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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Bid Barometer: issue 2704

04 August 2025

ATG’s pick of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com, featuring both the highest prices over-estimate and the top prices paid online.

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ATG letter: Was this £600 stool one that got away?

04 August 2025

My local auction house Burstow & Hewett at Battle raised their status with remarkable singleowner collection (ATG No 2702).

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Pamphlet sold in West Sussex shows William Wordsworth turning from revolutionary to reactionary

04 August 2025

The books section at a recent Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium) auction included a volume containing more than a dozen early 19th century political pamphlets concerning the issue of reform.

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Louis XIV bronze cannons fire up a château sale

04 August 2025

French château contents sales, like their equivalent country house sales in the UK, still surface occasionally on the auction market.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, August 6-26, 2025

04 August 2025

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

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Sandoz rabbit hops into Kent sale

04 August 2025

Along with Francois Pompon and Rembrandt Bugatti, Edouard Marcel Sandoz (1881-1971) was one of the leading animal sculptors of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.

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Titus rises: Another Roman antiquity success at Essex saleroom

04 August 2025

Bust once thought to be 18th century reassessed as 1st century AD after auction house’s research

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Ruskin Spear's portrait of Margaret Thatcher bags attention as part of prime ministers picture line-up

04 August 2025

A set of pictures thought to be the largest collection of portraits of British prime ministers in private hands emerged at Sloane Street Auctions (26.5% buyer’s premium) earlier this summer.

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Immerse yourself in John Miller’s art

04 August 2025

Image of room with indoor swimming pool is set to star in second auction staged by Messum’s

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Holy Family from Sacred Heart - but in whose hand?

04 August 2025

Among the Italian Old Masters bringing interest at auctions across the country over the summer was an intriguing painting of the Holy Family that emerged at Lyon & Turnbull (26% buyer’s premium) in Edinburgh.

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Two Churchill maquettes by Oscar Nemon appear at auction seven days apart

04 August 2025

When Clementine Ogilvy Spencer Churchill, the wife of Sir Winston, first saw a now-famous bronze sculpture by Oscar Nemon showing her late husband reclining in his seat, she remarked: “This is how I see him and that is how I love him.”

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Previews: issue 2704

04 August 2025

Our selection of lots from seven upcoming auctions

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Chalençon collection: More than 100 Napoleon lots ride into auction action

04 August 2025

Pierre-Jean Chalençon is well known as an enthusiast for Napoleonic memorabilia and this summer Sotheby’s Paris (27/22/15% buyer’s premium) offered just over 100 lots from his collection.

Portrait of James Stirling

Portrait of first governor of Western Australia reappears at Perth auction

31 July 2025

A dozen years after it was last sold in England, a portrait of Sir James Stirling (1791-1865), the first governor of Western Australia, returned to auction Down Under earlier this month.

William De Morgan sketchbook

William De Morgan strikes twice as sketchbook and charger emerge in Gloucestershire

30 July 2025

Two contrasting works by William De Morgan (1839-1917) – a sketchbook and a triple-lustre charger – were offered for sale by Dominic Winter in consecutive sales this month.

A zinc covered Louis Vuitton trunk

Second Louis Vuitton trunk steams into Surrey saleroom

30 July 2025

Following the sale of a rare 1920s Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk for a hammer price of £130,000 at John Nicholson’s on June 11, a second example emerged at the Surrey auction house this month.

Fowey Harbour by Joseph Southall

‘Charming and dream-like’ Joseph Southall picture sails to £30,000 at Tennants

30 July 2025

The highest auction price for Joseph Edward Southall (1861-1944) for eight years came at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) latest British, European & Sporting Art sale.

Charleston by Duncan Grant

Bloomsbury pictures come to the fore at York saleroom’s first Modern Art sale

29 July 2025

Three Bloomsbury Group paintings, two by Duncan Grant (1885-1978) and one by Vanessa Bell (1879-1961), lit up the inaugural Modern Art sale at Duggleby Stephenson of York (25% buyer’s premium).

Harry Potter books

Signed first edition run of seven Harry Potter books takes six-figure sum at US auction

29 July 2025

A group of seven first edition hardback copies of the Harry Potter books, all signed by author JK Rowling, were hammered down at $130,000/£97,500 (or $162,500 including premium) by Heritage Auctions.

Egyptian New Kingdom grasshopper

Ancient Egyptian grasshopper takes six-figure sum at auction

28 July 2025

An ancient Egyptian cosmetic vessel made in the form of a grasshopper or cicada sold for £340,000 at Apollo Art Auctions in London on July 27.

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