Notre-Dame Cathedral: Rising from the Ashes with Global SolidarityBreaking Art Boundaries: Tianyun Jiang’s Poetic Journey Redefining ExistenceThe Silence of Iceland: A Study of Landscape and Spirit in Siarhei Yazlavetski’s Portrayal of the Country‘A Scout is Loyal’ and Worth $5 Million! Norman Rockwell’s Patriotic Masterpiece Set for Auction
Jodi the Nanotyrannus Sells for US$47.3 Million at Sotheby’sQianlong Emperor’s Jewel-Encrusted Gold Ewer Sells for US$7.11 Million at Christie’sHockney’s €282,200 Print Leads Warhol and Banksy in €1.06 Million Bonhams SaleMV Agusta Sells for $1.3 Million, Setting an Italian Motorcycle Auction RecordEnigma Machine Sells for £203,600 at Bonhams: Inside the 1941 Cipher DeviceUzo Egonu’s Will Knowledge Safeguard Freedom I Sets Auction Record at £198,900Yusuf Grillo’s One Man Band Sets Artist Auction Record at £461,300Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu Sells for £602,100, Setting a Sculpture Record at BonhamsRare Gandhi Portrait Achieves £152,800, Tripling Its EstimateBanksy’s British Cool Mickey Snake Triumphs at Bonhams, Selling for £330,600Whistler’s First Portrait Commission Sells for Five Times Estimate, Fetching $495,000Bridget Riley Stuns Art World as Myrrh Soars to $2.36M at BonhamsReception in the Harem: Discovered Masterpiece by John Frederick Lewis Shatters Expectations, Selling for Almost $1.5 MillionRare Qianlong 'Dragon' Vase Stuns at Auction, Sells for $3.7 Million—Over Six Times Its EstimateRenowned Vietnamese Artist Nguyen Gia Tri’s War Painting Fetches Over $500,000 at Bonhams

Antiques

Antique discoveries, collecting guides, and auction results, with stories behind objects from the past.

Enigma Machine Sells for £203,600 at Bonhams: Inside the 1941 Cipher Device

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Enigma I cipher machine in its open oak case with keyboard, lampboard and plugboard visible.

A circa-1941 Enigma I cipher machine sold for £203,600 at Bonhams, offering a tangible connection to the history of wartime codebreaking. Its matching numbered rotors, original case and documented museum loans add to the story of this surviving device. Detailed photographs reveal the keyboard, plugboard and rotor assembly behind one of the world’s most recognisable cipher machines.

Japanese Swords From Peter Yorke’s Collection Head to Bonhams, Led by £25,000 Wakizashi

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Masamune-lineage Sōshū wakizashi with an engraved blade and gold-lacquer mounts against a black background.

Japanese swords from Peter Yorke’s collection are heading to Bonhams, led by a Masamune-lineage wakizashi estimated at £15,000–£25,000. The sale also features a dated Bizen blade and a sword by Nobuhide, each with distinctive craftsmanship and mounts. We take a closer look at three highlights ahead of the online auction, which runs from October 30 to November 11.

Top Galleries for Museum-Quality Antique European Tapestries in the U.S. in 2026

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Detail of Diana and Actaeon: an antlered figure in a red cloak stands among dogs and trees.

Acquiring historical textiles requires a methodical approach, as the market for woven art moves from decorative appeal to rigorous academic collecting. In 2026, interest in centuries-old weaving centers reached a more analytical phase. Collectors no longer buy for aesthetic scale alone; they want verifiable historical context, specific workshop identification, and clear conservation records. Working in this specialized sector involves understanding the histories of French and Flemish looms, analyzing the chemical stability of natural dyes, and identifying institutions that keep rigorous standards for authentication.

Ma Weidu: Scholar of the Past, Craftsman of the Present – An Interview on Collecting, Cultural Practice and Responsibilities of Our Time

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Ma Weidu in a white stand-collar jacket against a blue backdrop.

At a moment when cultural institutions worldwide struggle to define their purpose, Ma Weidu stands as a rare figure—part scholar, part craftsman—quietly reshaping what it means to care for the past. From founding China’s first private museum to rescuing stray cats who became unlikely cultural icons, his journey reveals how one person’s integrity can transform an entire heritage landscape. His story is not only about collecting antiquities, but about restoring warmth, responsibility, and meaning to a rapidly changing world—an invitation to step inside a life where culture becomes a way of being.

Historic Dalai Lama Sale at Bonhams Breaks Records with Krishna Kanwal’s Watercolors and Sir Basil Gould’s Archive

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The Dalai Lama on the Throne

Discover the remarkable story behind Sir Basil Gould’s historic collection—featuring exclusive artworks, rare photographs, and personal artifacts from Tibet’s most pivotal moments. From Krishna Kanwal’s evocative watercolors capturing the enthronement of the young Dalai Lama to Gould’s intimate archive of images and memorabilia, this auction offers a rare glimpse into a transformative chapter of Tibetan history. Uncover the full story of this extraordinary sale and the figures who shaped it—an event that achieved nearly a million pounds in just one day.

Eliana P. Gómez: Unveiling Hidden Histories in Art and Sacred Relics

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Face detail of the Holy Shroud rendered in blue, turquoise and yellow, with pale markings.

Through meticulous research and a multidisciplinary approach, Eliana P. Gómez examines hidden details in Leonardo da Vinci’s works and the Holy Shroud of Christ. Her studies reveal subtle inscriptions, historical connections, and symbolic elements that offer new perspectives on some of history’s most iconic artifacts. This exploration invites readers to consider how art, history, and scholarship converge to uncover long-overlooked traces of the past.

Simonetta Vespucci Restores the Identity of Botticelli’s Lost Altarpiece

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Detail of the San Leo Altarpiece

After more than four years of meticulous restoration, a long-overlooked Renaissance altarpiece has reemerged in stunning detail—now believed by experts to be the work of none other than Sandro Botticelli. Hidden beneath centuries of retouching and misattribution, the Madonna Enthroned with Child among Saints from San Leo is captivating art historians with its unmistakable style and mysterious past. One scholar even suggests the flanking saints may once have been portraits of Pico della Mirandola and Poliziano. The full story uncovers how this masterpiece journeyed through time, hands, and ideologies—only to be seen anew today.

The Nuances of Restoration and Conservation of Gold Artifacts

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Two conservators in white coats working on a large gilded cross beneath a magnifying lamp.

Gold artifacts hold a timeless allure, blending exquisite craftsmanship with deep historical significance. Yet, preserving these treasures is no simple task—delicate gilded layers, centuries-old alloys, and hidden structural weaknesses pose challenges that demand both scientific precision and artistic sensitivity. How do experts restore and protect these fragile masterpieces without compromising their authenticity? Discover the fascinating world of gold conservation, where cutting-edge technology meets ancient artistry to safeguard history’s most dazzling legacies.

Rare Qianlong ‘Dragon’ Vase Stuns at Auction, Sells for $3.7 Million—Over Six Times Its Estimate

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Qianlong vase with a long neck and rounded body, decorated with a red dragon among blue clouds.

A breathtaking imperial vase, once expected to sell for a fraction of its final price, has stunned collectors at Bonhams New York, igniting a fierce bidding war and shattering estimates. This extraordinary piece, with its intricate dragon and cloud motif, is so rare that only one other example exists—housed in the prestigious Beijing Palace Museum. With the market for Chinese antiquities surging, this sale marks a defining moment for collectors and connoisseurs alike.