UK

The United Kingdom accounts for more than one fifth of the global art market sales and is the second biggest art market after the US.

Through auctioneers, dealers, fairs and markets - and a burgeoning online sector - buyers, collectors and sellers of art and antiques can easily access a vibrant network of intermediaries and events around the country. The UK's museums also house a wealth of impressive collections

Oghenochuko Ojiri

‘Keep calm’ say experts as dealer Ojiri goes to jail

16 June 2025

The art and antiques trade has been urged to keep up with regulations but “not to panic” after the imprisonment of a dealer for violating anti-money laundering legislation.

Bullock desk

Two Bullock desks sell at auction on same day

16 June 2025

Serendipity had it that two Regency pollard oak and ebony inlaid desks attributed to George Bullock (c.1762-1818) came for sale within a matter of hours on June 12.

Sector rule

Edmund Gunter rules the waves as brass rules makes 20 times estimate

16 June 2025

The Gunter rule was designed to help with the mathematical calculations necessary in navigation.

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Oscar Wilde's bed and desk are among five sales to watch

16 June 2025

With estimates from £800, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

Baby House-style doll

Early doll coming to auction could be a royal memento gift

16 June 2025

A highlight of the The Dolls’ House, Doll, Teddy Bear and Toy sale taking place at Special Auction Services on June 24-26 is a mid-17th century wooden doll, just 5½in (14cm) high.

Arthur William Devis portrait

Devis in demand: ‘Relaxed’ portrait of a civil servant bid to £140,000

16 June 2025

Over recent years, works painted in India by Arthur William Devis (1762-1822) have become a valuable proposition.

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Book fairs: New event fills a north-west hole

16 June 2025

Kirkby Lonsdale is the first of three fresh PBFA fairs this year with Frome and Dorchester to follow

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Brace yourselves for Brooker Part 2 at Olympia Auctions

16 June 2025

Foremost among Olympia Auctions’ several collections on offer in the June 25-26 sale are the 96 lots from Robert Brooker’s collection.

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The blades of glory

16 June 2025

Edged weapons such as swords and daggers are on a ‘hot streak’ as one saleroom puts it. Here we look at the latest highlights

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Two centuries of British works take over two whole floors of Ongpin’s gallery

16 June 2025

Stephen Ongpin Fine Art is hosting a much-anticipated exhibition for the summer: 'Two Centuries of British Drawings, Watercolours and Oil Sketches'. The show boasts over 60 works, including JMW Turner and Johann Heinrich Füssli.

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Dashing cavalry helmet owned by a John Trotter

16 June 2025

A striking household cavalry officer’s 1817 pattern helmet offered at Antony Cribb (25% buyer’s premium) had the considerable bonus of retaining its “very rare” japanned storage tin with the owner’s name legible.

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Persian version of Voltaire’s Peter the Great sells at £14,000

16 June 2025

This extraordinary Persian manuscript sold by Roseberys (26% buyer’s premium) is a translation of 'Voltaire’s Histoire de l’empire de Russie sous Pierre-le-Grand' and his 'Histoire de Charles XII, Roi du Suede'.

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Camden Passage pic plea

16 June 2025

I hope I can raise awareness to start a fundraising campaign to restore a photo on the wall in the Camden Passage area of Islington.

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Pair of pistols was ‘given to duke as diplomatic gift’

16 June 2025

The auction history of this highly decorative cased pair of Spanish 22 bore convertible ‘Madrid’ lock pistols goes all the way back to 1843 - with a royal connection.

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Helmet high achievers at Sussex auction

16 June 2025

A strong selection of 18th and 19th century British helmets impressed at East Sussex saleroom Wallis & Wallis (24% buyer’s premium) on May 29, many bringing strong four-figure sums well above estimate.

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Largest Tirzah Garwood group to emerge in one go sets a test of the market

16 June 2025

The most extensive selection of works to come on the open market provides an opportunity to assess the market for the Modern British print specialist

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Good news for fleamarket visitors devoted to finding bargains

16 June 2025

Fleamarkets offer an endless variety of stock to draw in buyers and two ‘giants’ are coming up soon, one in Somerset, the other in London.

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Scimitar ‘presented by Napoleon’ stars in London specialist sale

16 June 2025

Sword linked to former emperor is one of the highlights at London sale held by maritime specialist

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Prussian guards helmet now on parade in the US

16 June 2025

A Prussian Garde du Corps helmet that might well have once graced parade grounds and palaces took pride of place in an East Yorkshire saleroom.

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Sikh dome helmet designed to fit distinctive hair

16 June 2025

This distinctive domed form of this carefully forged helmet gives a big clue to its origin.

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