Front Page and News


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Medieval gaming piece found in sock drawer flies over estimate

14 October 2024

A medieval gaming piece found in a sock drawer sold for £50,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Gorringe’s in Lewes – smashing its estimate of £10,000-15,000.

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Besotted prince’s gift to mistress Lillie Langtry returns home to maker Hancocks

14 October 2024

A unique piece of jewellery created by Hancocks and dated to the c.1870s has returned to the UK after a glittering journey around the world, worn by the elite in entertainment and, consequently, seen by millions.

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Prime example of pietre dure decoration emerges at Lisbon auction

14 October 2024

An ornate 17th century cabinet with pietre dure inlays and gilt bronze mounts heads to Lisbon auction house Veritas on October 21 with an estimate of €80,000–120,000.

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Frieze frenzy begins with a Gorky success

14 October 2024

'Frieze London' and 'Frieze Masters' opened in Regent’s Park with the former featuring over 160 galleries from 43 countries, and the latter – the 12th edition of Masters – showing more than 130 galleries from 26 countries.

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Dresser design did not descend to the masses

14 October 2024

Despite his pioneering aesthetic, many of Christopher Dresser’s designs were too complex and costly to be easily mass-produced.

Two Women Wearing Cosmetic Patches

Rare 17th century portrait of black and white women goes on display at Compton Verney

10 October 2024

Following an 18-month conservation and research project at the Yale Center for British Art, an enigmatic double portrait that drew a dramatic competition at auction in 2021 is going on display at its new permanent home of Compton Verney.

Tristram Lewis bronze

Frankie Dettori bronze stolen in smash and grab from Haynes Fine Art

08 October 2024

A Frankie Dettori bronze made to mark the jockey’s retirement from racing has been stolen from Haynes Fine Art in Pimlico Road, London.

Imperial Daoguang 'floral' bowl

Huge cache of Chinese art released from storage after a century heads to Roseberys auction

08 October 2024

In storage for a century, a remarkable cache of Chinese works of art comes for sale in London this month.

gold rings

Gold increasingly destined for the melting pot as value hits a new high

07 October 2024

The gold fix in the UK rose above £2000 for the first time last week, continuing the strong increases recorded since the summer with prices rising by 9% over the last three months alone.

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Sculpture gallery carves out new base on New Bond Street

07 October 2024

Stuart Lochhead Sculpture will open its new gallery on Old Bond Street, coinciding with London Art Week in December.

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Meccano robot plays its cards right

07 October 2024

Its survival a mystery for years, a rare 1950s Meccano store display figure has surfaced in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

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‘Wandering hour’ watch found a home in Australia

07 October 2024

Any gold ‘wandering hour’ watch made prior to the introduction of the balance spring is a rarity.

Thomas Gainsborough Humphrey Tugwell C.1763. Photo Credit Dan Weill

Gainsborough portraits on public display for the first time

05 October 2024

Four Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) family portraits acquired under the Acceptance in Lieu scheme have gone go on public display for the first time.

Watercolour of the Great Lavra Belltower of Kyiv

Kyiv belltower view stands out as a Williams watercolour highlight

04 October 2024

A collection of watercolours amassed by Iolo Williams (1890-1962) which had been kept under a bed for over half a century raised a total of £89,150 at Olympia Auctions on October 2.

barniz de Pasto escritorio

Cabinet showing 17th century ‘globalisation’ in action makes over 90 times estimate

02 October 2024

Due to the fact that they represent a meeting of three continents and cultures, barniz de Pasto (Pasto varnish) boxes have recently been described by Jorge F Rivas Perez, curator of Latin American Art at the Denver Art Museum, as ‘some of the first works of a globalised world’.

Wedgwood George VI coronation mug

'Unique' yellow coronation mug sets record for a Ravilious ceramic

01 October 2024

A rare colourway of the Ravilious for Wedgwood coronation mug took a bid of £13,500 at Gildings – a record price for Ravilious ceramics.

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Ivory Act extension to pass ‘when time allows’

30 September 2024

The UK ban on the trade in antique scrimshaw and narwhal tusks has been delayed following the change of government.

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Punning box found among bric-a-brac makes four figure sum

30 September 2024

Plucked from a box of bric-a-brac brought in for a general sale, a Commonwealth gilt brass sealing wax box sold for £5200 at Lawrences of Crewkerne. A clever pun gives a clue to its maker’s identity - and perhaps his political leanings.

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Dealer Dickinson offers ‘early Michelangelo’

30 September 2024

London dealer Dickinson is offering what it says is ‘the one of the most exciting old master discoveries to have been made in recent decades, and is an important addition to the small group of extant drawings by Michelangelo’.

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Sock drawer discovery is medieval gaming piece

30 September 2024

A medieval walrus ivory gaming piece, recently found by a Gorringe’s valuer in a sock drawer, comes for sale in Lewes on October 8. As part of the Interiors & Decorative Arts Sale it has an estimate of £10,000-15,000

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