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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Tech college gigs tempted big names such as Pink Floyd as poster shows

10 February 2025

Farnborough Technical College hosted many memorable bands for gigs it seems, judging from a six-lot selection of posters that appeared at Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium).

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Auctioneer rates previously unseen Winnie the Pooh collection as a career highlight

10 February 2025

“I’ve been an auctioneer for 30 years now and it took me two hours to sell 34 lots – so you get the idea of the interest and levels of bidders.”

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Coins and medals: Total sales in London fall but key players point to robust market

10 February 2025

Total sales across London coins and medals auctions fell £10m in 2024. So, are the first cracks appearing in a market that was riding high in Covid? As always, the devil is in the detail.

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Single-owner sale: Hong Kong bidders battle it out for Chinese export wares

10 February 2025

Many of the pieces will go to the Far East after London auction held by Alistair Gibson

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Publicity and promotion boosted event’s profile

10 February 2025

A fairs organiser who put the high footfall at a new event he launched last year down to “intense promotion” is back at the same venue next month.

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Mother-of-pearl vessels arrived on Portuguese ships

10 February 2025

The second designated Islamic & Indian Art auction held by Lyon & Turnbull (26/25% buyer’s premium) in London included a group of market-fresh Indo-Portuguese mother-of-pearl vessels.

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Coins and medals: a selection of auction highlights from 2024

10 February 2025

A look at some of the numismatic lots that caused a stir in 2024, starting off with a scarce example of Civil War coinage

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Bidders figure out rarity of Palitoy Action Force group with provenance to designer

10 February 2025

Palitoy was a major player in the British toys scene.

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Organiser of town centre events across southern England launches another in the capital

10 February 2025

An events specialist who has cornered the market for antiques and vintage street fairs across southern England for the past 10 years is moving in towards central London.

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JJ Kaendler Meissen hares hunted down by eager bidder

10 February 2025

This group of three Meissen models of hares ranges in size from 3in (7cm) to 6in (16cm).

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Book fair opportunity to celebrate Austen birthday

10 February 2025

This year is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth in 1775 and among the many celebratory events is Miss Austen, a four-episode drama currently airing on BBC 1, which is based on the novelist’s sister Cassandra.

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Early Ayres rocking horse rides in at £7000

10 February 2025

Most surviving rocking horses by FH Ayres of London date from 1880-1940 - made in the era when the safety stands (first patented by Philip Marqua of Cincinnati in 1880) had become the norm.

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International bidders give auction boost when UK buyers prove more cautious

10 February 2025

A deceased estate in Dorset that yielded a notable collection of Old Masters provided a fillip to Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne’s latest mixed-category auction.

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‘It feels like a full, fun day out’: Buyers hunt bargains at Love Fairs’ Lingfield Racecourse event

10 February 2025

Love Fairs held its second event of 2025 at Lingfield Racecourse in Surrey – marking its 10th year at the venue.

Roman Surgical Tools

Silver instruments offer insight into Roman dentistry at London auction

07 February 2025

There was high demand for a collection of what appeared to be Roman dental instruments at a recent Apollo Art Auctions sale.

La Chambre by Claudia Williams

Personal collection of Welsh artists Gwilym Prichard and Claudia Williams consigned to Rogers Jones

07 February 2025

The family collection of works by Gwilym Prichard (1931-2015) and Claudia Williams (1933-2024), the renowned husband and wife team of modern Welsh art, is being offered without reserve at Rogers Jones.

Sundial from Kinburn Fortress

Relic of Crimean War appears after half a century

06 February 2025

A piece of militaria history has become available to the public for the first time in over 50 years, and is offered by dealers Knight Fine Antiques and Collectables.

‘Customs House, Poole’ by John Piper

John Piper architectural study sold to Poole Museum at Roseberys’ auction

06 February 2025

Poole Museum has emerged as the buyer of a work on paper by John Piper (1903-92) that sold at a Roseberys auction last year.

LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair

LAPADA confirms dates for 2025

06 February 2025

LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair has confirmed that it will be returning to its Mayfair location between October 28-November 2, 2025.

West Ham v Wolves programme

What a result: West Ham v Luton football programme for postponed match takes 440 times top estimate

06 February 2025

When bad weather made the Upton Park pitch unfit for play on Saturday, January 17, 1959, it must have seemed fairly unremarkable.

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