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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Top stories this week including news of Margaret Thatcher's desk making 60 times estimate

15 December 2024

The most viewed stories on this website over the last week included news of a desk belonging to Margaret Thatcher offered at Sloane Street Auctions.

Mozart Letter

Mozart letter hits the right note in Spain

13 December 2024

The letter to Mozart’s music publisher was offered at auction in Malaga

2673 NE Cook Medal

Captain Cook’s medal sails to museum overseas

11 December 2024

A medal made to be given to Pacific islanders who encountered Cook and his crew appeared at RWB Auctions in Wiltshire

Dickin Medal

‘Worthy of a Hollywood film’: Dog of War medal sells to family of heroic canine’s original owner

10 December 2024

A Dickin Medal – the animal equivalent of the VC – has sold for £50,000 at coin and medal auctioneers Morton and Eden.

John Lavery sketch

Lavery's Irish Treaty sketch sells to Dublin gallery at Bellmans

10 December 2024

A signed study for a major work by Sir John Lavery (1856-1941) drew significant competition when it appeared at West Sussex auction house Bellmans (25% buyer’s premium).

Ruby Slippers

Dorothy’s Wizard of Oz ruby slippers make record for entertainment memorabilia

09 December 2024

The pair, once stolen from the Judy Garland Museum, sold for almost ten times their estimate at Heritage Auctions

Pair of dragon bowls

Qing dragon bowls soar above £200-400 guide to take £250,000 in Newcastle sale

09 December 2024

This pair of 5in (13cm) Qing bowls, each very finely decorated in iron red with dragons among cloud scrolls and stylised waves soared above their estimate of £200-400 to sell for £250,000 at Anderson & Garland on November 28.

Martin Bros teapot

Pick of the Week: Teatime with the Martin family

09 December 2024

A forgotten moment from the engaging story of the Martin family of potters is told through a teapot sold at Woolley & Wallis’ British Art Pottery & Design auction on December 3.

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‘Wantage Botticelli’ sparks fervent bidding to lead Old Master series in London

09 December 2024

The latest series of Old Master auctions in London looked a little thin with the evening sales comprising less than 30 lots, but the series was not without its highpoints.

Limehouse cat model

Fur flies: Limehouse cat sets a new auction high

09 December 2024

A new record for Limehouse porcelain was set at Bonhams’ Fine Glass and British Ceramics sale for a recently discovered second known slip-cast cat model.

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Commedia dell’arte plate is among six lots to watch

09 December 2024

With estimates from £400, here are six previews of items coming up at auction this week

2672NEDI Bonhams KELMSCOTT CHAUCER

Complete collection of Kelmscott Press books comes for sale for the first time

09 December 2024

A complete collection of the books published by Kelmscott Press – the passion project of William Morris (1834-96) – will be offered at auction for the first time at Bonhams in New York on December 17.

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Could it be artist Mary Beale by her own hand?

09 December 2024

A bust-length study, thought to be a self-portrait by Mary Beale (1633-99) from the early 1660s, sold above estimate at a recent sale at Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

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Diptych is auction record for Perugino

09 December 2024

Pair of religious panels used as altar sell on low estimate but still result in auction record for the artist

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McQueen’s shirt swap was a final one-off

09 December 2024

Graham Budd’s (24% buyer’s premium) On the Road to Manchester & The Kits of Legends Auction on October 1-2 included memorabilia from former Red Devils Gordon McQueen (1952-2023), David McCreery (b.1957) and Viv Anderson (b.1956).

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Sci-fi memorabilia if you have a bit of space

09 December 2024

Pictured here is definitely one of the more unusual lots to feature in ATG recently.

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1966 World Cup masterplan revealed in a simple suitcase

09 December 2024

A suitcase given by a famous football manager to his next-door neighbours contained a winning formula

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Cham relics from Vietnam sold in Vienna via museum

09 December 2024

Two rare artefacts from the ancient Cham people of Vietnam went way above the odds at Zacke (25% buyer’s premium) in Vienna in the auction of October 17-18.

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Liverpool FC player McLean could be the first footballer to make a debut on a cigarette card

09 December 2024

When Liverpool FC played their first-ever Football League fixture in the second division in September 1893 the left-back was a Scot called Duncan McLean (1868-1941).

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Cheltenham Gold Cup in high demand even in replica form

09 December 2024

A replica Cheltenham Gold Cup awarded to Frank Vickerman, the owner of 1948 winner Cottage Rake, fetched £26,000 at Graham Budd (24% buyer’s premium) on November 13.

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