Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters

Movers & Shakers

New faces in Oxford, London and Germany across auction houses and fair organisers

08 December 2025

A round up of the latest Movers & Shakers in the UK and overseas

Studiolo

‘Micro’ fairs concept set to expand in the UK and internationally under new CEO

08 December 2025

The company behind ‘micro’ fairs 'Trois Crayons' and 'Studiolo' has hired a full-time chief executive officer ahead of expansion plans.

Elwin de Wolf

Collector interview: Silver boxes tell surprising stories on topics such as female artists

08 December 2025

Elwin de Wolf, based in the Netherlands, has been collecting silver enamel boxes for around 20 years.

coin hoard

Iron age coin hoard discovered in Dorset comes to market

05 December 2025

Gloucestershire numismatists Silbury Coins is offering a collection of Iron age coins dubbed the Tarrant Gunville Hoard.

Wainscot chair

Plea to track down 18th century 'bishops' chair stolen from Lancashire church

04 December 2025

A chair dated to 1703 has been stolen from St Marys the Virgin Church in Gisburn, Lancashire.

 London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square

Mayfair event cancellation leaves big gap in new year London line-up

01 December 2025

The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair has been cancelled for January 2026, leaving a hole in the new year fair calendar.

HMRC reveals fees for anti-money laundering supervision will rise

01 December 2025

HMRC is increasing its fees for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision.

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New book: Riley-Smith ruminates on his art market journey

01 December 2025

Crispian Riley-Smith, managing director and CEO of Art Advisory Group, has written a book covering his 30-plus years in the art market.

Movers & Shakers

Auction house expansions, relocations and hires around the UK and US

01 December 2025

A round up of the latest Movers and Shakers

Cypriot jug

Pre-Christian Cypriot jug returns to Cyprus after government intervenes ahead of auction

28 November 2025

A jug dating to 750BC and due to be auctioned at Cotswold Auction Company in Cirencester will now be returning to Cyprus.

Money Laundering Directive

HMRC increases anti-money laundering fees

28 November 2025

HMRC will increase the fees for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision.

Devi Mahatmya image

UK buyer sought for collection of Hindu paintings from the Devi Mahatmya

27 November 2025

The British government has temporarily blocked the export of a group of 19th century Hindu paintings in the hope a UK institution will raise funds to buy them.

Chair

Church pleas for return of rare Mackintosh-style chair stolen in West Hampstead

26 November 2025

A church in north-west London is appealing for help to recover a stolen chair.

Henry House

Henry House to join Dreweatts as CEO

25 November 2025

Newbury auction house Dreweatts has hired Henry House from Sotheby’s.

Triptych

Museum launches funding plea to keep rediscovered 15th century almshouse triptych in Dorset  

25 November 2025

A 15th century Flemish devotional triptych discovered in an almshouse in Dorset is to be offered at auction next month with an estimate of £2.5m-3.5m.

Wallis and Wallis

East Sussex auction house Wallis & Wallis relaunched by long-standing staff members

24 November 2025

East Sussex auction house Wallis & Wallis has new owners after being with the same family for more than 50 years.

18ct gold pocket watch

Titanic passenger’s gold pocket watch takes £1.5m – setting a new auction record

24 November 2025

A pocket watch belonging to a first-class passenger who lost his life on the Titanic was hammered down at £1.5m, or £1.78m including 22.5% buyer’s premium.

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English baron revealed to be the mystery portrait sitter

24 November 2025

A Shropshire dealership has rediscovered a lost portrait of an Elizabethan lawyer through heraldic research.

Pascaline

Auction of earliest-known calculator suspended after Paris court ruling

21 November 2025

A Paris court has delayed the sale of the earliest-known calculator.

Louise Phillips with Ingrid Nilson

BADA plans first antiques fair outside of London

20 November 2025

The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) is launching a new fair in the East Midlands.