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

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Fake Mesopotamian antiquities seized at Heathrow airport with help of Border Force officers and the British Museum

05 May 2020

A group of Mesopotamian antiquities destined for collectors in the UK was discovered to be fake and seized in an operation by Border Force and the British Museum.

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First ever Star Wars poster from 1976 comics event sells for £4000 at auction 44 years later

05 May 2020

A long time ago, a poster costing $1.75 launched a series of films set in a galaxy far, far away. Forty-four years later, that series has become the phenomenally successful Star Wars blockbuster and a rare example of that same poster has just sold at auction for £4000.

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London rare book fair 'Firsts' cancelled and digital event to be launched

05 May 2020

'Firsts, London’s Rare Book Fair 2020', has been cancelled for the summer and will instead be replaced with a digital version.

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Sotheby’s and Christie’s hail online sale results but turnover will depend on future of flagship auctions

04 May 2020

Sotheby’s and Christie’s have released figures to highlight how they have been able to manage the process of rapidly migrating their core business online during the coronavirus crisis.

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Pick of the week: Recognise the face? Probably not, but striking selfie sets major record

04 May 2020

A self-portrait by the hitherto little-known Modern British artist Michael Gilbery (1913-2000) sold for a record £10,700 at auction in Lichfield last week.

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Is this one’s best side? Rare portrait photographs of the Queen sold in Peterborough auction

04 May 2020

This set of nine portrait photographs of the Queen were those used to create Canadian bank notes in the 1960s.

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Ancient Greek helmet and Martin Brothers’ vase are among four lots to watch at auction this week

04 May 2020

With estimates from £50-9000 here are four previews of upcoming items this week.

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Georgian card table at Chorley's stands out from the pack

04 May 2020

Such has been the fall in prices of Georgian card tables that it has become the norm for auctioneers to estimate most at well below £1000.

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Pow! Batman poster and toy are hits

04 May 2020

Well before the darker Batman film versions of directors Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan there was a more innocent era of Batman on the big and small screens.

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Caughley namechecks Mr Berridge

04 May 2020

Made within 20 miles of Halls’ (23% buyer’s premium) Shrewsbury rooms, 76 lots of mid to late-18th century Caughley soft paste porcelain from two local collections attracted countrywide bidding.

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Dr No rubs shoulders with caddies and dishes

04 May 2020

Among 83 lots of film and entertainment memorabilia offered at Lacy Scott & Knight (20% buyer’s premium) in Bury in St Edmunds was a British quad-size poster for 'Dr No', the first James Bond film starring Sean Connery released in 1962.

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Remarkable Rice collection of porcelain dispersed at Gorringe’s

04 May 2020

Across the past 13 months Gorringe’s (21% buyer’s premium) in Lewes has dispersed the remarkable assemblage of English porcelain formed by the collector and academic Dr Dennis G Rice.

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Affordable art: Three works sold for under £1500 including a Frank O Salisbury portrait

04 May 2020

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Frank O Salisbury portrait.

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Soviet Dollar features among item new AntikBar website

04 May 2020

This set of 10 detective novels is by ‘Jim Dollar’, the pseudonym of Soviet author Marietta Shaginian (1888-1982), whose writing is described as ‘satirical fantasy fiction’.

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Maltese connection lifts maiolica storage jar

04 May 2020

The latest Fine Interiors sale at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) included among the opening lots this large 22in (54cm) high maiolica storage jar.

Provenance provides Peel appeal while first English editions of Dostoevsky draw interest

04 May 2020

Set of Euripides plays was once owned by Sir Robert Peel sold at Forum sale which also includes two first English editions of works by Fyodor Dostoevsky

British and Irish book auctions (all online only): May 5-16, 2020

04 May 2020

ATG’s calendar of book auctions taking place in the UK and Ireland from May 5-16, 2020. All sales are now held online due to the coronavirus alert.

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Welsh wonderland of ceramics manufacturers

04 May 2020

From Ewenny to Llanelly, Nantgarw and Swansea, ceramics produced in the region over many years is a strong feature of this market.

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Von Brühl’s tailor rides his goat and fabled groups add a light touch

04 May 2020

By tradition, Count Heinrich von Brühl (1700-63), chief minister and favourite to Augustus III, was a man famed for his fashion sense. His tailor was thus an important part of his entourage.

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Auction house reports boost for less familiar names as bidders scan catalogues in detail

04 May 2020

One of the side-effects for the art market of being in a lockdown is that people have more time to discover works that they might have otherwise missed or overlooked.

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