Auctioneers

The auction process is a key part of the secondary art and antiques market.

Firms of auctioneers usually specialise in a number of fields such as jewellery, ceramics, paintings, Asian art or coins but many also hold general sales where the goods available are not defined by a particular genre and are usually lower in value.

Auctioneers often provide other services such as probate and insurance valuations.

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Going back to the origins of Crystal Palace and Arsenal – postcards capture club pioneers

29 May 2026

The two images of 1907-08 shown here are from a group of nine postcards relating to Crystal Palace FC that were given a modest estimate of £50-80 in the Paper Collectables sale at Toovey’s (25% buyer’s premium) on May 20.

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Was ‘Red Fuji’ painted by Wirgman Jr?

29 May 2026

Small but intriguing coastal scene estimated at just £50-80 spotted by eager bidders and taken to £3500

2746 AB US Heritage Asterisk 1

Original Asterix cover art earns its laurels

29 May 2026

An original piece of Astérix cover art painted by Albert Uderzo (1927-2020) sold for an $360,000 (£267,000) at Heritage Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Dallas, Texas.

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Vanderbilt collection dishes out British treats

29 May 2026

Geneva’s blue ribbon jewellery sales are not the obvious place to find a suite of mid-18th century English silver dessert plates.

A trade card featuring Billy Bassett of West Bromwich Albion

Tiny winger, towering result: Billy Bassett Baines card hammers at 36 times top estimate

27 May 2026

West Bromwich Albion legend brings in the bidders

Cityscape by Francis Newton Souza

Souza works owned by Indian art critic raise six-figure sum at Sloane Street Auctions

27 May 2026

Francis Newton Souza (1924-2002) remains the most established name on the secondary market when it comes to modern Indian pictures.

Bonhams

Promotions, new hires and rebrands feature in the latest art and antiques news round up

26 May 2026

A rebrand at Bonhams and promotions at Woolley & Wallis are among this week’s Movers & Shakers

HMS Victory model

HMS Victory model given to Margaret Thatcher sails away at auction

26 May 2026

A model of Nelson’s flagship Victory made by French prisoners-of-war a few years before the Battle of Trafalgar which was later given to Margaret Thatcher has sold for a £92,000 hammer price.

Portrait of the Duke of Wellington

Thomas Lawrence portrait of Duke of Wellington heads back to auction

23 May 2026

A portrait of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) will be offered at Christie’s this summer.

Francois

New chairman for Christie’s as Guillaume Cerutti departs all ‌Pinault related companies

22 May 2026

French billionaire François Henri ‌Pinault has been ​named as ‌the new chairman of Christie's, which is owned ‌by his family investment ‌holding Artemis.

Stone sculptures

Sculpture fraudster sentenced after Metropolitan Police investigation

22 May 2026

A fraudster who tried to sell stone sculptures with false provenance through Sotheby’s has been sentenced after a three-and-a-half year investigation by the Met Police’s Art and Antiques Unit.

Side table

Side table takes centre stage with a £26,000 bid

22 May 2026

This Indo-Portuguese ivory inlaid rosewood side table had last been sold in 1950 when it was bought by the ceramicist Eric James Mellon (1925-2014) while an art student in London.

Oscar Wilde college photo

As one Oscar Wilde Oxford college photo sells in the UK, another is found in US library

22 May 2026

A rare photograph of the poet and playwright Oscar Wilde taken during his time at Magdalen College, Oxford sold for £4200 (plus 22% buyer’s premium) at a Dominic Winter auction.

Giambologna sculpture

Giambologna cast emerges at California auction

22 May 2026

An undated cast of Giambologna’s Allegory of Astronomy hammered for a remarkable $500,000 (£367,325) at San Rafael Auction Gallery in California.

‘Dandy Horse’ bicycle

19th century ‘Dandy Horse’ bicycle takes three times estimate at Sussex auction

22 May 2026

A British ‘Dandy Horse’ bicycle made c.1819 was the earliest among a group of four rare 19th century examples on offer at Lewes saleroom Gorringe’s.

Marielle Whiting

News in brief including two staff members promoted to director roles at Woolley & Wallis

22 May 2026

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including promotions at Woolley & Wallis

Marble relief of the emperor Marcus Aurelius

Ex-Christie’s specialist Patrick Lindsay to sell contents of London home

22 May 2026

On June 2, Dreweatts is selling the contents of the London home furnished by a renowned Christie’s auctioneer and a distinguished interior decorator.

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A master of martial arts and expert in Japanese martial arms and culture

22 May 2026

Focus on a dedicated auction in Sussex that dispersed the single-owner collection of an Anglo-Norwegian who became fascinated by combat in the Far East

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The first book devoted exclusively to Oman by Shaik Mansur aka Signor Maurizi

22 May 2026

Pioneering book covering daily life in Oman and life of the sultan was actually written by an Italian doctor

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Lieutenant’s revolver finds new owner

22 May 2026

A cased Powell and Son/ Tranter 4th model 54 bore percussion revolver was offered in a 14½ x 8in (37 x 20cm) oak case with the name plaque to the lid engraved Alfred Hancocks Lieutenant, 1st Worcestershire Volunteers Rifle Corps.

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