UK

The United Kingdom accounts for more than one fifth of the global art market sales and is the second biggest art market after the US.

Through auctioneers, dealers, fairs and markets - and a burgeoning online sector - buyers, collectors and sellers of art and antiques can easily access a vibrant network of intermediaries and events around the country. The UK's museums also house a wealth of impressive collections

img_21-2.jpg

Snake symbol of eternal love warms auctioneer's heart in south London

03 September 2018

Far more fluent in the language of jewellery and stones, the Georgians and Victorians would have immediately made the link between snakes and eternal love. The ouroboros – a serpent swallowing its own tail – was commonly understood as a symbol of eternity.

img_28-1.jpg

Christie’s sale full of optical landmarks

03 September 2018

A final selection from the extremely varied Christie’s (25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) major summer sale ranges from the scientific works of such giants as Newton and Galileo to the first jigsaw puzzle.

Computing in nearly 1000 lots at Sotheby's

03 September 2018

On September 18-19 Sotheby’s will offer an American library on the history of computing formed by the late Erwin Tomash (1921-2012), a sale that runs to 944 lots in all but is divided into two sections.

img_29-1.jpg

Play your Panko card at Exeter auction

03 September 2018

Complete with 48 cards and rules sheet, and still in its original, if slightly fragile case with printed label, Panko, or Votes for Women… is a sort of ‘Rummy’- inspired card game pitching Suffragists against Anti-Suffragists.

img_56-2.jpg

Catalogue hides a Canova

03 September 2018

An intriguing item with important international artistic links is on offer at Towy Fairs’ Carmarthen Antiques and Fleamarket on Sunday, September 9.

img_59-2.jpg

ATG’s Chippendale news story: media reaction

03 September 2018

Our story last week revealed that ivory elements of an important piece of Chippendale furniture, the Rowland Winn commode made c.1766, were removed for its appearance at a Christie’s auction earlier this year, the commode having been imported from the US.

British and Irish book auctions: September 4-15, 2018

03 September 2018

Our round-up of British and Irish book sales coming up from September 4-15, 2018.

img_40-2.jpg

Mayfair dealer holds solo show dedicated to Henri Martin

03 September 2018

Mayfair gallery Connaught Brown is staging the first solo exhibition of French Neo-Impressionist and Symbolist painter Henri Martin (1860-1943) to take place in London for a number of years.

img_11-3.jpg

Gardiner Houlgate auction offers guitars galore including the acoustic that set the Bee Gees on route to stardom

03 September 2018

Gardiner Houlgate in Wiltshire is dubbing its upcoming sale “the UK’s largest-ever auction of guitars”.

img_24-1.jpg

Scotland breaks summer slumber with Edinburgh Mod Brit and contemporary art sales

03 September 2018

August is the month when Scotland takes it up a notch while the rest of the art world has a breather.

img_40-3.jpg

Furniture highlight at Galloway Fairs’ North Yorkshire event

03 September 2018

A late 19th century kingwood and ormolu mounted jardinière, offered for £4995 by Mark Buckley Antiques of Ilkley, is among the pieces on show at Galloway Fairs’ next event at Duncombe Park.

img_56-4.jpg

Antiques centre opens in Essex

03 September 2018

It’s always good to hear about the opening of a new antiques centre. Essex businessman Ken Hewitt has seized an opportunity to launch his venture in the medieval town of Manningtree, described by the local tourist association as “a gateway to Constable country”.

img_25-1.jpg

Epstein actress steps on Isle of Wight stage

03 September 2018

A little-known Jacob Epstein (1880-1959) sculpture of the British actress Sandra Dorne took an estimate-topping £11,000 at HRD Auction Rooms (20% buyer’s premium) on the Isle of Wight.

img_25-2.jpg

Picasso’s lithography love shown at Bamfords sale in Derby

03 September 2018

Just a month after the Second World War, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was in Paris working at the lithography workshop of Fernand Mourlot (1895-1988). It was the beginning of a collaboration that would last almost three decades and produce more than 400 different graphic images and editions.

img_33-8.jpg

Previews: £30,000 plus

03 September 2018

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

img_20-2.jpg

Ancient and medieval jewels acquired by Gas Board engineer in 1960s shine in Derby auction

03 September 2018

A remarkable collection of early rings was offered by Hansons (20% buyer’s premium) in Etwall, Derbyshire, this summer.

img_25-3.jpg

Varanasi waterfront takes pride of place in Somerset

03 September 2018

An Indian School work guided at £100-150 was the star turn at Greenslade Taylor Hunt (19.5% buyer’s premium) of Taunton in Somerset on August 2.

img_20-3.jpg

Grima spearheads revival of 1960s and 70s designer jewellery

03 September 2018

His daring organic sculptural designs re-energised the British jewellery scene in post-war Britain. Now Andrew Grima’s (1921-2007) creations are leading the revival of 1960s and ‘70s designer jewellery on the secondary market.

Sale season opens in west London and Salisbury

03 September 2018

Ahead of its season-opening September 18 jewellery sale, Chiswick Auctions invited Jessica Diamond, the suitably-named jewellery editor for 'Condé Nast Traveller', to pick her top 10 lots from the catalogue.

img_15-1.jpg

Six of the best from LAPADA fair

03 September 2018

Jewellery is the single biggest element of the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair (September 13-19), with 13 specialist dealers and a handful of others who will include items of personal adornment alongside decorative arts or antiquities.

News

Categories