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

antiques centre crash

Historic facade of Derbyshire antiques centre damaged after car crash

03 March 2017

A Derbyshire antiques centre has suffered damage to its façade after a car collided with it last month.

Faberge

Harrogate museum acquires Fabergé cutlery set for £20,000 at auction

03 March 2017

Dealer Wartski has bought a boxed set of Fabergé cutlery at auction for the Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate.

Cavallo

Dealer's show casts light on 'undervalued' Lucio Fontana sculptures

03 March 2017

An upcoming exhibition at M&L Fine Art features the ceramics and sculpture of Lucio Fontana, the artist best remembered for his slash paintings.

Marco Forgione and Sadiq Khan

BADA chief lobbies Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on business rates rises and new tax reporting rules

03 March 2017

The chief executive of BADA, Marco Forgione, has lobbied Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on imminent hikes to business rates and changes to tax reporting that are set to impact the trade.

Bronze Etruscan statuette

London art dealer helps stolen bronze return to Berlin museum after 70 years

02 March 2017

A bronze Etruscan statuette that was stolen from Berlin’s Antikensammlung during the Second World War has been returned after the intervention of London dealers Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch.

Plate

Porcelain 'paradise' found at Haughton summer exhibition

02 March 2017

New to the summer calendar this year is ‘A Collectors' Paradise,’ a multi-dealer selling exhibition held over the three floors of the Brian Haughton Gallery in St James’s.

Gold torcs found by metal detectorists

Striking gold – metal detectorists to share proceeds of Iron Age discovery with landowner

02 March 2017

What is thought to be the earliest example of Iron Age gold ever discovered in Britain was unveiled to the public this week at The Potteries Museum in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire.

Bauerngarten (Blumengarten) by Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt landscape sells for £42.5m at Sotheby’s auction - third highest price ever for an artwork sold in Europe

01 March 2017

A shimmering floral landscape by Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was knocked down at £42.5m at Sotheby’s evening sale of Impressionist & Modern art in London on March 1.

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The sword with strong connections from the Cotswolds and Sweden to Nepal, India and Australia

01 March 2017

The worldwide reach of UK regional auctions is summed up beautifully by a militaria lot sold in the Cotswolds: a kora fighting sword given by a Nepalese ruler to a British field marshal who commanded in India and was revered by the Australians and Gurkhas.

Marble lions from the tomb of Charles V of France

Sculptures at the double – Christie’s to offer medieval lions from French king’s tomb

01 March 2017

Christie’s is looking to repeat its success by making a bumper price for a piece of medieval tomb sculpture in London this summer.

'Tangerine' range of Whitefriars glass

Specialist fair showcases 300 years of glass in one day

28 February 2017

From 17th century fine English and European glass through to Contemporary studio designs, The Glass Fair @ Knebworth had something for all interests and pockets at its latest event.

Chinese jar at Fellows

Chinese sleeper at auction sets £810,000 house record for Fellows of Birmingham

28 February 2017

A Chinese porcelain wucai fish vase sold for £810,000 at Fellows on Monday – 450 times its estimate. Such large wucai or 'five colours' fish jars tend to date from the reign of Jiajing (1522-1566) but Fellows believed it to be 20th century.

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Rorke's Drift medal and Somme Victoria Cross up at auction in London

27 February 2017

It ain’t rocket science: rarity adds value. While various other factors come into play, the number of a particular item in existence is a clear driver of auction prices, and in militaria the defence of Rorke’s Drift is a classic example.

Helen Carless and Lady Carnarvon

Auctioneers negotiate private sale of ‘Downton Abbey’ photographs

27 February 2017

A photo album giving a glimpse of late 19th century life in one of Britain’s most distinguished country seats is heading back home.

The Antique Furniture Index ends after 48 years

25 February 2017

Having produced the Antique Furniture Index since 1968, expert and author John Andrews has, at the age of 80, decided to end his annual audit of the trade.

Martinware

Martinware birds help Kingham & Orme’s debut auction take flight

24 February 2017

The first sale by dealers-turned-auctioneers Kingham & Orme made a hammer total of £289,490 and was led by a Martin Brothers bird.

Royal Academy's Burlington Gardens Festival

Royal Academy becomes hub of London summer event rebranded as ‘Mayfair Art Weekend’

23 February 2017

The annual summer initiative ‘Brown’s London Art Weekend’, showcasing exhibitions, talks and tours in West End art galleries and auction houses, has announced a major rebranding and partnership.

HSBC and Barclays

High Street banks warn of account closures over trade in Persian objects

22 February 2017

British banks have warned UK dealers and auctioneers trading in Persian works of art that their accounts could be closed amid US sanctions against Iran.

Bedford Row

Art advisory network Art Due Diligence Group launched in London

22 February 2017

A new art advisory group has been formed to help ease the pitfalls of buying and selling art and antiques.

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Manchester United enamel pin badge sold at auction for 20-times estimate

22 February 2017

The white shirt bears a dark ‘V’ across the front more like St Helens rugby league team, but the ball underneath is unmistakably round rather than oval. Then the words ‘Manchester United’ emblazoned below the figure give the game away.

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