News

Three bidders – one French, one Japanese and one Swedish – did battle for half an hour in the chase to acquire the skeleton of a new species of carnivorous dinosaur at a Paris auction this month.

Despite having lost a hand and suffering minor wear and chips to her chin, not to mention being just 5.5in (14cm) high, a doll caused a considerable stir at auction with six phone lines and internet bidders all desperate to succeed.

Online vintage and second-hand watch retailer Watchfinder.co.uk has been bought by Swiss luxury goods firm Richemont.

A painting from the early years of Vincent van Gogh’s (1853-1890) career as an artist has sold at an auction in Paris for a hammer price of €6m (£5.26m).

An auction of tennis legend Boris Becker’s collection of memorabilia is taking place as a timed online sale that runs until June 28.

The strong round of Chinese and Asian art sales last month continued in London with sales reaching a premium-inclusive £1m at Chiswick Auctions.

From TEFAF Maastricht and a new CEO at a US auction house to a Mod Brit specialist and a porter who used to take tea with John Major - another ATG round-up of the latest appointments.