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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Elizabethan Golden Age table shines at auction

13 March 2026

This “incredibly rare elaborate, fantastical and exquisitely carved” oak draw-leaf table, dating from the Golden Age of the English Renaissance, stood out at the Paul Fitzsimmons – A Life in Oak sale.

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Buchinger drawing on offer in Cambridge

13 March 2026

A rare drawing by Matthias Buchinger (1674-1740), the remarkable 18th-century German artist born without hands or feet, is going under the hammer at Cheffins on March 25 estimated at £1000-1500.

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Corkscrew? Saw? Screwdriver? Yes, but it’s not a Swiss army knife

13 March 2026

A rare silver multi-functional gentleman’s tool by the celebrated firm Holtzapffel & Co proved to be the stand-out lot at Flints' latest sale.

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News in brief including a collection of ancient Greek coins coming to the market

13 March 2026

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including a couple's collection of ancient Greek coins being sold through specialist firm Silbury Coins

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Former dealer’s remarkable Oscar Wilde collection takes four times the estimated total

13 March 2026

The Oscar Wilde Collection formed over 60 years by bibliophile and former dealer in Oriental antiques Jeremy Mason prompted collectors to come out in force and was 100% sold at Bonhams (28/27% buyer’s premium) in Knightsbridge.

A vintage postcard

‘Social history’ always sells well says postcards specialist

13 March 2026

Ahead of a major two-day postcard collector festival, a dealer explains the draw of the most popular types

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Great Scots regalia on offer at auction

13 March 2026

Georgian regalia from two famous Scottish regiments was sold by Railtons (20% buyer’s premium) in Wooler, Northumberland, on February 20.

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Hunter, Hunt and Hurt... and Forbes

13 March 2026

Among a selection of 19th and early 20th century pictures at Anderson & Garland’s (25% buyer’s premium) latest Fine Art Auction was an attractive painting by Elizabeth Adela Forbes (1859-1912).

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Cotswolds showcase comes to London for the second time

13 March 2026

Second CADA Fair held in the capital also acts as a advert for the region

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Medal man Mark Smith interview: how keeping it real is key to understanding this market

13 March 2026

Medals expert familiar to millions through the Antiques Roadshow chats about his latest book telling a very personal story.

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John Hitchens retrospective brings out works surprising even to a dealer friend and neighbour

13 March 2026

Modern and Contemporary dealer Elspeth Bray of Moncrieff-Bray took a gamble recently.

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Peninsular War medal with clasps for nine actions underlines a soldier's dangerous service

13 March 2026

A medal with nine clasps from a soldier who was wounded in the head and twice in the thigh during the Peninsular War stood out in a recent sale held by Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s (23% buyer’s premium).

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Maker's mark helps papier-mâché vase fly to 10 times estimate

13 March 2026

Japanned Jennens & Bettridge creation gains value as rare survivor in such good condition

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‘Dora's’ sampler brings demand in Bath auction

13 March 2026

The New Orphan Houses in the Ashley Down district in the north of Bristol were once the largest orphanages in the UK.

Antiques fair

Love is all around (in the south)

13 March 2026

What’s not to love at a couple of Love Fairs’ events which are held at two racecourses in southern England?

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The Midas silver touch from the great van Vianen

13 March 2026

London numismatic auction house Morton & Eden (23% buyer’s premium) sold a silver plaquette by the great Dutch silversmith Paulus van Vianen (1570-1613) for £130,000 at a recent sale.

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Not on the front line – but first rate gallantry medals are still highly collectable

13 March 2026

Latest result for a ‘not in the face of the enemy’ award underlines how such honours have become a popular collecting field

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‘Ammunition Smith’ Rorke’s Drift medals coming up for sale in London

13 March 2026

If you look closely at both Lady Butler and Alphonse de Neuville’s paintings of what is probably the most famous British colonial action of the 19th century – Rorke’s Drift – you can pick out a man with a long, thick red beard wearing a blue tunic.

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Under siege in the First Boer War and proud of an improvised flag

13 March 2026

Despite the brief cataloguing of lot 129 in the Ellis Willis & Beckett (21.5% buyer’s premium) sale, the £4200 hammer price on February 17 indicated that bidders had fought it out for something special.

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Saffron well done: ‘bachelor’s’ teapots made a rather diferrent brew

13 March 2026

Across the Georgian period a number of diminutive ‘bachelor’s’ teapots were produced that were probably intended for brewing saffron.

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