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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English Golden Age longcase clock fails to meet great expectations

03 February 2020

Falling short of ambitious hopes but leading the day at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) first sale of 2020 was a fine English Golden Age longcase clock.

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French cabinets head to an Eastern buyer

03 February 2020

Among the gems spotted in 2092 mixed lots at Stroud Auctions’ (18% buyer’s premium) year-opener on January 8, the best-seller was the final lot.

Southampton event moves to new hotel venue

03 February 2020

Grandma’s Attic Fairs has announced that its quarterly antiques and collectors’ fairs at the Botleigh Grange Hotel in Southampton have ceased due to the hotel’s sudden closure in mid-January, although a new venue has been found.

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Grotesque figures on 16th century engraving delight a buyer

03 February 2020

Populated with grotesque figures, this 16th century engraving after the early Flemish painter Hieronymus Bosch (c.1450-1516) sold for £16,000 at auction in London.

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The web shop window: netsuke from 1830 surfaces in time for the year of the rat

03 February 2020

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

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Rudell & Rose flute plays to bidders' tune in Sussex

03 February 2020

Popular in the first decades of the 19th century, the eight-key flute is something of a transitional instrument, retaining many of the characteristics of the earlier baroque flute and the modern instrument.

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Views of a vanishing world: Supply of mountain paintings begins to melt

03 February 2020

Nineteen years after launching the annual 'Peaks and Glaciers' exhibition, dealer William Mitchell reflects that as the snow on the peaks themselves has contracted, so too has the supply of topographical Alpine scenes.

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Early printed copies of Shakespeare’s plays impress as part of a celebrated collection

03 February 2020

‘Masterpieces’ from the celebrated collections of Dr Martin Schøyen offered at a recent Christie’s (25/20/13.5% buyer’s premium) sale in London included some real rarities.

British and Irish book auctions: February 4-20, 2020

03 February 2020

Our regular listing of British and Irish book auctions.

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Portrait of England's 'last professional jester' brings major competition

03 February 2020

This 18th century English provincial school full-length portrait depicts the jester Black John. He was in the employ of the famously eccentric John Arscott (1718-88) of the Tetcott estate in Devon, said to be the last man in England to keep a professional jester.

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Burmese watercolours find admirers in a south coast saleroom

03 February 2020

Two large watercolours painted by Y Ba Nyan (1897-1947), one of Burma’s most influential Modern artists, emerged for sale in Folkestone at the end of last year.

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Phoenix Antiques owner launches fair in Petersfield

03 February 2020

A dealer in the antiques-rich town of Petworth is launching a vintage, antiques and militaria fair in her hometown of Petersfield in Hampshire.

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Sèvres collection from the late Judith Howard comes to auction

01 February 2020

A collection of porcelain from the renowned Sèvres specialist Judith Howard, who died last year, is to be sold in Salisbury.

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Ivory Act: court date set 'earlier than expected' for final legal challenge by dealers and collectors

31 January 2020

The battle by dealers and collectors to overturn the Ivory Act will enter its final phase on February 24 and 25 at the Court of Appeal.

Woodlite headlamps

Art Deco headlamps, rare Pelham puppet, portrait of an artist’s daughter – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week

31 January 2020

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a portrait by Victorian artist John Bagnold Burgess of his daughter and a pair of Woodlite headlamps that both made over 10-times estimate.

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At Kempton this week: six objects to tempt interior decorators from £20 to four figures

30 January 2020

Kempton isn’t just the preserve of early-rising antique dealers (though some, like BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan, arrive only after 10am).

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Textiles come to the fore with London Art Fair sales and new exhibition

28 January 2020

Long considered outside the mainstream of art history, textiles have had a boost in London this month.

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Design history course to be launched in County Durham this year

28 January 2020

The Northern School of Art in Hartlepool, County Durham is recruiting students for a new design course.

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Diamonds switched for paste at auction view

27 January 2020

Police issue description of suspect after solitaires stolen from Surrey saleroom

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Stunning hoard of sealed bottles dug up on a building site could fetch £20,000

27 January 2020

A spectacular cache of sealed 17th century bottles unearthed by workmen in Worcestershire will come to auction this year.

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