Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters
Banksy pranks art market with self destructing picture at Sotheby’s auction
06 October 2018Street artist Banksy managed to prank the art market by booby trapping his ‘Girl with Balloon’ picture that sold at auction for £1.04m at Sotheby’s last night.
Four collectables with royal connections up for sale this autumn
04 October 2018Items with royal connections have extra cache for buyers when it comes to desirability and price. Here are four objects with direct connections to noble owners that are currently for sale across dealerships and auctions.
BBC's decision to axe Flog It! after 17 years is "disappointing," presenters say
03 October 2018The long-running and successful antiques programme Flog It! has been axed as part of the BBC’s 'modernisation' of its daytime schedule, a decision presenters have described as "very sad news" and "disappointing for viewers".
Albert Einstein’s God Letter is coming to auction in New York with a $1m price tag
03 October 2018Auction house Christie’s is to auction Albert Einstein’s God Letter – his correspondence to philosopher Erik Gutkind written a year before his death in 1954.
Appeal to trade after collection of rare Leica cameras stolen in Scotland
03 October 2018A collection of rare Leica cameras and equipment has been stolen from a company in the Scottish Highlands.
Replica of the largest British Roman mosaic to return home to Gloucestershire
02 October 2018A replica of the largest Roman mosaic to be found in Britain could return home to Gloucestershire where it was made.
Could the contemporary art market bubble burst?
02 October 2018Confidence in the contemporary art market has dropped 24% in the first six months of 2018, amid fears of a potential bubble.
Regional rooms to repackage traditional fare
01 October 2018Two leading regional auction houses – Lyon & Turnbull and Dreweatts – are trying new format sales this autumn in the hope of increasing demand for traditional European art and antiques. Both are creating room sets for viewing works.
Three culture bill proposals to be debated in November
01 October 2018Three proposals for a European Union law on the import of cultural goods have been tabled for ‘trilogue’ talks in November.
What to buy: Five auctions to watch this week (October 1-7 2018)
01 October 2018Among the plethora of auctions across the UK this week, here are five highlights from upcoming sales, including a Stuart Devlin candelabra at Catherine Southon.
Asian art dealer recovers from Camden Passage flood and reopens
01 October 2018Islington dealership Kevin Page Oriental Art is officially re-opening following a flood that forced many dealers in the area to close.
Judge's copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover from obscenity trial to be auctioned at Sotheby’s
26 September 2018A copy of DH Lawrence’s infamous novel Lady Chatterley's Lover, used by the judge who presided over the 1960 obscenity trial is coming to auction at Sotheby’s in London next month.
Asian art dealer recovers from Camden Passage flood and reopens
26 September 2018Asian art dealer Kevin Page Oriental Art is officially re-opening following a flood that forced many dealers in Islington to close.
Trade lobbying helps win reprieve on US imports of Chinese art and antiques
24 September 2018The art and antiques trade celebrated a victory in the US after the Trump administration dropped plans for an import tax of 25% on art and antiques of Chinese origin.
Coinex grows into new venue for 40th year
24 September 2018Bigger could mean better at the UK’s largest coin fair this year. Celebrating its 40th year, Coinex 2018 is in a larger venue and has more exhibitors.
‘Only Fools and Horses’ fans dressed as Batman and Robin win Midlands auction to buy prop from TV series
21 September 2018A prop that featured in the BBC comedy ‘Only Fools and Horses’ has sold for a hammer price of £28,000 (plus 24% buyer's premium including VAT) at Dudley auction house Aston's. The winning bidders arrived at the saleroom suitably attired – in a Batman and Robin costume.
Reward offered for information to help recover stolen Danish silver collection
18 September 2018Danish police are appealing to the antiques trade to help track down a large collection of silver that was stolen in a burglary on September 8.
Call out to ‘next generation’ of the art and antiques trade for London networking event
18 September 2018BADA Friends will host its latest Young Friends Dealer Networking Evening next week with the aim of bringing together the younger generation of the trade.
Movers and shakers: new faces at Anderson & Garland and Chiswick Auctions among the latest arts and antiques appointments
18 September 2018Our latest look at new roles across the art and antiques trade as the new season begins.
Spanish ‘Belle Époque’ royal tiara comes to auction at Bonhams
17 September 2018A Belle Époque diamond tiara, designed by Spanish royal jeweller Ansorena and owned by a Spanish noblewoman, is to be auctioned at Bonhams later this month.