Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Novelty items shine at Sotheby’s prohibition-themed sale
26 May 2020An American silver-plated cocktail shaker fashioned as a lighthouse from c.1927-29 was among the lots commanding interest at Sotheby’s sale of prohibition-era items.
Paul Nash drawing and a model train among four lots to watch at auction this week
25 May 2020With estimates from £3000-60,000 here are four previews of upcoming items this week.
Buyer tracks down a Lely lookalike
25 May 2020This portrait that emerged at the March 18 auction at Halls (20% buyer’s premium) of Shrewsbury appears to be closely based on Sir Peter Lely’s (1618-80) portrait of Mary II as a young girl that now resides in the Royal Collection.
Affordable art: Three works sold for under £1400 including a Pierre de Clausades landscape
25 May 2020Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a landscape by French artist Pierre de Clausades that sold over estimate.
Lockdown period leads to increased number of first-time bidders
25 May 2020The migration to online sales that has occurred during the lockdown has brought about some noticeable changes to the art market. These include, not least, the profile of buyers at auctions.
Gold price hits record high in the UK
21 May 2020An all-time high for gold was recorded in the UK this week as investors looked to the traditional safe haven of the yellow metal at a time of grave economic uncertainty.
Cecil Beaton sketches turn heads at Bonhams auction
19 May 2020The latest sale of Modern British art held by Bonhams in Knightsbridge was its first live event held ‘behind closed doors’ in the UK. It included 22 pen and ink drawings by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) which formed part of the famous photographer’s ‘The Book of Beauty’ published in 1930.
Lobbying helps art industry make key step in return to full trading in England
18 May 2020Following representations by the British Art Market Federation (BAMF) and the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers And Valuers (SOFAA) to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), auction houses were removed from the list of businesses that must remain closed due to the government's lockdown measures. DCMS said antique dealerships will also be able to open premises from June 1.
Antiquities headline Christie's ‘Classic Week’ online from June 2-19
18 May 2020Offering a range of antiquities, Old Masters, 19th century art, sculpture, books and manuscripts, Christie’s ‘Classic Week’ of sales in New York will take place as a series of seven online auctions next month.
Take a look at the bigger picture
18 May 2020Auctions may be down in number but pre-lockdown sales provided some positive market signs
Sir Oswald Birley's sensitive not stern portrait of father
18 May 2020Sir Oswald Birley (1880-1952) is among the artists most represented in UK public collections. Art UK records 173 works in national museums and institutions, National Trust properties and local museums.
Bidders back a local artist in Cumbria
18 May 2020Seven lots by celebrated local artist Percy Kelly (1918-93) put in a decent performance at the most recent Antiques & Fine Art sale held by Cumbrian saleroom Mitchells (22% buyer’s premium).
Affordable art: Three works sold for under £1000 including a Vladimir Polunin stage design
18 May 2020Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a pencil and watercolour by Russian artist Vladimir Polunin.
Sotheby’s launches hybrid format combining elements of auctions and private sales
16 May 2020Sotheby’s has launched a new hybrid sale format which is a cross between an auction and private sale.
Christie’s launches major cross-continental Modern art sale using live streaming with bidders in the room where permitted
15 May 2020Christie’s is launching a new sale-format for a major 20th century art auction in July.
Christie’s to stage ‘Classic Week’ as series of online auctions
14 May 2020Christie’s has announced that its ‘Classic Week’ of sales in New York will now take place as a series of online auctions.
Chiswick Auctions’ art sale lifted by two consignments from artists' estates
11 May 2020Two consignments of works directly from artists' estates added a distinctive flavour to Chiswick Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Modern & Post-War British Art sale.
Major auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s remain scheduled as live events
09 May 2020The flagship art auctions due to take place at Sotheby’s and Christie’s in June and July remain on the calendar as live events.
Sotheby’s and Christie’s hail online sale results but turnover will depend on future of flagship auctions
04 May 2020Sotheby’s and Christie’s have released figures to highlight how they have been able to manage the process of rapidly migrating their core business online during the coronavirus crisis.
Items from France’s national furniture collection to be auctioned to raise funds for health service
04 May 2020France’s Mobilier National, the body that looks after the national furniture collection, is auctioning 100 pieces from its holdings in order to support the country’s health service.