Fine large wood netsuke of a tiger By Naito Toyomasa. Courtesy of Bonhams 1793.

Tigerish world record for Japanese work of art at Bonhams sale in London (Art Daily)
“A fine large wood netsuke figure of a tiger carved by Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856), Tanba, early 19th century was the top item – and a world record – in Bonhams sale of fine Japanese Art on Tuesday November 6th in which 582 works of art achieved a sale total of £2,085,000. The sculpture, just 4.5cm (1¾in) in height, was estimated to sell for £35,000-40,000, but made £103, 250, a new world record for Toyomasa. ”

(The Guardian)
“Experts are warning of a wave of public art sales by local authorities after Tower Hamlets agreed to sell a Henry Moore statue, donated by the artist on the understanding it would be left permanently on open-air display for the enjoyment of people in a socially deprived area of London.”

(Blouin Art Info)
“The Impressionist and Modern auction market continued to resist unrealistic estimates at Sotheby’s on Thursday evening, turning in a mixed result and a $163,008,001 tally. That total came close to meeting the low end of the $169,200,000-245,200,000 pre-sale expectations. […] Similar to Christie’s performance on Wednesday evening, Sotheby’s sold 46 of the 67 lots offered for a buy-in rate by lot of 31 percent and 21 percent by value.”

(The Guardian)
“Art restorers working on frescoes in a forgotten chapel in Assisi believe they have stumbled across proof that stunning images found under layers of grime are the work of medieval artist Giotto. The discovery of the artist’s initials on the frescoes follows two years of restoration work in the Chapel of St Nicholas in the lower basilica of Saint Francis. The work was prompted by a 1997 earthquake that damaged the basilica.”

(Blouin Art Info)
“The notoriously complex and difficult world of copyright law took on yet another twist last week after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., a case that will be closely watched by those who make their living buying and selling creative material — including visual art.”