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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Westbourne Grove pop-up

11 November 2019

Valerie Arieta Decorative Arts stages a Christmas show at its Westbourne Grove pop-up shop this year, offering Mezcala stone figures from Mexico among other art and antiques.

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Mappin’s entry to Modern Jewellery

11 November 2019

A letter accompanying this gold, diamond and fire opal brooch, formed as a columbine, below, confirms it was part of the International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery held at The Goldsmiths Hall, London, in 1961.

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A double helping of imperial jewels

11 November 2019

Jewellery owned by Marie Valerie Hapsburg, the favourite daughter of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, will be auctioned by Dorotheum in Vienna on November 27.

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Pick of the Week: Rediscovered Nelson portrait surfaces at sale

11 November 2019

A hitherto unknown portrait of Nelson sold for three times the top estimate at the Charles Miller (24% buyer’s premium) auction on November 5.

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Dealer line up for reinvigorated Art and Antiques for Everyone Fair winter edition

11 November 2019

Medieval glass flask is a highlight of the big art and antiques fair in Birmingham.

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Boz kicks off a splendid Dickens collection

11 November 2019

Drizen Dickens lots notch up notable results despite some higher-value unsolds.

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Piranesi takes to the field

11 November 2019

Bid to a record £20,000 at a Forum Auctions (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) on September 26 was a beautifully bound example of Piranesi’s Campus Martius Antiquae Urbis.

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A very Victorian scandal

11 November 2019

This early-Victorian bracelet comprising eight portrait miniatures and four unusual eye miniatures set in gold is inscribed on the back with a series of identifying names, including that of Josias Nottidge, the children’s father, and his wife Emily. It tells the story of a Victorian scandal.

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Fans coveted in Yorkshire and Guernsey

11 November 2019

The impact of institutions on the collector-dominated market in fans was witnessed when the best-seller at a dedicated Tennants (20% buyer’s premium) auction went to a museum.

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Mystery lamp could be a Clanny

11 November 2019

Well placed in Tyne & Wear to receive a number of miners’ safety lamps from the old Durham and Northumberland coalfields, Boldon Auction Galleries (17.5% buyer’s premium) was presented with something of a mystery in the form of the lamp pictured here.

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Stannard stands out in saleroom

11 November 2019

Focus on one of only two notable women painters to be associated with the Norwich School.

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Rossetti depicts father and son

11 November 2019

A crayon portrait by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-82) surfaced at Oxford saleroom Mallams (22.5% buyer’s premium) together with another of the sitter’s father.

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The worldwise works of HG Wells

11 November 2019

Sold for a record $2750 (£2220) at PBA Galleries (20/15% buyer’s premium) in California on October 10 was an inscribed copy of The World Set Free, a prophetic novel by HG Wells.

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Brief histories of time

11 November 2019

This unassuming Grana military issue c.1945 shown below forms part of the so-called Dirty Dozen wristwatches made by 12 Swiss manufacturers for the British army.

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Seat of power: Churchill maquette

11 November 2019

Less familiar than some of the busts and maquettes of Winston Churchill by Oscar Nemon (1906-85) was this bronze resin maquette, below, offered at Catherine Southon’s (18% buyer’s premium) sale in Selsdon, Surrey.

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‘One of the best’ by Arnesby Brown

11 November 2019

Like John Constable before him, the 19th century painter John Arnesby Brown (1866-1955) found endless inspiration in the low horizons and expansive skies of East Anglia. He was also interested in light and atmosphere and the effect of sunshine and shadow on the landscape.

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The web shop window: Russian icon from The Temple Gallery

11 November 2019

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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Based on a Belfast boom time

11 November 2019

As Belfast capitalises on its Titanic history and the TV series Game of Thrones attracting visitors, two enterprising local antiques dealers are seizing the moment to start a new fair in the city.

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Look to design sales for jewellery delights

11 November 2019

Some of the most striking 19th-20th century jewellery can often be found in design sales.

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Chinese vase bought in charity shop for £1 sold for £380,000 at Sworders auction

08 November 2019

Purchased for £1 from a Hertfordshire charity shop earlier this year, a Qianlong (1736-95) famille rose wall vase sold for £380,000 at Sworders in London today (plus 25% buyer's premium).

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