UK

“When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not.” The wise, if somewhat mangled words of Yoda, are ones that the great and good of the art and antiques trade will sagely nods their heads to. Then again, a nice patina and original condition are often just what’s needed.

Auctioneers Phillips have changed their buyer’s premium with immediate effect.

A 48-year-old man has been sentenced to three years and eight months at Hereford Crown Court for the theft of works of art from churches across the country.

Key former members of Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions have started a new auction firm.

A porcelain vase thought to be from a Chinese Imperial palace over two centuries ago sells at Bonhams for £110,500

Phillips have announced the appointment of Cheyenne Westphal as chairman, reporting to CEO Edward Dolman. Formerly Sotheby’s worldwide head of Contemporary art, she will start in her new role in 2017.

Renowned classic car auctioneer Max Girardo has left RM Sotheby’s to set up his own London-based brokerage, Girardo & Co, which will deal “in only the highest quality cars available to the market”.

Tickets are now available for the third Art Business Conference which will take place at Church House Conference Centre in Westminster, London on September 1.

For the first time at a major UK event, next month’s summer Olympia is giving five ‘new’ dealerships the chance to experience an international fair.

A top European contemporary art gallery is set to take over the Mayfair premises of troubled dealership Mallett.

As West Ham and Manchester United prepare to play the final match at Upton Park tonight, the East London club have announced that fans will have the chance to buy their own slice of Hammers’ history with an extensive auction of memorabilia, including fixtures and fittings from the stadium itself.

Oxford’s Bodleian Library has acquired a map of Middle-earth annotated by JRR Tolkien (1892-1973).

Made under the watchful eye of the third Qing emperor, a Chinese porcelain vase valued at just £12 in the 1950s sold for £750,000 at the latest sale held by Mallams in Cheltenham.

Jackie Edwards knows all about the logistics of organising antiques street markets and fairs, having launched and run events across Hampshire.

An Aberdeenshire dealer whose shop was destroyed by a fire last week says she may not return to deal from a shop.

Now in its 12th year, the annual 40-dealer National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair is increasingly attracting visitors, some from Germany, Italy and Denmark, to have their vintage tackle valued by dealers, particularly by Neil Freeman of event sponsors Angling Auctions.

Bonhams set a record auction price for any British motorcycle with the sale of a 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4 for £331,900.

The Union Customs Code (UCC), designed to standardise how customs information is processed, became law on May 1.

Christie’s have announced details of their latest ‘themed’ sale – an evening sale of British art which will take place in London on June 30.

Interesting oddities that were ironed out in subsequent editions bump up demand when it comes to book collecting. A good example of this is coming up at Wolverhampton auction house Cuttlestones on May 6.