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

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Record number of dealers in the London fair tribe

28 August 2017

Tribal Art London, the annual UK fair, seeks to raise the profile of this market in the capital.

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Previews: £30,000 plus

28 August 2017

It was the 18th century Dutch silversmith John Schuppe who first popularised the silver cow creamer in Britain in the 1750s. Over the following centuries his design captured the imagination of the upper classes, who commissioned these novelty jugs in droves.

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Quack Doctor prescribes surprise remedy

28 August 2017

Tentatively catalogued as ‘18th-19th century German, possibly Meissen’, a porcelain figure of the Quack Doctor from the Cryes of London series was the surprise tonic at Reeman Dansie’s (20% buyer’s premium) August 1 Colchester sale.

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First World war photograph: not so top brass

28 August 2017

Militaria has the advantage of a wide price range for items. A photograph sold in Cirencester on July 7 was a good example of ‘more affordable’ levels.

Criminal assets targeted in UK government's new act

28 August 2017

The new Criminal Finances Act, which is expected to come into force in September, gives police the power to seize art, antiques and jewellery in the same way as if it was cash.

Eleanor Rigby

Calling all the lonely people: Eleanor Rigby lyrics, bible and grave deeds up for grabs at auction

26 August 2017

The original score for The Beatles' song Eleanor Rigby is being offered at an auction in Warrington with an estimate of £15,000-25,000. The document, handwritten in pencil, is signed by producer George Martin and Paul McCartney.

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1813 and all tatt

26 August 2017

Tattooed from head to foot, this ‘Native of Nukahiva’ (in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia) features on one of the two frontispieces and a folding chart that form the illustrative content of the 1813, first English edition of Adam von Krusenstern’s 1803-06 Voyage round the World…

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Pick up a bucket (or two) in Somerset

26 August 2017

The Giant Flea and Collectors’ Market at the Royal Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet is almost fully booked inside with 200 stallholders.

Blake front

Peter Blake’s study of National Gallery painting comes to auction in Ely

25 August 2017

A sketch study by Pop artist Peter Blake is to go under the hammer in Cambridgeshire auction house Rowley’s.

Club

Tribal clubs strike it hot at Elgin auction house

25 August 2017

There was some good old-fashioned auction drama at the Elgin Auction Centre in Morayshire on August 23 when two lots of loosely-catalogued tribal clubs sold to online bidders for a combined £46,500.

Peacock

Trade asked to be vigilant after huge peacock sculpture stolen

24 August 2017

A 6ft high peacock sculpture by artist Geoffrey Dashwood has been stolen from a garden in the New Forest.

British Museum

British Museum database suffers technical glitch

23 August 2017

The British Museum’s Collection Online database is back up and running after a technical glitch forced it out of action this month.

Newcastle Crown Court

Pitman painter faker who made £30,000 forging Norman Cornish ordered to pay back just £1

23 August 2017

A man from Sunderland who forged the work of local artist Norman Cornish (1919-2014) has been ordered to repay £1.

Finaldi

Saved for the nation: Bellotto’s northern European view acquired by London’s National Gallery

23 August 2017

A painting by Canaletto’s nephew Bellotto has been saved for the nation after being acquired by the National Gallery in London.

Necklace

Grand Tour jewellery takes a trip to auction in Nantwich

23 August 2017

A fine example of Grand Tour jewellery comes up for sale at Peter Wilson of Nantwich on September 13.

Sotheby's New York

Sotheby’s scraps buyer’s premium fee for online-only auctions

22 August 2017

Auction house Sotheby’s is to scrap buyer’s premium – the fee paid to the firm by those who buy at auction – for its online-only sales.

Endeavour

Replica of explorer Captain Cook’s Endeavour sails into auction in Lincoln

22 August 2017

A full-size replica of explorer Captain Cook’s boat, known as the Bark Endeavour, is to be offered at auction next week.

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Trench art knife is reminder of First World War Eagle Hut haven away from home

22 August 2017

A simple inscription on an antique can lead to a fascinating trail of research revealing so much more than just the story of the item itself. Take a 10in (25.5cm) long knife coming up in the Chilcotts sale in Honiton on September 9, estimated at £80-120.

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Colourful 1940s film posters found used as carpet underlay come up at auction in Cardiff

21 August 2017

Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It, Day Time Wife, and perhaps even He Stayed for Breakfast may sound like certain late-night films common when Channel 5 first launched, but they are innocent titles from the 1940s cinema era.

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Get it into perspective

21 August 2017

A 1765 first of John L Cowley’s The theory of perspective demonstrated… sold for £17,000 by Christie’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) on July 12 appears to be the only first edition recorded at auction.

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