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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Previews: issue 2680

10 February 2025

Our selection of lots from 13 upcoming auctions

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Tech college gigs tempted big names such as Pink Floyd as poster shows

10 February 2025

Farnborough Technical College hosted many memorable bands for gigs it seems, judging from a six-lot selection of posters that appeared at Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium).

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Auctioneer rates previously unseen Winnie the Pooh collection as a career highlight

10 February 2025

“I’ve been an auctioneer for 30 years now and it took me two hours to sell 34 lots – so you get the idea of the interest and levels of bidders.”

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Bid Barometer: issue 2680

10 February 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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Frank Lloyd Wright interest balloons to six figures in Chicago auction

10 February 2025

The mid-1920s were tough times for architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959).

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Fairyland colour brightened up wartime woes

10 February 2025

Daisy Makeig-Jones’ lustre designs for Wedgwood arrived at precisely the right time.

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Coins and medals: Total sales in London fall but key players point to robust market

10 February 2025

Total sales across London coins and medals auctions fell £10m in 2024. So, are the first cracks appearing in a market that was riding high in Covid? As always, the devil is in the detail.

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Single-owner sale: Hong Kong bidders battle it out for Chinese export wares

10 February 2025

Many of the pieces will go to the Far East after London auction held by Alistair Gibson

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Private collector pushes the boat out to secure the prize

10 February 2025

When a collection of invitation and admission cards, menus and related items linked to Glasgow and shipping interest came up at auction estimated at £100-150 the resulting bidding battle took the hammer price to £2800.

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Mother-of-pearl vessels arrived on Portuguese ships

10 February 2025

The second designated Islamic & Indian Art auction held by Lyon & Turnbull (26/25% buyer’s premium) in London included a group of market-fresh Indo-Portuguese mother-of-pearl vessels.

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Coins and medals: a selection of auction highlights from 2024

10 February 2025

A look at some of the numismatic lots that caused a stir in 2024, starting off with a scarce example of Civil War coinage

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Pan handy to serve meals for one (one ex-emperor)

10 February 2025

Credited with saying “an army marches on its stomach”, Napoleon Bonaparte knew the value of eating well, both at home and on the road.

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Bidders figure out rarity of Palitoy Action Force group with provenance to designer

10 February 2025

Palitoy was a major player in the British toys scene.

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JJ Kaendler Meissen hares hunted down by eager bidder

10 February 2025

This group of three Meissen models of hares ranges in size from 3in (7cm) to 6in (16cm).

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Lucien Freud painting materials bring interest in US auction

10 February 2025

Less-than-pristine paints and brushes from the studio of Lucien Freud (1922-2011) were sold by University Archives (23% buyer’s premium) in Wilton, Connecticut.

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White glove sale for Bromer collection of Art Nouveau jewellery in New Jersey

10 February 2025

An inheritance influenced Boston dealer duo to turn their collecting interest to a different market

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Bidders now recognise beauty of Bonheur’s downcast donkey

10 February 2025

An oil on board titled 'Portrait of a Donkey', painted and signed in 1881 by the noted French animalier Rosa Bonheur (1822-99), performed with gusto at Helmuth Stone Gallery (25% buyer’s premium).

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Early Ayres rocking horse rides in at £7000

10 February 2025

Most surviving rocking horses by FH Ayres of London date from 1880-1940 - made in the era when the safety stands (first patented by Philip Marqua of Cincinnati in 1880) had become the norm.

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International bidders give auction boost when UK buyers prove more cautious

10 February 2025

A deceased estate in Dorset that yielded a notable collection of Old Masters provided a fillip to Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s latest mixed-category auction.

Books and works on paper auction calendar, February 12 to March 5, 2025

10 February 2025

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

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