UK

A Chinese porcelain wucai fish vase sold for £810,000 at Fellows on Monday – 450 times its estimate. Such large wucai or 'five colours' fish jars tend to date from the reign of Jiajing (1522-1566) but Fellows believed it to be 20th century.

It ain’t rocket science: rarity adds value. While various other factors come into play, the number of a particular item in existence is a clear driver of auction prices, and in militaria the defence of Rorke’s Drift is a classic example.

A photo album giving a glimpse of late 19th century life in one of Britain’s most distinguished country seats is heading back home.

The first sale by dealers-turned-auctioneers Kingham & Orme made a hammer total of £289,490 and was led by a Martin Brothers bird.

The annual summer initiative ‘Brown’s London Art Weekend’, showcasing exhibitions, talks and tours in West End art galleries and auction houses, has announced a major rebranding and partnership.

British banks have warned UK dealers and auctioneers trading in Persian works of art that their accounts could be closed amid US sanctions against Iran.

A new art advisory group has been formed to help ease the pitfalls of buying and selling art and antiques.

The white shirt bears a dark ‘V’ across the front more like St Helens rugby league team, but the ball underneath is unmistakably round rather than oval. Then the words ‘Manchester United’ emblazoned below the figure give the game away.

The UK government has passed the third reading of the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill, opposing amendments called for by the art and antiques trade.

“Non-runners but ripe for restoration” is how Cheshire auction house Peter Wilson describes three 1930s cars found in a garden. It also sums up what fans of classic car ‘barn finds’ are after.

Joe Trinder is leaving Wotton Auction Rooms, were he is auctioneer, valuer and cataloguer, to join start-up saleroom Dawson’s.

Thousands of privately-owned works have become easier to access than ever before on a website launched by the Open Inheritance Art project.

Financier Falcon Fine Art has completed its first art lending deal in Belgium. The firm helped a collector in Belgium borrow against the value of a collection of 19th century “museum-quality” paintings and sculpture.

The sale of an early 20th century artwork attributed to Paul Nash has been cancelled after recent tests have thrown doubt on its origins.

Police are appealing for information after a painting by British artist Mary Potter was stolen at a recent fair in London.

One challenge that auctioneers face is whether to sell a collection as a whole, or in several different groups, or individually. Finding the right strategy is vital to getting lots away with decent prices.

The London dealer Godson and Coles of Fulham Road has concluded the sale of this George II period brass-inlaid mahogany metamorphic table to Temple Newsam House.

A Bristol filming session for the BBC's TV show Flog It! series saw the multi-estimate sale of this Victorian gold ring.