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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London updated with a fifties festival

20 July 2020

The first version of this map of London was issued by the Southern Railway in 1938. It was designed by Kerry Lee (1902-88) who brought it up to date for British Railways in the 1950s.

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Dealers celebrate selling key items online from social media to online fairs

20 July 2020

Dealers including Philip Mould, Peter Harrington and Kevin Page Oriental Art have seen works snapped up online.

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Golden Age longcase underlines long and lucrative career of great London clockmaker

20 July 2020

The maxim that major names and top quality will always sell was underlined in the biannual specialist clocks sale at Dreweatts (25% buyer’s premium).

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Ivory in demand ahead of trade ban

20 July 2020

Despite – or because of – the imminent prohibition, good-quality antique ivory works of art continue to bring solid prices at auction.

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Three buyers for four Bawden drawings at Essex auction

20 July 2020

Edward Bawden (1903-89) is an artist whose work appears frequently at Sworders.

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Transatlantic rook flies as souvenir chess piece sells at Oxford auction

20 July 2020

As implied by an extensive inscription, this souvenir chess piece was produced by Carlo Joseph and Arthur Alphonse Giuliano, sons of the celebrated Italian artist jeweller Carlo Giuliano, to commemorate a chess match played via telegraph in 1897.

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Big benefits from miniature locomotives as Gildings offers large single-owner collection

20 July 2020

Leicestershire saleroom Gildings is offering an extensive single-owner collection of large-scale model locomotives in an auction which will benefit a life-size steam railway.

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Casket at Sevenoaks auction reflects rags to riches story

20 July 2020

This late Victorian silver-gilt and enamel ‘freedom casket’ sold at Ibbett Mosely (15% buyer’s premium) of Sevenoaks carries the name of John Aynsley II (1823-1907) and was awarded following his tenure as mayor of Longton from 1886-90.

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Maori greenstone brought to Britain by 1820s adventurer

20 July 2020

Pictured here is one of two 19th century or earlier Maori greenstone 'mere' offered at a recent sale held by Reeman Dansie (20% buyer’s premium) in Colchester.

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Kenneth Grahame’s letter on the loss of his son sells in Bristol

20 July 2020

A letter in which Kenneth Grahame writes about the suicide of his son, Alastair, sold at East Bristol Auctions (18% buyer’s premium) for £1200.

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Books unite the trade

20 July 2020

This portolan atlas known as the Harisse Codex is attributed to cartographer Battista Agnese, who worked in Venice.

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Bromsgrove metalwork blows estimates away

20 July 2020

From the house clearance of a deceased estate, a small collection of Arts & Crafts metalwork triggered an estimate-demolishing response from dealers and collectors at Fieldings (20% buyer’s premium).

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A voyage of discovery as Robert Young releases extra catalogue this year

20 July 2020

This primitive English sailor-work ship picture, c.1870, depicting a cutter in full sail on a calm sea was made with coloured wools embroidered on canvas.

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Snaggletooth figure on offer

20 July 2020

This Star Wars Kenner Blue Snaggletooth action figure, undented toe version, complete with original weapon, is estimated at £80-120 in the Special Auction Services October 27 Toys for the Collector sale.

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Copy of David Roberts' The Holy Land owned by its creator

20 July 2020

Unusual proof example of mid-19th century work was a copy which belonged to David Roberts.

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The best of trench art emerges at Guernsey auction

20 July 2020

First World War ‘trench art’ – objects made by soldiers, prisoners of war and interned civilians from munitions casings – does not get much better than this brass model of a Vickers machine gun.

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Vase designed by ‘father of art pottery movement’ makes 16-times estimate at Hansons

20 July 2020

This large 16in (40cm) high baluster faience vase, sold by Hansons (25% buyer’s premium) in Teddington, is by ‘father of art pottery movement’ Joseph-Théodore Deck (1823-91).

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Abbott & Holder promote Duncan Grant for the 21st century

20 July 2020

Abbott & Holder recently sold a bronze head of Duncan Grant (1885-1975) by Stephen Tomlin (1901-37) to the Charleston Trust, owners of the East Sussex home where Grant once lived and worked with other members of the Bloomsbury Group.

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Eye of the Collector latest London fair to be rescheduled

18 July 2020

The inaugural 'Eye of the Collector' fair in London has been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus.

Robert Erskine Childers' sword

Irish writer and nationalist Erskine Childers’ sword stars in our pick of five auction highlights this week

17 July 2020

ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a Victorian 1827-pattern officer’s sword owned by Robert Erskine Childers that sold above estimate in Co Dublin.

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