Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Bonhams sticks to early offering
24 August 2020While Sotheby’s and Christie’s shifted their main Old Master offerings to the end of July, Bonhams (27.5/25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) maintained its auction earlier in the month with a sale in New Bond Street on July 7-8.
Scotland tightens the rules on face coverings at auctions
17 August 2020The Scottish government has updated its guidance on face coverings.
18th century French gift box and Edward the Confessor silver penny are among the five lots to watch at auction this week
17 August 2020With estimates from £180-9000 here are five previews of upcoming items this week.
Sale inspired by new age thinking
17 August 2020A mix of works across different periods and genres drew attention at the first Pictures through the Ages auction at Mallams (27% buyer’s premium) of Oxford.
Brangwyn pushes the boat out
17 August 2020A group of works on paper generated decent action at Keys’ (20% buyer’s premium) online-only sale of 20th Century design and modern art this summer.
Affordable art: Three works sold for under £750 including a Landseer ink on paper
17 August 2020Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including an work on paper by Sir Edwin Landseer.
Heaps of Victorian silver scrapped after another spike in precious metal prices
07 August 2020Another bounce in precious metal prices has led to more antique pieces of gold and silver being scrapped.
Glass image of Nelson laying in state features in our pick of five auction highlights this week
07 August 2020ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a reverse engraving on glass of Admiral Lord Nelson lying in state at Greenwich Hospital. It sold for 22-times estimate in Norfolk.
Government makes face-coverings mandatory at auction houses in England
05 August 2020Wearing a face-covering when attending an auction house in England will become mandatory from Saturday August 8.
Individual highlights at London 'high season' sales but totals hit as vendors hang on to works
03 August 2020The ‘high season’ of summer auctions in London held by Sotheby’s and Christie’s generated £205.8m including premium last week.
Seven highlights from the John Richardson collection at Sotheby’s
03 August 2020A collection of paintings, sculpture, works on paper and prints owned by the late art historian John Richardson is being offered at Sotheby’s later this year.
George VI expresses thanks to therapist
03 August 2020A royal presentation silver cigarette case given by George VI to his speech therapist Lionel Logue, the subject of the 2010 film The King’s Speech, sold for £61,000 at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury.
Pick of the week: Bidding battle as Dutch drawings sound call to arms
03 August 2020Estimated at £200-300, a pair of Old Master drawings sold for £125,000 after a sensational competition at Essex auction house Sworders.
Clouds lift for a Constable fan
03 August 2020Four pictures in Colchester sale provide a good case study in the factors affecting John Constable attributions and buyer confidence
Two tastes of Yorkshire
03 August 2020Two works by Fred Stead (1863-1940) drew strong interest at Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) in West Sussex thanks, in part, to here-to-be-sold estimates. They were being consigned from a deceased estate.
Affordable art: Three works sold for under £600 including a William Wyllie marine
03 August 2020Good art at a great price in regional sales.
Gold at all-time record as silver rises sharply
03 August 2020The price of gold jumped to a record high in the UK last week as global precious metal markets rose amid economic and political uncertainty.
Mary Queen of Scots' prayer book sells at Christie’s Classic sale
30 July 2020A prayer book that once belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) sold at Christie’s Classic Art evening sale in London.
Rembrandt self-portrait bid to £12.6m at Sotheby’s
29 July 2020A self-portrait by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-69) was knocked down for £12.6m at Sotheby’s latest live-streamed cross-category evening sale in London.
Gold price hits all-time record as silver rises sharply to seven-year high
28 July 2020The price of gold jumped to a record high in the UK this week as precious metal markets across the world rose due to the current economic and political uncertainty.