Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Lots that come under close scrutiny
21 May 2018Lenses and slides caught the eye of buyers at specialist science and early technology auctioneer Flints (20% + VAT buyer’s premium) at its two-day sale of Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine.
Blow to art lending market in UK as government scraps proposed new lending law
16 May 2018Art lending in the UK suffered a blow this week when the government announced it was abandoning a proposed bill to reform lending laws.
Saturday May 19 is a big day: Salerooms happy to compete with Royal wedding and FA Cup final
15 May 2018Football fans and royalists have a busy weekend ahead – Saturday, May 19, is when Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle and Chelsea take on Manchester United at Wembley in the FA Cup Final.
London salvage and antiques firm hosts architecture and design summer lecture series in Georgian mansion
14 May 2018Salvage and reclamation specialist LASSCO is hosting a series of talks on the history of design and architecture in its Georgian mansion, Brunswick House in Vauxhall, south London.
Hedge fund owner of Savile Row tailor plans online-only auction at Sotheby’s
14 May 2018Savile Row tailor Huntsman & Sons and financier Pierre Lagrange are to hold an online auction at Sotheby’s later this month.
Rare pre-First World War photographs of Winston Churchill painting come to auction in Bristol
14 May 2018Prime minister, politician, army officer, war journalist and writer - Winston Churchill had many talents, but it was while painting that he truly relaxed.
‘End of an era’ as Iconastas sells up
14 May 2018Dealer Chris Martin-Zakheim is selling his stock after closing Iconastas of Piccadilly due to ill health.
Antiques Roadshow regular David Battie to hold exhibition at Cotswold auction house Tayler & Fletcher
12 May 2018BBC Antiques Roadshow regular and Asian art expert David Battie is to host an exhibition and lecture at Cotswold auction house Tayler & Fletcher.
Criminals who targeted antique dealers finally jailed after 16 year crime spree
11 May 2018Two criminals who stole more than £300,000 of jewellery and antiques by targeting antiques dealers at their homes have been sentenced to six years and two months’ imprisonment each.
Napoleon’s Sèvres dessert service sells at $1.8m at Rockefeller auction in New York
10 May 2018A Sèvres dessert service commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and known as the ‘Marly Rouge’ service has been sold for a premium-inclusive $1.84m (£1.36m) at Christie’s New York Rockefeller sale.
Derbyshire family and police call on antiques trade to help locate stolen artefacts from private chapel
10 May 2018A family are calling on the antiques trade to help them locate brass artefacts stolen from a private chapel in Walton upon Trent in Derbyshire.
Scottish Colourists collection comes to auction at Sotheby’s
09 May 2018Paintings by the renowned Scottish Colourists have been unveiled at the Art Club in Glasgow ahead of a single-owner collection auction next month.
Church Street raises market profile as Alfies turns east
07 May 2018North-west London’s Church Street is strengthening its events calendar and increasing the variety of dealers with a series of initiatives to attract customers.
Pick of the Week: Microscope looks good at £88,000
07 May 2018A rare 18th century variable microscope by eminent instrument maker George Adams sold for £88,000 at specialist science and early technology auctioneer Flints (20% + VAT buyer’s premium).
Sotheby’s reports 19% jump in turnover after private sales and Hong Kong auctions boost
04 May 2018Auction house Sotheby’s has reported a 70% jump in private sales in the first three months of 2018 to $247m (£182m).
Surge in demand for art-secured loans as access to finance for art and antiques dealers remains poor
04 May 2018Nearly 90% of art and antiques dealers want easier ways to borrow money to fund purchases and nearly a third believe the lack of available lending hampers growth, according to a recent report.
British Museum launches Egyptian antiquities database to track looted artefacts
04 May 2018A database of Egyptian and Nubian antiquities has been launched by the British Museum after it was awarded a government grant of nearly £1m.
Sir Stanley Spencer’s ‘majestic’ painting of Cookham regatta to be unveiled in public for first time in 60 years
01 May 2018A Sir Stanley Spencer painting will be shown in public for the first time in more than half a century ahead of its auction at Sotheby’s.
BDO report hits out at Mossgreen management
30 April 2018The administrator BDO’s report into the collapse of Mossgreen has recommended that the Australian auction house’s former management be investigated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) over possible criminal activities.
New money laundering regulation a “disproportionate burden” on art and antiques businesses
27 April 2018A European Union update to current anti-money laundering regulation designed to tackle terrorist financing risks will place an extra administrative burden on art and antiques businesses, warn trade associations.