Auctions

ATG’s pick of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com, including both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

Thomas Riley was one of the few professional tattooists of the Victorian and Edwardian era and – with patrons among international royalty and the aristocracy – a key figure in the changing perception of tattoos from ‘sailors’ marks’ to ‘body art’.

Bid online to a much higher than expected £3200 in a Dominic Winter (24% buyer’s premium) sale was a framed and glazed Thomas Rowlandson etching with contemporary colouring that depicts a famous 'Milling Match…' in 1811.

Based on Warring States (475-225BC) archetypes, archaistic bronze ritual wine vessels, zun, formed as tapirs became popular during the Northern Song period, remained so through to the Qing dynasty, and are major draws in Western salerooms today.

As recently as a decade ago relatively little attention was paid to Iraqi niello silver.

A selection of 16 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK

What auctioneer Michael Callan called “a modest mid terrace town house in Irvine, Ayrshire” was the source of one of the star lots of a recent Thomas R Callan (20% buyer’s premium) sale in Ayr.

While prices and interest have been declining in desk sets since computer laptops rendered them largely redundant, there are exceptions.

CEO of Auction Technology Group John-Paul Savant discusses the proposed acquisition of Live Auctioneers and says it will bring you more of what you want

Believed to date from the mid-17th century, this double portrait is a fascinating painting on many accounts.

Stuttgart auction house Nagel called it ‘beyond doubt one of the most important gilt-bronzes to appear on the market for many years’ – and the monumental Ming dynasty Sino-Tibetan figure of the wrathful deity Vajrabhairava did not disappoint.

The export of Italian art has become easier following changes made to the country’s cultural laws.

Pauses to lockdown easing across the UK may affect plans for larger art and antiques events, fairs and markets in the coming weeks, while in Ireland a lifting of restrictions has begun.

A selection of 11 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

Determined international bidders knew exactly what they were looking for at a sale of icons and Russian works of art held by Dr Fischer (28% buyer’s premium) in Heilbronn.

The appeal of this bracelet hung with eight enamel charms depicting Snow White and Seven Dwarfs lies in its Disney subject matter and its association with Cartier.

Some of the zest has gone out of the teddy bear market since the crazy days of two decades ago.

A copy of Ratzer’s 'Plan of the City of New York…' offered as part of a Doyle (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) sale in the spring left much to be desired.