Auctions

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


Cedric Morris painting

Fresh shoots: ‘Never-before-seen’ Cedric Morris painting to appear at Cheffins

11 February 2025

A market fresh picture by the artist-plantsman Sir Cedric Lockwood Morris (1889-1982) has emerged at auction in Cambridge.

img_1-1.jpg

Lord of the Rings full signed set makes six figures at Forum

10 February 2025

Forum Auctions has set a record for a copy of JRR Tolkien’s 'The Lord of the Rings'.

img_8-1.jpg

Pick of the Week: On the scent of Chanel No 5 classic bottle

10 February 2025

Chanel No 5 was perfected in the late summer and autumn of 1920 by the French-Russian chemist and perfumer Ernest Beaux.

img_5-3.jpg

Zilkha collection brings good and bad news for early English silver market

10 February 2025

The collection of Selim Zilkha (1927-2022), founder of Mothercare, represented a stern test of the market for early English silver.

img_4-1.jpg

New York Old Masters auctions hit by El Greco withdrawal

10 February 2025

As with last year’s equivalent sales, the winter Old Masters auctions in New York looked a little thin.

Brislington delftware royal plate

Delftware plates that appeared on Antiques Roadshow sold at Salisbury auction

10 February 2025

Two English Delftware plates, described on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow a decade ago as “as rare as you can get”, went under the hammer at Woolley & Wallis on February 5.

Map of Estcourt family estates

Map of influential Gloucestershire family estate makes 10 times estimate

10 February 2025

A decorative 18th century map showing the estate of an influential Gloucestershire family made 10 times its estimate at a recent Dominic Winter sale.

img_28-5.jpg

Mahogany cased stereoscope viewer is among five lots to watch

10 February 2025

With estimates from £80, here are five previews of upcoming items

img_32-1.jpg

Previews: issue 2680

10 February 2025

Our selection of lots from 13 upcoming auctions

img_24-3.jpg

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).

img_30-1.jpg

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.”

img_9-1.jpg

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

img_41-1.jpg

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).

img_40-7.jpg

Fairyland colour brightened up wartime woes

10 February 2025

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

img_14-6.jpg

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.

img_22-1.jpg

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

img_31-3.jpg

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.

img_23-2.jpg

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.

img_14-2.jpg

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

img_40-4.jpg

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.

News

Categories