Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
David Dalby cattle portrait leads Shorthorn Society auction
08 June 2020Shortly before the UK lockdown, Cumbrian saleroom Thomson Roddick (17.5% buyer’s premium inc VAT) offered works from the collection of The Shorthorn Society, a body that promotes the famous breed of cattle in the UK and Ireland.
Aivazovsky posts highest price for a painting sold online during the lockdown
04 June 2020The latest sale of Russian art at Sotheby’s posted the highest individual price for a painting sold at an auction so far during the worldwide lockdown. However the online sale’s overall total was 46% down on the equivalent live auction held last year.
Roman bronze arm leads Daniel Katz sale at Sotheby’s
01 June 2020A Roman bronze from the 1st century AD drew fervent competition and led Sotheby’s sale of works from the collection of London dealer Daniel Katz.
Faces from Cecil Beaton’s book of the beautiful people
01 June 2020Turning heads at Bonhams Knightsbridge’s sale of Modern British art was a group of 22 pen and ink drawings by Cecil Beaton (1904-80) which formed part of the photographer’s 'The Book of Beauty' published in 1930.
Happy returns for John Minton bankside scene
01 June 2020Work on paper outperforms more traditional works at Bonhams Knightsbridge lockdown sale of Modern British art
Orientalist and Islamic art sales at Sotheby’s rescheduled for June
28 May 2020Sotheby’s has announced that the second tranche of works from the Najd collection of Orientalist paintings will now be offered in an online sale next month.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.