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_33-4.jpg

Venice: going, going, gondola…

26 June 2017

Consigned from a deceased estate, a 19th century oil of a popular Venetian view topped Mitchells’ (20% buyer’s premium) June 1 auction in Cockermouth, Cumbria.

img_38-1.jpg

How sketches liven up plain sailing

26 June 2017

For a number of years now ship’s logs have made good prices at auction. Those featuring naval engagements, significant encounters in foreign lands, or with added, if amateur illustration – even logs kept on whalers that use simple sketches to record a catch – offer something extra.

img_19-3.jpg

Roman marble busts head to auction

26 June 2017

“I have gazed upon the face of Agamemnon”. Arguably the most famous words in archaeological history, they were supposedly uttered by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1876 as he unearthed a gold mask at Mycenae. Some 140 years later, portraits from antiquity remain powerful reminders of our ancient past.

img_37-7.jpg

The surrender that led to Irish independence

26 June 2017

“In order to prevent the further slaughter of Dublin citizens, and in the hope of saving the lives of our followers, now surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered, the members of the Provisional Governments present at Head Quarters have agreed to an unconditional surrender…”

img_41-9.jpg

Previews: £30,000 plus

26 June 2017

A work by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-88), the American artist who broke the $100m barrier at auction in May, will lead Forum Auctions’ July 6 sale in London.

Banjolele

Banjolele once owned by music hall star George Formby comes to auction in Derbyshire

24 June 2017

An auction of a banjolele at Hansons Auctioneers will be music to the ears of George Formby fans later this month.

Auctionata

Consignments from online firm Auctionata to be offered at auction at Van Ham

23 June 2017

Artworks consigned to the now defunct German online firm Auctionata will be auctioned at Van Ham Kunstauktionen in Cologne.

Merryn Schriever

Bonhams promotes Merryn Schriever to lead Australia after chairman departs

23 June 2017

Bonhams has promoted Merryn Schriever to become the company’s director in Australia, following the departure of chairman Mark Fraser.

Burmantofts faience charger at Woolley & Wallis of Salisbury

Large Burmantofts charger sells at £13,000 to match auction record for Leeds factory

22 June 2017

A massive Burmantofts faience charger has sold for £13,000 at Woolley & Wallis of Salisbury – the highlight of a remarkable collection of more than 700 pieces by the Leeds factory.

WEB chalker sword 21-6-17.jpg

Death Railway survivor's sword comes to Cornish auction

22 June 2017

The ‘value’ of an auction lot cannot always be summed up by price alone. While not at a high estimate level, a sword coming up in a Cornish saleroom has a fascinating background. And whatever the final result is, the historical value can be viewed as priceless.

Wassily Kandinsky abstract from 1913

Wassily Kandinsky abstract painting takes record £29m at Sotheby’s

22 June 2017

A painting from 1913 by Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) drew an intense bidding battle at Sotheby’s latest evening sale of Impressionist and Modern art in London.

Jelly moulds

Jelly mould collection wobbles its way to Winchester auctioneer

21 June 2017

An eccentric and unique lifetime collection of more than 400 copper, tin and ceramic moulds feature in a special summer auction in Hampshire

Mining lamp

Stephenson miners’ lamp lights up auction

21 June 2017

A Georgian miners’ lamp lit up bidding at a Cotswold saleroom this month to a record for a Stephenson model.

WEB australia map 20-6-17Lot39_2.jpg

Early views of Australia emerge at auction

21 June 2017

A lifelong interesting in collecting can be sparked off by so many different things. For Australian Denis Joachim it was a purchase in a second-hand bookshop when he was just 18 years old.

Ploughing the Downs by James Bateman

Telephone bidding battle lifts James Bateman’s view of the South Downs to £30,000

21 June 2017

A dramatic bidding competition for a wartime farming scene by James Bateman (1893-1959) came at the latest sale held at Littleton Auctions in Worcestershire. Estimated at £3000-4000, ‘Ploughing the Downs’ was eventually knocked down at £30,000, a house record for the saleroom.

Andy Warhol

Pop artist Andy Warhol’s first ‘selfie’ to go to auction at Sotheby’s

20 June 2017

One of Andy Warhol’s first self-portraits is to be offered at Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening auction in London on June 28 with an estimate of £5–7m.

img_12-1.jpg

Pick of the Week: Sir Peter Lely’s young girl in high demand

19 June 2017

An enticingly estimated drawing by the 17th century English court portraitist Sir Peter Lely offered for sale in a French provincial auction drew a flurry of attention from English trade and private bidders last week. It was propelled to over 20-times its estimate.

img_6-2.jpg

Stellar Sèvres vases at Bonhams

19 June 2017

A pair of 12in (30cm) high Sèvres hard paste vases painted with elaborate chinoiserie sea battles by Jean-Jacques Dieu, proved the highlight of Bonhams’ June 14 sale of European ceramics.

'Qing dynasty' double gourd vase has Qianlong mark

'Qing' vase sleeper emerges in Ireland and makes €740,000 hammer

19 June 2017

A 'Qing period' gourd vase has sold in Ireland for €740,000, an auction record for Asian art in that country, having been estimated at €800-1200.

Marshal Nicholas Charles Oudinot

Ceremonial uniform designed for Napoleon’s marshals leads auction of Oudinot family collection

19 June 2017

An elaborate ceremonial costume worn by one of Napoleon’s marshals led a dispersal of a family collection preserved by his descendants in a French château in Sarthe in Western France.

News

Categories