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.

World Heavyweight Championship belt

Death of "The Greatest" prompts consignments of memorabilia to auction

25 August 2016

A collection of Muhammad Ali memorabilia is being sold in a Dallas saleroom following an outpouring of related consignments from the public in light of the boxer’s death.

Pillow from Reagan

Americana the beautiful: Reagan's private collection to appear at Christie's

23 August 2016

The release of the catalogue for the upcoming sale of the Reagans’ private collection reveals the President’s artistic flair and the First Lady’s taste for diamonds.

Thracian coin eBay auction

Ancient coin banned from eBay due to Nazi-like symbol

23 August 2016

An auction of a Thracian coin – minted in the city of Apollonia Pontica (in modern-day Bulgaria) in the 4th or 5th century BC – was halted by eBay on the grounds the listing was ‘hateful or discriminatory’.

Paysage village by Fernand Leger

Cubism at Chicago auction: Fernand Léger works predicted to fetch $2m

22 August 2016

Two Cubist works by Fernand Léger (1881-1955) lead a potentially lucrative line-up of pictures at Chicago saleroom Leslie Hindman’s auction next month.

Keno brothers sued over debts but insist creditors will be paid

22 August 2016

New York-based appraisers Leigh and Lesley Keno, two of the best-known faces of the US version of TV programme Antiques Roadshow, are facing increasing scrutiny as their debts mount with a string of regional auction houses.

Truman Capote Ashes

Auction of Capote's ashes keep author larger than life even in death

19 August 2016

The ashes of author Truman Capote are to go under the hammer at a Los Angeles auction of entertainment memorabilia next month.

Melted Mac from Tekserve

A thing of the past: auction of computer history follows closure of famous electronics shop

19 August 2016

A significant collection of computer history is to be auctioned off following the closure of a famous electronics shop, where the collection was compiled over nearly 30 years.

Joakim Hansson of 1700 Antiques in Loddekopinge

Malmo decorative fair – ‘a trade secret amongst Swedish dealers’

19 August 2016

The annual Malmo Decorative Antiques Fair (Malmo Dekorativa) takes place at the end of this month at Katrinetorp, a pretty manor house and garden oasis around 10 minutes from the city centre and within easy distance of the airport.

Scrimshaw auction Rafael Osona

Scrimshaw market shows signs of a return to buoyancy at sale of Memishian collection in US

18 August 2016

Scrimshaw has been in the doldrums during the last few years with several dealers and auctioneers holding back on sales until there is more legislative clarity over the rules concerning its sale and importation.

Judge rules in museum’s favour over long-running Nazi-looted art claim

18 August 2016

The heir of the Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker is planning to appeal against a court ruling over the ownership of a pair of works by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Major coin show set to kick off in Hong Kong

17 August 2016

Over 100 exhibitors have signed up for the inaugural Hong Kong Coin Show which opens on Friday, making it one of the largest numismatic shows of the year in Asia.

1933 penny Heritage Auctions

1933 and all that: $165,000 for Britain’s numismatic superstar

16 August 2016

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions set a new record for any copper or bronze coin when a 1933 penny took $165,000 (£127,000). The buyer was a private collector.

Cancellation of Lille Braderie “an economic and cultural disaster”

15 August 2016

The head of Lille’s Chamber of Commerce has called the cancellation of this year’s Braderie “an economic and cultural disaster”.

South African art specialists launch new auction firm in Johannesburg

11 August 2016

A new auction house has been set up in South Africa. Aspire Art Auctions will hold their inaugural sale in Johannesburg on October 31.

Charles Lindbergh flying helmet

Charles Lindbergh’s record-breaking flying helmet to be offered at Paris auction

10 August 2016

Charles Lindbergh’s flying helmet which the American aviator wore on his record-breaking solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927 is to be offered for sale in Paris this autumn.

Pablo Picasso's Femme assise

Sotheby’s make higher profits despite drop in auction market

08 August 2016

Sotheby’s latest results showed the firm has increased profits despite a significant fall in auction sales. Their share price jumped by over 15% after the figures were released earlier today.

Lille brocante

Europe's largest braderie cancelled in the face of security concerns

05 August 2016

The annual Braderie de Lille was cancelled today just weeks before opening in light of continuing security concerns in France.

Wang Hui's Emperor Kangxi's Journey to the South

Record of Chinese emperor's journey south to lead a Sotheby's Asia Week sale

05 August 2016

A rare handscroll fragment recording the Qing dynasty's ambitious rule is a key lot at one of Sotheby’s upcoming sales.

China Guardian founder takes largest shareholding in Sothebys

04 August 2016

The largest shareholder in Beijing’s China Guardian Auctions has also become the largest single shareholder in Sotheby’s. Cheng Dongshen, chairman and chief executive of Taikang Life Insurance, purchased $230m or 8m Sotheby’s shares across June and July and now has a 13.5% stake.

Thousands of ‘frozen’ manuscripts from bankrupt Aristophil fund to return to market

28 July 2016

Historical documents and manuscripts from the scandal-hit Aristophil investment scheme could soon return to the market as the slow process of restitution promises to quicken in the coming weeks.

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