International

About 80% of the global art market by value takes place outside the UK. The largest art market in the world is the US with China in third place (after the UK) followed by France, Germany and Switzerland.

Many more nations have a rich art and antiques heritage with active auction, dealer, fair, gallery and museum sectors even if their market size by value is smaller.

Read the top stories and latest art and antiques news from all these countries.

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Cape Town connects the world

10 April 2026

Single-owner collection reflects both the port’s position linking trade routes and the artisans it attracted

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Market that relies on a stand-out selection of South African Modernists such as sought-after Stern

10 April 2026

The South African auction scene is heavily dependent on the work of the handful of painters who played a key role in shaping the nation’s art in the first half of the 20th century.

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The trick is to keep it original when it comes to magical content

10 April 2026

Magic books library reflects obsession of collector who prized exceptionally clean examples

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Ehret record price grows as magnolia blossoms in the US

10 April 2026

An original Georg Dionysius Ehret illustration of a magnolia blossom hammered for $330,000 (£242,000) at Arader Galleries (20% buyer’s premium) on February 7 in New York.

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Gallery visit showcased in art sells at auction house after international bidding contest

10 April 2026

Nine potential buyers from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and the US engaged in a bidding battle for a 17th century Dutch genre painting in Lille.

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Battle of the bookcase Old Master

10 April 2026

Bidding competition breaks out in south London for Mannerist work discovered in a west London house

A 'parrot-sun' work on paper by Joan Miró

Miró works discovered in Nice studio head to auction

08 April 2026

Three previously unseen works on paper by Joan Miró (1893–1983) have been discovered in a studio in Nice and are set to make their auction debut in April.

C.I.V by Erskine Childers

Rare book fair returns to Dublin after three years

08 April 2026

A new book fair is being planned for the summer in Ireland.

Akbar Padamsee picture

Indian art continues to make headlines across the globe

02 April 2026

A newly discovered prime period untitled work by Indian Modernist Akbar Padamsee (1928-2020) established a new house record for Roland Auctions in Glen Cove, New York, on March 28.

A cocktail shaker

Cunard White Star line silver plate pieces snapped up

02 April 2026

Generating plenty of competition at Bonhams Skinner (28% buyer’s premium) was this lot of three pieces of Elkington & Co silver plate.

A 1897 Martin Brothers Wally bird jar

Martinware comes good in the end

02 April 2026

Lacklustre pre-sale activity leaves Canadian auction house concerned but all 17 lots sell successfully

A silver gilt English freedom box

Awarded to Harold Wilson of Huddersfield – but not the PM

02 April 2026

AH Wilkens (22% buyer’s premium) worded the lot notes carefully.

A 1958 British quad poster for Dracula

Hammer Horror hammers at $55,000

02 April 2026

Two 20th century posters in quite different genres set records at auction in early March.

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TEFAF Maastricht fair review: not the best timing but robust results nevertheless

02 April 2026

Despite events that seemed to be conspiring to make life difficult, TEFAF Maastricht remains a must-visit

A 19th century Samuel Alcock leech jar with original gilt decoration

Leech jars suck up the interest

02 April 2026

Though leeches do remain in the pharmacopeia, they’re no longer stored in the ceramic jars and urns common to pharmacies of the 18th and 19th century.

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Up at 4.45am, home by 10.30pm: TEFAF Maastricht in a day

02 April 2026

For some who are thinking of a visit to TEFAF Maastricht, the cost of staying over and paying for a hotel can be offputting and Maastricht appears too far away.

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Swedish Vega Expedition targeted Northeast Passage

02 April 2026

Compared with Scandinavian exploration by illustrious figures such as Nansen and Amundsen, the Vega Expedition is little known outside the region.

Wedgwood chess set

Pick of the week: Wedgwood made a move with Flaxman chess set

27 March 2026

The first mention of plans for a Wedgwood earthenware chess set occurs in a bill from a 30-year-old John Flaxman dated March 8, 1785.

Böttger Meissen coffee pot

German porcelain, vendor in east Asia… Paris sale

27 March 2026

Eighteenth century Meissen bought by a porcelain enthusiast from east Asia comes for sale at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris on April 22.

The late Jesper Bruun-Rasmussen taking a sale at his auction house

Obituary – Jesper Bruun-Rasmussen (1942-2026)

27 March 2026

An era in Danish cultural life has drawn to a close.

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