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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Christie’s withdraw lots after antiquities alert

14 April 2015

Four lots were withdrawn at the eleventh hour by Christie’s last week amid fresh allegations in the media over illicit antiquities at auction.

Christie’s theft – man jailed but no recovery

13 April 2015

A career criminal who stole more than £700,000 worth of Fabergé items and sold them to a crack dealer for just £100 has been jailed for 28 months.

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Sotheby’s to auction Castle Howard contents

13 April 2015

A stellar consignment of paintings and antiques from Castle Howard will be offered at Sotheby’s this summer.

Hatton Garden theft: victims still wait for news

13 April 2015

Dealers in London’s jewellery quarter are still waiting to discover if they were among the victims of the theft at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit.

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Nantgarw dessert service is a sweet success

13 April 2015

A 20-piece Nantgarw dessert service has sold for £20,000 at Campbells of Worthing. It was consigned on behalf of a titled lady.

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New show turns spotlight on Kenneth Rowntree

10 April 2015

Dulwich Picture Gallery launched a long overdue show of watercolours by Eric Ravilious (1903-42) last week, an artist unswayed by fashion whose paintings and designs encapsulate the spirit of inter-War England.

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Victorian novelty silver salts hop to £18,000

10 April 2015

This 5in (12cm) high pair of Victorian salts in the form of kangaroos made by Bond Street silversmiths Hunt & Roskell sold for £18,000 at Catherine Southon’s latest sale at Farleigh Court Golf Club near East Croydon.

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The signs of progress for Sheffield dealers

08 April 2015

Sheffield’s antiques quarter has been put on the map with new brown signs to illustrate its cultural significance.

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Your starter for £2.2m…

07 April 2015

Over 700 lots from West Horsley Place in Surrey, the home of the late Mary Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe, are going under the hammer at Sotheby’s in May.

Man charged for Harrogate robbery

07 April 2015

Police investigating a robbery at Montpellier Antiques in Harrogate on the morning of Monday, March 16, have arrested and charged a 24-year-old man from Manchester.

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A marvel in marquetry

02 April 2015

This c.1690 marquetry cabinet on stand in the manner of the Anglo-Dutch maker Gerrit Jensen (d.1715) sold for £35,000 at the latest sale at Brightwells of Leominster.

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Medal group of last surviving dambuster tempts Lord Ashcroft

01 April 2015

Lord Ashcroft is best known for Victoria Crosses as a collector, but the bravery of the Dambusters inspired his latest attempts to buy gallantry awards.

Men deny saleroom and museum thefts

30 March 2015

Eleven men charged with conspiracy to steal as part of a national investigation into high-value thefts at an auction house and museums have pleaded not guilty at Birmingham Crown Court.

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Striking Russian gold in Dorset

25 March 2015

Two large 18th century gold medals depicting events from the reign of Catherine the Great sold for spectacular sums at Duke’s latest auction in Dorchester.

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‘Overvalued’ Dark Age hoard comes to auction

24 March 2015

A remarkable hoard of coins shedding light on the power struggles between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons has come onto the open market in a highly unusual sale.

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An enigmatic £200,000 Chinese sleeper unmasked

23 March 2015

Drama came at a recent sale at Taylor’s Auction Rooms in Montrose when a lot of two pieces of Chinese blue and white porcelain sold for £200,000.

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Philpot portrait from Noël Coward’s collection sets £250,000 record

23 March 2015

This portrait by Glyn Warren Philpot (1884-1937) was the star performer of pictures formerly in Sir Noël Coward’s collection sold at Christie’s South Kensington.

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Designers pick their BADA favourites

23 March 2015

The BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair opened last Wednesday on a sunny Duke of York Square in Chelsea, welcoming a steady stream of visitors.

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Plaques head to auction in Leeds

23 March 2015

Discovered in a pile of objects waiting to be tipped at a routine house clearance, a pair of large ceramic plaques will be offered at Gary Don in Leeds this week.

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Sweet music makes £120,000

17 March 2015

Bath auctioneers Gardiner Houlgate (20% buyer’s premium) set a new house record on March 12 with the sale of a guitar by the celebrated French luthier Jean-Baptiste Voboam (1658-after 1731) for £120,000.

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