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2016

Wallis Simpson wedding

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson wedding photos double estimate at auction at Bellmans

02 December 2016

Rarely seen photographs of the wedding that caused a constitutional crisis and rocked the British monarchy have been sold at £9200.

EU Parliament

Fears over new import licence system as EU targets trade on illicit art

02 December 2016

Leading trade bodies are voicing concerns that a revised EU consultation into the illicit trafficking of antiquities could lead to a “burdensome” new import licence system.

Dealers’ association asks industry to contact MPs over new cultural property law

01 December 2016

The Antiquities Dealers’ Association says the wording of the Cultural Property bill currently passing through Parliament ‘risks serious damage’ to the market and exposes members of the trade to an “unfair” risk of prosecution.

TEFAF Maastrict 2017 exhibitors list

01 December 2016

Listed below are the 270 exhibitors participating in 30th edition of TEFAF Mastricht which takes place from March 17-20. The new exhibitors are shown in bold.

Design museum outside 2 2270NEDI 01-12-16.jpg

Design Museum moves west to Kensington

01 December 2016

The Design Museum has relocated to Kensington in west London and reopened after a £83m redevelopment of the 1960s Grade II* listed modernist building. Its new home is in the former Commonwealth Institute, originally a ground breaking mid-century design which opened in 1962.

Paul Verlaine revolver

Paul Verlaine’s revolver takes €360,000 at Christie’s in Paris

01 December 2016

One of the most famous firearms in French literary history has sold for €360,000 (£305,605) at Christie’s in Paris.

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria’s silk jacket comes close to double estimate at Ewbank’s textile auction

01 December 2016

A pink silk jacket once worn by Queen Victoria was among the lots that led Ewbank’s recent textile auction to almost double its pre-sale expectations.

Auctioneers gavel

Judge hears challenge to California ivory law

01 December 2016

A Superior Court judge in Los Angeles has heard the legal arguments that challenge California’s uncompromising ban on the sale of practically all ivory objects.

Vincennes porcelain jug

Vincennes porcelain jug with royal connection emerges at Bonhams

01 December 2016

This French porcelain hot water jug, or ‘pot à eau’ was made at the Vincennes factory in 1754, probably for the Dauphine Maria Josepha. The mother of King Louis XVI, who was guillotined during the French Revolution, she was an important patron of Vincennes.

TEFAF

TEFAF Maastricht exhibitor list reveals 18 new exhibitors and some notable departures

30 November 2016

TEFAF have revealed the list of 270 exhibitors standing at the next Maastricht fair in March.

Plastic bag

'Star Wars' plastic bag from Leicestershire toy factory makes eight times estimate at auction

30 November 2016

It might not be a Bag for Life but this plastic bag has set a collector back £240.

Graham Lay

Tributes pour in for Antiques Roadshow militaria expert Graham Lay

30 November 2016

Antiques Roadshow expert and militaria specialist Graham Lay has passed away. A well-known personality on the show for more than 25 years, his death was announced by the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

The IS silver porringer

Rare Irish silver porringer sold for five times estimate at Sworders’ auction

30 November 2016

A rare and recently rediscovered Irish Commonwealth/Charles II silver porringer sold today for £25,000 – five times its estimate – at Sworders’ auction in Essex.

G Munn

Wartski director Geoffrey Munn appointed chairman of BADA Trust

30 November 2016

The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) has appointed Geoffrey Munn of Wartski as Chairman of Friends of the BADA Trust.

John-Paul Savant of Auction Technology Group

Building the best bidder experience – Auction Technology Group CEO John-Paul Savant on why the company has rebranded

29 November 2016

What’s in a name? Quite a lot, actually, if you’re John-Paul Savant, chief executive of the newly-rebranded Auction Technology Group, the company formerly known as ATG Media.

Gold torc

Museums offered chance to buy metal detectorist’s Bronze Age gold torc

29 November 2016

A 3000-year old torc found in a field in east Cambridgeshire is one of the largest and heaviest to be unearthed in the UK.

Bennet and Brown

Landlord agrees to let restorer stay in north London shop after petition

29 November 2016

A north London independent antique restorer who faced eviction has got the go-ahead to stay.

Beethoven manuscript at centre of attribution debate fails to sell at Sotheby’s

29 November 2016

A musical manuscript at the centre of a row over whether it was handwritten by Ludwig van Beethoven or a copyist has failed to sell at an auction at Sotheby’s.

Wilson sword 1 DNW 29-11-16.jpg

Sword presented by grateful passengers saved from pirate attack peril on offer at London auction house Dix Noonan Webb

29 November 2016

Besides the danger of a dog bite, delivering the mail is not generally seen as a perilous business. However, as a presentation sword up at auction in London shows, on occasion it can be a matter of life or death.

Lord Nelson portrait at Charles Miller

Rare Nelson miniature portrait surfaces and sells at auction for £14,000

29 November 2016

A small and previously unrecorded portrait of Lord Nelson sold for £14,000 at Charles Miller’s latest Maritime and Scientific sale in West Kensington.