Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Former Bargain Hunt presenter Tim Wonnacott to auction his own personal collection
13 November 2018Tim Wonnacott is to auction his collection of more than 250 items at Sworders in Stansted Mountfitchet next month.
Five items to watch at auctions this week including a René Lalique belt buckle featured on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow
12 November 2018From a René Lalique belt buckle featured on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow in April to a vase celebrating George III’s recovery from illness, here are five highlights from upcoming sales this week.
Four luxury sales for your diary from a Rolex watch to Catherine Deneuve’s wardrobe
12 November 2018‘Pre-owned’ luxury items are in demand and here is a selection of handbags and gladrags coming up for sale.
Online giant AbeBooks to continue trade in four countries after dealers remove books from site
12 November 2018A mass boycott by more than 580 book dealers across 27 countries has forced AbeBooks to U-turn on its planned withdrawal from four countries.
Amazon-owned AbeBooks u-turns on plan to quit trading in four countries after boycott by more than 550 book dealers
07 November 2018A backlash against Amazon-owned AbeBooks over the online book portal’s decision to quit selling in a number of countries has forced the company to backtrack on its plans.
Auction house Lyon & Turnbull launches whisky department to tap into growing sector
07 November 2018Lyon & Turnbull is to launch regular, dedicated whisky sales at its Edinburgh saleroom as the sector reaches an “all-time high”.
Duke and Duchess of Windsor snap from ‘Jumpology’ photo shoot comes to auction
06 November 2018Photographer Phillipe Halsman loved to take photos of famous people jumping. He once said: “Starting in the early 1950s I asked every famous or important person I photographed to jump for me. I was motivated by a genuine curiosity.
Can wheeler dealers become antique dealers? Former Flog It! presenter Paul Martin launches new BBC show
05 November 2018TV presenter and antiques specialist Paul Martin has kept himself busy following the announcement that Flog It!, the show he presented for 17 years, has been scrapped.
Global bookseller protest against Amazon-owned AbeBooks begins after decision to quit four countries
05 November 2018The backlash against Amazon-owned AbeBooks over the online book portal’s decision to quit selling in four countries has escalated to an online protest.
Gas explosion causes blaze at Nottingham Cattle Market but auction house Arthur Johnson unaffected
05 November 2018A blaze broke out in four buildings at Nottingham Cattle Market after gas cylinders exploded yesterday evening.
AbeBooks ‘not suitable sponsor’ for ABA as giant quits four markets
05 November 2018The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association (ABA) has scrapped its sponsorship deal with Amazon-owned AbeBooks after the online book portal chose to quit selling in four countries.
Five auctions to watch this week (November 5-11, 2018) featuring Star Wars' Walrus Man, Winston Churchill's hat and an Art Nouveau poster
05 November 2018A Walrus Man Star Wars figure, a hat once belonging to Winston Churchill and an Art Nouveau poster are among our previews from upcoming sales this week.
Overhaul business rates despite Budget reprieve, say trade bodies
05 November 2018The UK art and antiques trade is calling for an overhaul of the “archaic and regressive system” of business rates and dismissed the Budget rates relief announcement as “too little too late”.
Movers and shakers: the latest trade appointments including an automobilia specialist at Lawrences and a new CEO at Mall Galleries
03 November 2018Our latest look at new moves across auction houses and art dealerships.
UK issues export bar for Antonio Canova’s Bust of Peace sculpture
02 November 2018The UK government has issued an export bar on a previously lost Antonio Canova bust that sold at a Sotheby’s auction earlier this summer.
Sotheby’s “cautiously optimistic” about autumn auction season
01 November 2018Auction house Sotheby’s reported its third-quarter results for the three months to September 30 revealing a net loss of $27.8m (£21.43bn) - down 19% on the $23.5m posted a year ago.
Latest Titanic auction highlights include lifeboat plaques and poster of the return voyage that never happened
30 October 2018The latest Titanic sale at Devizes saleroom Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire achieved a 93% sold rate, with the top lots including life-boat plaques and an 18ct gold pocket watch.
Business rates cut is relief for antiques dealers and art galleries
29 October 2018Small antiques shops and art galleries have been given a reprieve on business rates with Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond announcing a cut by a third for many small businesses.
Five lots to watch at auction this week (October 29-November 4, 2018) including a rare silver chocolate stirrer
29 October 2018From the first book ever written in the Antarctic to a silver chocolate stirrer, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.
UK auction rooms ‘not aware’ of new laws on deactivated firearms
29 October 2018The National Ballistics and Intelligence Service (NABIS) has warned of a rise in defectively deactivated firearms offered at auction since the law changed this summer.