Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Portrait by artist Sarah Biffin, born without hands, arms or feet, is among the latest pick of five auction highlights
16 July 2021Our weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a portrait by artist Sarah Biffin which sold for more than ten times its estimate.
Paris auction sets record for a tribal art collection result
12 July 2021The sale of Michel Périnet’s collection of tribal art at Christie’s in Paris on June 23 real ised a remarkable €66m/£57m (including buyer’s premium) and every one of the 61 lots were sold.
Rare silver inkstand makes its mark among latest London auctions
12 July 2021The overall performance of the latest London sales of Old Master pictures and ‘important’ works of art was fairly mixed but the auction houses did at least welcome the return of some big-ticket items.
Irish silver gilt chalice pre-dates Reformation
12 July 2021This 6½in (16cm) Irish silver gilt chalice dating from c.1480 is a rare survival from before the Reformation.
Marble candelabra and a Celtic coin are among five lots to watch at auction
12 July 2021With estimates from £1500-40,000 here are five previews of upcoming items this week.
CERAMICS AND GLASS: Remarkable survivors in the same family since the 18th century
12 July 2021A set of remarkable wine glasses that had remained in the same family since the 18th century was one of the highlights among quality items in two sales.
Baltic Service coffee can with the Nelson touch
12 July 2021A single coffee can from the Baltic Service was among the highlights of Hansons’ (25% buyer’s premium) sale on June 9, selling to a collector at £2000.
Pearlware horses make punchy prices
12 July 2021This splendid Leeds pearlware horse, c.1810, was one of two offered at Christie’s (25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) on June 8 as part of a sale that combined property from seven titled vendors.
Exceptional Lowestoft boosts London sale
12 July 2021Some exceptional pieces of Lowestoft featured in Bonhams’ (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) sale on June 23 – many of them from a single vendor.
Teapots to the Kate Foster taste
12 July 2021These two teapots – among the top-selling lots at the Woolley & Wallis (25/12% buyer's premium) sale of English and European Ceramics and Glass on June 16 – came for sale from the family of Lady Kate Davson, known to many by her maiden name of Kate Foster (1938-2020).
Collectors wise to owl rarity
12 July 2021Back in 1990, following a famous and much-repeated Henry Sandon valuation on BBC Antiques Roadshow, a late 17th century slipware owl jug and cover was acquired by the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent for £22,000.
Charles II wassail bowl stars in our latest pick of six auction highlights
09 July 2021Our weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a rare Charles II lignum vitae wassail bowl and cover that went above estimate in Salisbury.
Pick of the week: Philadelphia to Scotland and back again at $3.7m
05 July 2021Charles Carroll’s printed copy of the Declaration of Independence – discovered earlier this year in a Scottish family home – sold at auction in Philadelphia for $3.7m (£2.85m) plus premium.
A Wedgwood vase and a Matisse etching are among five lots to watch at auction
05 July 2021With estimates from £800-12,000, here are five previews of upcoming items this week.
Rare Commonwealth goblet makes 19-times estimate at Mallams
05 July 2021Mallams’ (25% buyer’s premium) Jewellery, Watches and Silver sale included this Commonwealth silver wine goblet.
‘Mouseman’ commissions excel in the salerooms
05 July 2021Smaller decorative pieces by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson (1876-1955) continue to excel in the saleroom.
The life of Prof Riley – British tattoo pioneer
05 July 2021Thomas Riley was one of the few professional tattooists of the Victorian and Edwardian era and – with patrons among international royalty and the aristocracy – a key figure in the changing perception of tattoos from ‘sailors’ marks’ to ‘body art’.
Best Iraqi niello silver soars in value
05 July 2021As recently as a decade ago relatively little attention was paid to Iraqi niello silver.
Auction previews: issue 2500
05 July 2021A selection of 16 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK