Latest News Articles by Laura Chesters

Returned clock

Stolen 18th century bracket clock returned to museum after more than 20 years

30 April 2024

An 18th century bracket clock by the English clockmaker Thomas Hunter Jr (c.1760-70) has been recovered after being stolen 23 years ago.

Titanic watch

Pocket watch from the richest Titanic passenger boosts saleroom to best ever auction result

29 April 2024

A gold pocket watch that was found on the body of American business magnate John Jacob Astor IV (1864-1912) following the Titanic disaster was hammered down at £900,000 in a sale at Henry Aldridge & Son.

Matt Easton

Royal Mail now refuses to deliver antique swords

29 April 2024

An antique arms and armour dealer is leading a campaign to stop couriers from restricting the delivery of antique examples.

Judith Miller

Judith Miller’s final price guide is now available

29 April 2024

The latest 'Miller’s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide' has been published, the last to have been written by the late Judith Miller.

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Second Gonzalès work to go on show in UK

29 April 2024

A painting by French Impressionist painter Eva Gonzalès has been acquired by The National Gallery via a private treaty sale from a British collection for a “tax-advantageous price” of £1.49m.

Bronze head

Getty becomes latest museum to return antiquities following provenance research

25 April 2024

The J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is to return a bronze head from its antiquities collection to Turkey.

USS Enterprise

Rediscovered ‘Starship Enterprise’ model returned to son of Star Trek creator with help from Heritage Auctions

24 April 2024

The original 3ft long model of USS Enterprise, used in the original opening credits, has been presented to the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

John Lennon guitar

Long-lost John Lennon guitar recovered from an attic comes to auction

23 April 2024

John Lennon’s long-lost Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar has been rediscovered and is coming to auction next month.

Sumerian sculpture

New York’s Met Museum returns Sumerian sculpture to Iraq as part of its ‘Cultural Property Initiative’

23 April 2024

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has returned a sculpture to Iraq following provenance research.

Austral Islands ceremonial kava ladle

Pick of the week: The scoop on an Austral Islands kava ladle found in Derbyshire

22 April 2024

A Polynesian ladle surfaced in a Derbyshire saleroom, selling for nearly five-times its £500-700 estimate.

Hansons Derbyshire

Jewellery taken during ram raid at Hansons auction house

22 April 2024

Hansons’ saleroom in Derbyshire has been the victim of a ram-raid break-in.

The Treasure House Fair

The Treasure House Fair hopes to ease Brexit red tape

22 April 2024

The Treasure House Fair hopes to tempt more overseas exhibitors to future fairs with a new deal designed to make importing and exporting simpler and cheaper.

La Psyché by Eva Gonzalès

The National Gallery buys its first work by Impressionist painter Eva Gonzalès

22 April 2024

A painting by French Impressionist painter Eva Gonzalès has been acquired by The National Gallery via a private treaty sale from a British collection for a “tax-advantageous price” of £1.49m.

Faked de Lamerie marks

Goldsmiths committee discusses de Lamerie fakes

22 April 2024

Delegates attending the latest Goldsmiths’ Company London Assay Office seminar on April 12 were warned to be alert for faked objects purporting to be by the preeminent 18th century Huguenot silversmith Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751).

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Heroes and crooks, stolen bronzes… it must be tales of the antiques trade

22 April 2024

Specialists now become prolific writers as Michael Baggott and James Braxton bring out their latest books

Kelmscott Manor

Plea to raise final £40,000 for Kelmscott Manor’s Samson tapestries

17 April 2024

The Society of Antiquaries and the Kelmscott Campaign Group, led by antiques dealer Martin Levy, are hoping to raise the final £40,000 needed to conserve Kelmscott Manor’s Samson tapestries.

Goldsmiths' Hall

How to spot faked or forged antique silver hallmarks

16 April 2024

Delegates attending the latest Goldsmiths’ Company London Assay Office seminar on April 12 were warned to be alert for faked objects purporting to be by the preeminent 18th century Huguenot silversmith Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751).

Danzig Harbour

Painting taken from Jewish family’s Berlin home restituted with help of The Art Loss Register

16 April 2024

A painting belonging to a Jewish family who were forced to flea Germany under the Nazi’s has been returned to the family’s remaining heir with the help of The Art Loss Register.

Lavinia Fontana portrait

Art dealer rediscovers 16th century portrait miniature by Lavinia Fontana in Texas

15 April 2024

A ‘lost’ late 16th century portrait miniature by Italian painter Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) has been rediscovered by an art dealer.

Jewellery

Art and antiques trade warned about latest rise in thefts

15 April 2024

The antique jewellery and precious metals trade has been warned to stay vigilant in the face of a rise in attacks and thefts.