Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Roma Numismatics director Richard Beale admits coin charges
04 September 2023Richard Beale, director of the London auction house Roma Numismatics, has pleaded guilty to a series of charges in connection with unlawful sales of ancient coins.
Munnings stands and delivers
04 September 2023With the traditional hiatus in the UK auction market typically stretching across the month of August, a number of notable picture highlights appeared slightly earlier this summer at sales around the country.
Trade concerns grow after British Museum items ‘offered on eBay’
28 August 2023Concerns have been raised in the antiquities trade that items allegedly stolen from the British Museum by a staff member and offered on eBay may start emerging on the wider market.
Bidders just dig the Mary Potter style
28 August 2023Coastal scene formerly owned by collector in the diamond mining industry attracts considerable interest
If at first you don’t succeed, try a new estimate
28 August 2023What’s best to do with unsold lots… offer them again at half the price guide perhaps?
Eurich’s mystery girl makes notable price
28 August 2023The artist Richard Ernst Eurich (1903-92) is rather hard to categorise.
A Duncan Grant market tester
28 August 2023Testing the market for still-lifes by Bloomsbury school favourite Duncan Grant (1885-1978), a painting by the artist emerged fresh from a notable source in Somerset.
Paintings from Sir Oswald Birley’s manor house to go under the hammer at Cheffins
24 August 2023A group of 23 works by Sir Oswald Birley and his wife Lady Rhoda Birley which were previously part of their personal collection at their Sussex home will be offered for sale at Cheffins in Cambridge on September 20.
Mystery woman sets auction record for artist Harrington Mann
21 August 2023A large and striking 1920s portrait of a young woman drew strong competition at Dreweatts’ (26% buyer’s premium) sale of Anouska Hempel’s collection.
Evelyn De Morgan goes for gold using unusual medium
21 August 2023Trial run for a full worked-up version counts as a highly sought-after picture in its own right
Dreaming spires and a range of other attractions
21 August 2023When it comes to historic views of England’s university cities, bidders’ interest is not only determined by the usual factors such as the calibre of the artist and the picture’s condition.
Old Master sales in London bring good and bad news
14 August 2023Strong results and supply boost the market but challenges remain with bidders highly selective
Aristocratic consignments make a comeback in Old Master auctions
14 August 2023Works coming fresh to the market from British aristocratic sources were once a staple of London Old Master sales.
Cat conveys a sense of calm and domestic comfort
14 August 2023The presence of a cat added commercial appeal to a 17th century portrait of a young girl offered at Bonhams’ latest Old Master sale in London.
Auction record for Helen Allingham set in Malvern auction
07 August 2023Thoughts that the sweet homely watercolours of Helen Allingham (1848-1926) have fallen from favour commercially may be premature, at least judging by the performance of a couple of works sold at a recent regional sale.
Dealer moved by refugees’ plight
07 August 2023Founder of London gallery Agi Katz had personal experience after escaping from persecution herself
Another strong sum for Frederick Gore
07 August 2023A number of strong sums for Frederick Gore’s (1913-2009) richly coloured views of Mallorca and the French countryside have been recorded since his auction record was smashed two years ago.
Fedden and Wain show feline fancy
07 August 2023A couple of cat pictures made bidders’ whiskers twitch of late.
Ewe beauty: naïve painting is star lot at Yorkshire auction
24 July 2023An early 19th century naïve agricultural scene by the elusive Joseph Digby-Curtis (c.1755-1837) posted one of the highest prices for this genre of painting in the last 20 years.
Racing pics in the running once again
24 July 2023There was a time when historic racing pictures by a top name might have been priced close to six figures.