidding contest at Cheffins of Cambridge today.

DNW Sidney Day 2.jpg

Lord Ashcroft buys Sidney Day Victoria Cross medal group at Dix Noonan Webb auction

08 March 2018

While the record-breaking Victoria Cross medal sold in November last year may have eluded him, Lord Ashcroft is far from inactive when it comes to buying more of these honours for his medals gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London.

‘The Architect’s Home' by Peter Doig

Lack of market freshness deters bidding on Peter Doig’s ‘Architect Home’ at Sotheby’s auction

08 March 2018

Peter Doig (b.1959) prices have been on a roll with three works sold for over £15m at auction in the last 10 months. However, the latest major painting to emerge failed to attract any notable bidding in the saleroom at Sotheby’s and was knocked down under estimate.

North Mymms Park, Hertfordshire

“A sanctuary of fine art and antiques”: Sworders sweeps back the curtains ahead of historic Hertfordshire estate contents sale – video

07 March 2018

Sworders has said that its upcoming auction of the primary contents of the historic Hertfordshire estate North Mymms Park will be “among the finest house sales we have conducted in 30 years”.

Doulton

Doulton stoneware stars at Hertfordshire auction thanks to popularity of whisky flasks

07 March 2018

A pair of Doulton flasks far outstripped expectations at Bushey Auctions.

Hornsey Town Hall memorabilia

Contents of Hornsey Town Hall to be auctioned ahead of redevelopment

07 March 2018

Ever wanted to own a Hornsey Town Hall jerry can, street sign or some ARP memorabilia? Or perhaps some old computers, scientific equipment and vintage school lockers?

WEB beam engine Dibnah.jpg

Fred Dibnah heritage centre contents to be sold at auction

06 March 2018

I interviewed Fred Dibnah once, as a wet-behind-the-ears journalism student in Preston. He had just come down from the third-tallest church spire in the country at St Walburge’s, which dominates the city skyline at 309ft high.

Chinese bowl

Record breaker? Rare Chinese gold-pink Kangxi bowl comes to auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong

06 March 2018

A rare Kangxi bowl coming onto the market for the first time in 30 years could test the auction record for Chinese ceramics.

Alexandra 'Xie' Kitchin

Birth of art photography: A selection of early Victorian photographs come to auction as the National Portrait Gallery unveils new exhibition

05 March 2018

Work by ground-breaking Victorian photographers Julia Margaret Cameron, Oscar Rejlander and Lewis Carroll will be offered at auction this week in Gloucestershire.

img_4-1.jpg

Hans Coper ‘arrow head’ bid to sensational £305,000 target

05 March 2018

A sensational result emerged for the artist-potter Hans Coper (1920-81) at the 20th Century & Contemporary sale at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter.

img_4-2.jpg

Old Master sleeper wakes in Oxfordshire bidding battle

05 March 2018

An Old Master painting hung in the spare bedroom of a family home in Oxfordshire sold for a surprise £440,000 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) at Holloway’s of Banbury.

img_10-1.jpg

Pick of the Week: ‘Africa’s Mona Lisa’ rediscovered

05 March 2018

Tutu, a previously lost portrait by Ben Enwonwu (1917-94) of the Ife royal princess Adetutu Ademiluyi set a new record for the artist at Bonhams’ Africa Now auction.

Michael Angelo Rooker 2333AM 05-03-18.jpg

Works on paper loaned to Ashmolean museum sold at Oxford auction – 5 highlights from the sale

05 March 2018

A group of Old Master and traditional British etchings, drawings and watercolours, previously on loan to the Ashmolean museum, drew keen interest at Mallams in Oxford this week.

Bat-Man

Comic that features the arrival of Batman could fetch $1m at auction in the US

05 March 2018

A previously unknown copy of the Golden Age comic that heralds the arrival of Batman, is expected to top $1m at auction in the US next week.

img_5-2.jpg

Gurr Johns bulk-buys Picasso by the dozen

05 March 2018

Works by Pablo Picasso (1881- 1973) dominated the latest series of Impressionist and Modern art auctions in London, with Gurr Johns securing nearly all of them.

News

Categories