2020

The National Gallery has taken ownership of three pictures by 18th century greats Jean-Etienne Liotard, Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Thomas Lawrence.

The Bodleian Library has added an unusual piece of culinary history to its collection.

An all-time high for gold was recorded in the UK this week as investors looked to the traditional safe haven of the yellow metal at a time of grave economic uncertainty.

Portobello Road will close to traffic during weekday trading hours to allow more room for shoppers and visitors.

A harpsichord that was sold at The Canterbury Auction Galleries in 2018 to a US buyer and later barred from export by the government has been saved for the nation by Gainsborough’s House museum.

The latest sale of Modern British art held by Bonhams in Knightsbridge was its first live event held ‘behind closed doors’ in the UK. It included 22 pen and ink drawings by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) which formed part of the famous photographer’s ‘The Book of Beauty’ published in 1930.

Auction houses in France have been given the go-ahead to re-open this month after being closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

LAPADA launches a webinar series this week with a conversation between the association’s CEO Freya Simms and Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Court of Appeal judges have dismissed the latest attempt to stop the Ivory Act.

An online sale devoted to vintage bar ware and drinking accessories inspired by the Prohibition era is currently being staged by Sotheby’s New York.

With estimates from £60-6000 here are six previews of upcoming items.

The most popular stories on this website over the last week included news of a previously unrecorded porcelain tea bowl and saucer attributed to the John Bartlam factory of Cain Hoy, South Carolina, being offered for sale at Adam Partridge.

Sotheby’s has launched a new hybrid sale format which is a cross between an auction and private sale.

Christie’s is launching a new sale-format for a major 20th century art auction in July.

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a full proof set of coins issued by the Royal Mint for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 and a silver vase from c. 1920 marked for prize-winning designers Svend Hammershoi and Holger Kyster.

Christie’s has announced that its ‘Classic Week’ of sales in New York will now take place as a series of online auctions.

A government department has confirmed to ATG that auction houses in England will be able to open to the public in June and conduct home valuations, as long as social distancing and the latest government guidelines are met.

Lots Road Auctions, The Canterbury Auction Galleries and Bishop & Miller are among the latest auction houses to plan a return to the rostrum and hold live online only sales.

The latest appointments around the regional UK auction houses this month.

The government scheme to pay wages of workers during the coronavirus pandemic has been extended until October.