News topics

It was not just the great and good of 18th century Europe and North America who commissioned the Thirteen Factories at Canton to embellish Chinese porcelain blanks with family armorials or subjects copied from prints.

This couture gown, sold for £360 at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium), was once owned by the woman who hosted the wedding of Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor.

Personal items that belonged to Marie-Antoinette were the highlights of Osenat’s (20.83/18% buyer’s premium) themed sale titled Royalty at Versailles.

ATG’s selection of auction lots bought by internet bidders on thesaleroom.com from the period May 21-27, 2020. This includes both the highest prices over estimate and the top prices paid online.

As antiques businesses prepare to reopen across the country, Holly Johnson Antiques is set to launch a new showroom in Knutsford, Cheshire.

South Africa leaving the Commonwealth in 1961 had serious consequences for British exporters – particularly when withdrawal was followed by imposition of an import tax on luxury goods.

Jocelyn Feilding, who died aged 80 on May 9, was a distinguished art dealer and bon viveur. He had an authoritative eye and a passion for Italian painting.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including a Star Wars action figure droid from 'The Empire Strikes Back' making over 50-times estimate.

Sixteen upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.

'The Loyalists Alphabet, an Original Effusion' was one of an additional group of 55 lots from the Birmingham Assay Office collections (see main report in ATG No 2438) that was offered as part of one of the regular online sales held by Forum Auctions (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).

MADAM – I find it interesting to see that some auction rooms, who before Covid-19 were very unhelpful regarding postage and packaging, are now bending over backwards to provide either this service or free storage.