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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Big hitters strike auction highs

05 October 2020

In almost pristine condition, and with its redeemable coupon still attached, this promotional card bearing an image of a very young and slim Joe DiMaggio sold for $200,000 (£149,255) at Heritage Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) of Dallas on August 29-30.

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Castle hosts selected rather than huge sale

05 October 2020

The Munich auction house Hermann Historica (25% buyer’s premium) is renowned for its huge multi-catalogue sales series, but on September 25 it mounted a special, selected sale of works of art held at Schloss Greding, south of Nuremburg.

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Arader’s perfect score

05 October 2020

The October 10 auction at New York’s Arader Galleries includes the collection of the surgeon Dr Seymour Schwartz (2020) – a map collector Graham Arader considered something of a mentor.

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Zeus shield and grotesque mask armour

05 October 2020

Armour made a strong showing at the sale held in Sarzana by Italian arms specialist Czerny (20% buyer’s premium) on September 19.

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Bowie knives evoke pioneer spirit

05 October 2020

At Morphy Auction (20% buyer’s premium) in Denver, Pennsylvania, on August 19 it was an exceptional example of an icon of the pioneering life that had everyone expecting some strong bidding.

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A passion for glass

05 October 2020

Over the years, Wolf Horst Röhl, who died in 2005, amassed an impressive collection of 17th and 18th century Dutch and German cut glass.

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Flattery for Klabena

05 October 2020

On October 31, Quentin in Berlin is holding its 40th auction. One of the most unusual pieces is this 8in (22cm) high satirical porcelain figure, titled Schmeichelei (Flattery). It was modelled in 1909 by the Slovakian artist Eduard Klabena for KPM in Berlin.

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Roentgen marks an anniversary

05 October 2020

Cologne auction house Lempertz has been trading for 175 years and on November 13 has a special celebratory treat in store for connoisseurs of 18th century furniture.

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Ideal if you take a shot in the dark

05 October 2020

Firearms curiosa have long been a fascinating avenue for the collector to explore and this intriguing combined flintlock and lamp of c.1800 made €8500 (£7800) at Czerny (20% buyer’s premium) on September 19.

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Variations on a theme

05 October 2020

On October 21, Freeman’s in Philadelphia will mark Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday by offering a collection of 12 portrait bronzes of the composer by French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929).

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Seeing the doctor

05 October 2020

This portrait of doctor Heinrich Wolff, the stadtphysikus (city physician) in 16th century Nuremberg, is one of the highlights in the sale at Wendl in Rudolstadt on October 22-24.

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New hires across the art and antiques sector including at Dreweatts and Bonhams

03 October 2020

The latest Movers and Shakers at auction houses and dealers.

‘Going to the Pictures, 1941’ by Russell Drysdale

Russell Drysdale outback scene heads to Australian auction

01 October 2020

One of the most important works by modern Australian artist Russell Drysdale (1912-81) has been consigned to auction by descendants of the well-known art critic Clive Turnbull.

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Coronavirus: Paris Photo fair is latest French cancellation

30 September 2020

Paris Photo has cancelled its 24th staging, rescheduling it for next year.

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Sumptuous Desportes still life brings £1.5m at Bordeaux sale

28 September 2020

A newly-discovered work by François Desportes (1661- 1743) sold for a sensational €1.65m (£1.5m) at auction in Bordeaux.

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Wine vessel is toast of New York series

28 September 2020

The highlight of last week’s Asian art series in New York was this remarkable 14in (35cm) high Warring States period (475-221BC) bronze sacrificial wine vessel or 'fang hu'.

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Now available in 3-D: Parallax Stereogram comes to Cologne sale

28 September 2020

In 1902, American inventor Frederic Eugene Ives applied for a patent for his Parallax Stereogram.

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Karl Kunz's boxing match appears in Frankfurt auction

28 September 2020

Among the million-plus visitors to the notorious 'Die Ausstellung Entartete Kunst' organised by the Nazis in 1937 was the painter Karl Kunz (1905-71). He was not there to be disgusted by the excesses of the “modern degenerates”, as was the official intention, but rather to be inspired by the work of his fellow painters.

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Sundial and moon sketch draw demand in Plauen auction

28 September 2020

Mehlis (23% buyer’s premium) in Plauen held its first sale of the new season on August 28-29. There was lively bidding, with a high proportion of the bidders joining in by phone.

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Dealer event in Munich gets green light for 11th edition at Bavarian royal palace

28 September 2020

Fair organisers are not to be envied at the moment. Only at the beginning of September were the managers of the 'Highlights Fair' in Munich given the go-ahead for this year’s event (the 11th edition) which is opening its doors to the general public from October 22-25.

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