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

Holkham Hall Sevres Dessert Service

Attic clear-out achieves lofty prices as Holkham Hall provenance powers bidding

14 February 2025

More than 400 lots were offered in Holkham Hall's attic sale held on the premises at the Earl of Leicester's north Norfolk residence

‘Merveilleuse’ gown

Provocative ‘Merveilleuse’ gown from the 1790s flies to 20 times estimate at Kerry Taylor Auctions

14 February 2025

Vintage costume specialist Kerry Taylor has sold the private collection of Napoleonic and Regency dress formed over the last two decades by Cristina Barreto and Martin Lancaster.

13.2.25 Careless Talk Costs Lives Pub Poster

Careless Talk Costs Lives posters appear at auction

14 February 2025

A complete set of 'Careless Talk Saves Lives' posters by Punch cartoonist Fougasse (1887-1965) appeared at Jones & Jacob in Oxfordshire

DD 2682 Panter And Hall 3 Spanish Women

New show taps into trend for Swedish art

13 February 2025

Panter and Hall are hosting an exhibition of Swedish painters in its Pall Mall gallery, the first of its kind in a London dealership for many decades.

Marye The Quene

Mary I’s Wyatt Rebellion response letter doubles estimate

12 February 2025

A letter from Mary I (1516-1558) to privy councillor William Paget on the outbreak of Wyatt's Rebellion doubled its lower estimate at Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull.

Royal Opera Costume Sale Aberdare ©2025 RBO Photographed By Ike Egbetola 6 Copy

Royal Opera House costume sale proves a scene stealer in Wales

12 February 2025

A sale of costumes from the Royal Opera House featured examples from a swathe of famous productions

Cedric Morris painting

Fresh shoots: ‘Never-before-seen’ Cedric Morris painting to appear at Cheffins

11 February 2025

A market fresh picture by the artist-plantsman Sir Cedric Lockwood Morris (1889-1982) has emerged at auction in Cambridge.

Munnings painting

Munnings exhibition lands in Devon

11 February 2025

Sir Alfred James Munnings (1878-1959) was one of England's finest painters of horses and an outspoken critic of Modernism. He is currently the subject of a new show in Devon.

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Lord of the Rings full signed set makes six figures at Forum

10 February 2025

Forum Auctions has set a record for a copy of JRR Tolkien’s 'The Lord of the Rings'.

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Pick of the Week: On the scent of Chanel No 5 classic bottle

10 February 2025

Chanel No 5 was perfected in the late summer and autumn of 1920 by the French-Russian chemist and perfumer Ernest Beaux.

Coins and medals: Roma collapse hits market totals

10 February 2025

The closure of Roma Numismatics and competition from overseas meant total sales across London coins and medals auctions fell to £51.7m in 2024.

Brislington delftware royal plate

Delftware plates that appeared on Antiques Roadshow sold at Salisbury auction

10 February 2025

Two English Delftware plates, described on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow a decade ago as “as rare as you can get”, went under the hammer at Woolley & Wallis on February 5.

Map of Estcourt family estates

Map of influential Gloucestershire family estate makes 10 times estimate

10 February 2025

A decorative 18th century map showing the estate of an influential Gloucestershire family made 10 times its estimate at a recent Dominic Winter sale.

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Mahogany cased stereoscope viewer is among five lots to watch

10 February 2025

With estimates from £80, here are five previews of upcoming items

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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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