Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Getty becomes latest museum to return antiquities following provenance research
25 April 2024The J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is to return a bronze head from its antiquities collection to Turkey.
Rediscovered ‘Starship Enterprise’ model returned to son of Star Trek creator with help from Heritage Auctions
24 April 2024The original 3ft long model of USS Enterprise, used in the original opening credits, has been presented to the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.
Long-lost John Lennon guitar recovered from an attic comes to auction
23 April 2024John Lennon’s long-lost Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar has been rediscovered and is coming to auction next month.
New York’s Met Museum returns Sumerian sculpture to Iraq as part of its ‘Cultural Property Initiative’
23 April 2024The Metropolitan Museum of Art has returned a sculpture to Iraq following provenance research.
Pick of the week: The scoop on an Austral Islands kava ladle found in Derbyshire
22 April 2024A Polynesian ladle surfaced in a Derbyshire saleroom, selling for nearly five-times its £500-700 estimate.
Jewellery taken during ram raid at Hansons auction house
22 April 2024Hansons’ saleroom in Derbyshire has been the victim of a ram-raid break-in.
The Treasure House Fair hopes to ease Brexit red tape
22 April 2024The Treasure House Fair hopes to tempt more overseas exhibitors to future fairs with a new deal designed to make importing and exporting simpler and cheaper.
The National Gallery buys its first work by Impressionist painter Eva Gonzalès
22 April 2024A painting by French Impressionist painter Eva Gonzalès has been acquired by The National Gallery via a private treaty sale from a British collection for a “tax-advantageous price” of £1.49m.
Goldsmiths committee discusses de Lamerie fakes
22 April 2024Delegates attending the latest Goldsmiths’ Company London Assay Office seminar on April 12 were warned to be alert for faked objects purporting to be by the preeminent 18th century Huguenot silversmith Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751).
Heroes and crooks, stolen bronzes… it must be tales of the antiques trade
22 April 2024Specialists now become prolific writers as Michael Baggott and James Braxton bring out their latest books
Plea to raise final £40,000 for Kelmscott Manor’s Samson tapestries
17 April 2024The Society of Antiquaries and the Kelmscott Campaign Group, led by antiques dealer Martin Levy, are hoping to raise the final £40,000 needed to conserve Kelmscott Manor’s Samson tapestries.
How to spot faked or forged antique silver hallmarks
16 April 2024Delegates attending the latest Goldsmiths’ Company London Assay Office seminar on April 12 were warned to be alert for faked objects purporting to be by the preeminent 18th century Huguenot silversmith Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751).
Painting taken from Jewish family’s Berlin home restituted with help of The Art Loss Register
16 April 2024A painting belonging to a Jewish family who were forced to flea Germany under the Nazi’s has been returned to the family’s remaining heir with the help of The Art Loss Register.
Art dealer rediscovers 16th century portrait miniature by Lavinia Fontana in Texas
15 April 2024A ‘lost’ late 16th century portrait miniature by Italian painter Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) has been rediscovered by an art dealer.
Art and antiques trade warned about latest rise in thefts
15 April 2024The antique jewellery and precious metals trade has been warned to stay vigilant in the face of a rise in attacks and thefts.
Egg-shaped artwork could set new auction record for Italian artist Lucio Fontana
09 April 2024An artwork by Lucio Fontana, the Argentine-Italian artist known for his 'slashed canvas' creations, is coming to auction in May.
End of an era as Marlborough Gallery shuts this summer
08 April 2024Marlborough Gallery is to close after nearly 80 years in business following a decision by its board of trustees to wind down its operations.
Florida museum reveals purchase of early Chinese artefact alongside donation of 700 prints
08 April 2024The Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida has purchased an early Northern Song Dynasty stoneware box from a private US collector for a six-figure sum.
Marlborough Gallery to close after nearly 80 years in business
05 April 2024Marlborough Gallery is to close after nearly 80 years in business following a decision by its board of trustees to wind down its operations.
Christie’s reveals designer tie-up for latest decorative arts sales series
05 April 2024A year ago Christie's relaunched its decorative arts auction series to run concurrently online in three cities: London, New York and Paris.