Auction

How much can a copy of a painting be worth? But what if the copy is by the original artist? Sotheby’s are selling The Lock by John Constable, a replica of the original by Constable himself. He liked it so much that he kept it in his studio until his death. But will it make eight to twelve million pounds? Elsewhere, a replica of Ralph Lauren’s 1930s Mercedes-Benz goes under the hammer.

Mid twentieth century furniture has an enduring appeal and has soared in value in recent times. In a week dedicated to design classics at a London auction house, the work of iconic designers such as Fin Juhl and Arne Jacobsen is under the hammer and the interest is fevered. It also includes a chair by the Japanese designer Shiro Kuramta that is expected to make a staggering amount of money.

In one of the most unusual sales of recent times, with just two lots, a pair of the most ornate and valuable tabletops have come up for sale. Valued at half a million pounds each, the Grimani Tables represent a gamble for Sothebys. Will they sell? Elsewhere in London, fine jewels are up for sale as is the blouse Judy Garland wore in the classic film The Wizard of Oz.

Items from the collection of the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire come under the hammer at Sotheby’s in London. Deborah Devonshire was the youngest of the Mitford sisters, who included the novelist, Nancy. Elsewhere, prints and multiples are offered at Christie’s and there’s a new perspective of art from the Cold War, painted by artists working behind the Iron Curtain.

It’s one of the oldest and most remarkable auctions in the world. In Burgundy, they gather to sell off this year’s wine en primeur, in aid of the Hospice de Beaune. It’s a tradition started in 1795 but the hospital that the wine sales support dates back to 1443. And this year, the sale has an added poignancy as it takes place just hours after a terrorist attack in Paris.

In England, Bonham’s are selling rare motorcycles, and you don’t get much rarer than a set of eight Brough bikes discovered in Cornwall. Made famous by Lawrence of Arabia, the bikes are being described as the discovery of the century. But will the bidders be willing to pay the hefty price tag? In complete contrast, the London saleroom of Christie’s is selling Old Masters.

100 years ago, the explorer Ernest Shackleton was determined to record his expedition to the Antarctic. His crew printed a book, not after the event but during it. And now in London, one of these incredibly rare editions is being sold by Sotheby’s. Meanwhile, Christie’s are expecting over £400,000 for a photograph by American Peter Beard in a sale of images that define the twentieth century.

Some of the greatest treasures reside in European noble and private collections. It is the auction house Christie’s job to find them and bring them to market. And there seems to be an endless supply, including a much sought-after timepiece by the renowned London clockmaker Thomas Tompion from the late seventeenth century. But how much could this rare artefact possibly make?

Photographs that define our age come under the hammer at Sotheby’s, including a work by Irving Penn that may fetch a quarter of a million pounds. At Christie’s exquisite silver and gold snuff boxes are nothing to sneeze at. And in London, nineteenth century paintings are up for sale at Bonhams, including a very rare work by Henri Fantin-Latour. But what could it make?

All the leading auction houses are represented at the Monaco Grand Prix Historique. This spectacular classic car sale takes place as iconic autos race around the Monte Carlo circuit. Items up for grabs include a stunning Jaguar C-Type once driven at Le Mans and a spectacular 1968 Ferrari for which the auctioneers are asking up to $23 million. But will it make that much?

He was one of music’s greatest legends, but few knew that David Bowie was also an avid collector of art. After he died in 2016, his collection was discovered and found its way to Sotheby’s in London for auction. With frenzied interest, 50,000 people queued for the preview days to see the work that inspired the icon. But will having the Bowie name attached to the artworks result in record prices?