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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Signed Fab Four photos are big hits with bidders

22 January 2024

A c.1964 publicity photograph signed by all four members of The Beatles sold for £13,000 at Bristol auction house Auctioneum (21% buyer’s premium).

Kenneth Armitage sculpture

Plea to trace Kenneth Armitage sculpture stolen from Sloane Street Auctions

22 January 2024

A sculpture due to be offered at Sloane Street Auctions has been stolen from its gallery.

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Donald Duck butts in thanks to ‘Walt Disney’ greeting

22 January 2024

The Doll & Bears Sale at Vectis (20.83% buyer’s premium) in Stockton-on-Tees included this rare Disney Donald Duck from the 1930s.

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The 70s to 90s: ‘People are buying their childhoods back’

22 January 2024

The appeal of more modern toys for the latest collectors buying based on nostalgia for childhood playthings was underlined by a large group of Transformers offered at Special Auction Services on January 17.

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Hanley out of the mist at Portland Gallery show

22 January 2024

'Misty Landscape' (1987) is a characteristic work by British artist Liam Hanley (1933-2019) and one of the highlights in his retrospective at Portland Gallery next month.

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Haddon powers on with 60 dealers booked for Essex event

22 January 2024

For Emma and Steve Cooper of Haddon Events, their calendar is a whirlwind of events in Essex, Hertfordshire and Greater London including antiques and vintage fairs, vintage fashion fairs, classic car and country shows and a community street event.

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Fine Lines dolls' house takes £6000 hammer price

22 January 2024

The toy company of Lines is often mentioned in relation to rocking horses but it was a double bay-fronted dolls’ house produced in c.1895 that impressed at Sheffield saleroom Ellis Willis & Beckett (19.5% buyer’s premium).

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Fortune tellers and Egyptian tombs – all for just a penny

22 January 2024

Penny in the slot machines known as a ‘Working Model’ came in many guises but, essentially, they all formed a large upright cabinet with a glass window top section.

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Early Newcastle silver sniffed out in Oxford saleroom

22 January 2024

The earliest records of the silversmithing on the Tyne date from 1249.

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Fedden in the pink and over the moon

22 January 2024

Works by Mary Fedden (1915-2012) are a fairly common sight at regional auctions.

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Pulham conjures auction magic in South London

22 January 2024

Roseberys (26% buyer’s premium) posted the second-highest auction price for Peter Rose Pulham (1910-56) at its most recent sale of Modern British & 20th Century Art.

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The homing instinct – Vivien Greene dolls' houses

22 January 2024

Dolls’ houses from the collection of a renowned expert and author came to auction in Kent.

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English Civil War siege relics race away to hammer for 25 times the low estimate

22 January 2024

This 19th century glazed wooden case containing musket balls, ceramic fragments and three complete clay pipes was eagerly contested at auction.

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Extensive dolls collection came from house where whole rooms were crammed full of displays

22 January 2024

Special Auction Services is selling what it bills as ‘the largest and most valuable doll collection to been seen at auction for 25 years’.

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Nantgarw plate displays Pardoe’s decorating talent

22 January 2024

Roseberys’ (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) final Fine & Decorative sale of the year included this recent charity shop donation: a Nantgarw cabinet plate decorated by Thomas Pardoe (1770-1823).

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Charity gifts that keep on giving when sold at auction

22 January 2024

Spotlight on a couple of shop donations that both ended up making £20,000 hammer prices

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Eye on an object: Victorian stained glass window

22 January 2024

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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Toy soldier guru James Opie holds last auction

22 January 2024

The Late John Ruddle Collection of toy soldiers sale held at C&T (22% buyer’s premium) on December 6 was a very special occasion.

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Silver plane travels well at small scale

22 January 2024

A sterling silver scale model of the Lockheed TriStar aircraft was the top lot at Kinghams’ (25% buyer’s premium) Silver and Objects of Vertu sale in the Cotswolds.

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Titanic memorabilia fascination surfaces once more at auction

22 January 2024

A tartan deck blanket, a pocket watch and a first-class dinner menu were all top-sellers in the latest auction of Titanic, White Star and Transport Memorabilia at Henry Aldridge & Son (plus 26.4% buyer’s premium).

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