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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Ardingly memories abound 50 years on

15 April 2019

First organiser looks back at event’s origins as IACF celebrates event's 50th anniversary.

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Artists inspired by Modern British tradition and the imagination feature in two London shows

13 April 2019

A group of 32 works by contemporary painter Nicholas Turner exploring themes of memory and time go on show at Chelsea gallery Jonathan Cooper next month.

Book of Hours

Valuable books missing since Second World War restored to Bonn library after being consigned to Sotheby’s

12 April 2019

Six-hundred rare books, manuscripts and prints which were lost or stolen from a German library during the Second World War have been returned after they were consigned to Sotheby’s.

Victoria Borwick

BADA president Victoria Borwick resigns from role

12 April 2019

Victoria Borwick, president of the British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA), has resigned after nearly four years in the post.

Map

WH Smith archive of rare maps and signs heads to auction in Gloucestershire

12 April 2019

A rare map of Britain and lettering for signage painted by artist Eric Gill (1882-1940) are among the lots coming up at auction from a WH Smith archive.

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"I can sell as much in one day as two": Dealers and buyers give their verdict on Arthur Swallow Fairs' new one-day Lincoln format

12 April 2019

Condensing a two-day fair into one and moving to a new weekday slot are no mean feats – just ask Arthur Swallow Fairs, which has just launched a new streamlined format.

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Florence Nightingale pamphlet and a portrait of an 18th century African girl in Edinburgh – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week

12 April 2019

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a nursing pamphlet sent and inscribed by Florence Nightingale and an 18th century watercolour of an African girl in Edinburgh.

Harold Wilson

Collection from the “extraordinary life” of Harold Wilson and his wife Mary comes to auction in Staffordshire

12 April 2019

Harold Wilson (1916-95) was Britain’s prime minister not once, but twice and was the man who offered Britain its first referendum on membership of the then European Community and the Common Market.

George I bookcase

“An absolute belter” – ‘Anglo-German’ George I bookcase bid to £120,000

11 April 2019

An extraordinary George I burr walnut bureau bookcase was bought for £120,000 when Duke’s of Dorchester sold the contents of Moigne Combe on April 10.

Roman gold coin

Rare Roman gold coin found in Kent field comes to auction

10 April 2019

A very rare Roman gold coin, found by a metal detectorist in a field in Kent last month, will come to auction with an estimate of £70,000-100,000.

Cabinet

Export bar issued for 350-year-old £3m Baroque cabinet made by Papal craftsman

09 April 2019

A rare 350-year-old cabinet made by Baroque craftsman Giacomo Herman (1615-85) has been temporarily barred from export by the UK government in the hope it will be bought by a buyer in the UK.

‘St. Isaac’s on a Frosty Day’ by Ivan Aivazovsky

How Russian art became “a growing beast of a category”

09 April 2019

Ten landmark sales at Christie's that highlight the dramatic rise of the Russian art market since the fall of communism.

Inrōs

Japanese collection from the Axminster carpets family comes to auction in Cheltenham

09 April 2019

A collection of 29 Japanese objects including boxes – known as inrō – will be offered at auction at Mallams in Cheltenham next month.

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New president of ABA the ‘first from north of Watford Gap’

08 April 2019

Book dealer Roger Treglown is the new president of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association.

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Dealer sells last William Powell Frith panorama but it will now go on public view

08 April 2019

The last panoramic painting by William Powell Frith (1819-1909) in private hands has been sold – but will not vanish from the public eye just yet.

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Pick of the week: Catlin’s chief appeal brings high prices at London auction

08 April 2019

Previously unpublished sketches and letters by the American artist and traveller George Catlin (1796-1872) attracted multiple bidders at Forum Auctions in London.

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Five lots to watch at auction this week including an Egyptian scarab beetle and a singing bird box

08 April 2019

With estimates from £250-30,000, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.

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We’re back: Skeleton of rediscovered dinosaur species exhibited in Heathrow Airport before going up for auction in France

08 April 2019

A 155m-year-old one-of-a-kind diplodocus skeleton has been moved from the shale beds of Wyoming to Heathrow Terminal Five, a stopover on its way to auction in France.

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Field marshal Chetwode’s baton consigned to Spink

08 April 2019

To this day every Indian officer swears the ‘Chetwode motto’ as they commission into the army: The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time. The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next. Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time.

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The special ops striptease

08 April 2019

When British Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents were parachuted into occupied Europe in the Second World War speed was vital. Not only did they have to jump from sub-radar altitudes as low as 400ft, hitting the ground within 10-15 seconds, but they also had to make a quick getaway.

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