Phillips

In the wake of new sanctions on Russia, auction houses Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Bonhams have cancelled sales of Russian art in London scheduled for June.

A number of UK auction houses have stopped taking bids from buyers in Russia in response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Phillips has appointed Jean-Paul Engelen to the newly created role of president, Americas. In addition, he will continue as worldwide co-head of 20th century and Contemporary art.

Despite – or perhaps because of – the pandemic, three of the top international auction houses posted record or near-record results for 2021.

When Phillips held an auction in London on November 10 in association with Maak Contemporary Ceramics of selections from the collection of Dr John P Driscoll, it produced a number of record-breaking prices for Hans Coper (1920-81) and ended with a new auction high for the studio potter of £520,000 (ATG No 2518).

If ever there were a price to demonstrate just how important condition has become in the top end of the collecting market then it is the record-breaking SFr2.55m (£2.065m) for a reference CK2915 Speedmaster at Phillips (26/21% buyer's premium) in Geneva on November 5.

Two big-name sources – the Cox collection and the Macklowe collection – lead the way as Modern and Contemporary art market shows recovery from pandemic impact

Records were set for studio pottery when the collection of the late New York art dealer Dr John P Driscoll was sold last week.

The studio pottery collection of the late US dealer Dr John Driscoll will be offered at Phillips in conjunction with specialist Maak.

While Banksy prints abound at auction, the number of original works that emerge is understandably much less.

Art Nouveau-era art pottery from the collection of Jason Jacques, the well-known specialist dealer in this field, will be offered on December 9.

Auction houses Bonhams and Phillips have both increased their buyer's premium.

Christie’s has changed its buyer’s premium levels this autumn – creating clear air between its fee structure and those used at Sotheby’s and Bonhams.