Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Purdey & Sons rifle made for a royal tour of India sells at Gavin Gardiner
04 May 2020A Purdey & Sons double-barrel hammer rifle built in 1875 for the Prince of Wales’ Indian tour of 1875-76 sold for £8000 at the Gavin Gardiner (25% buyer’s premium) live online auction of Modern & Vintage Sporting Guns on April 22.
Prince Charles investiture chairs emerge at Cardiff auction
04 May 2020The investiture of the Prince of Wales in July 1969 was a pageant for the television age: held at Caernarfon Castle on a circular dais beneath a transparent Perspex canopy.
Walnut longcase clock signed for Golden Age maker sparks bidding in Yorkshire
04 May 2020Estimated at just £1000-1500, this late-17th century walnut eight-day longcase clock sold via thesaleroom.com for £11,000 at Elstob & Elstob (22% buyer’s premium) in Ripon.
A collection to fire the imagination
04 May 2020Norfolk auction house sells 11 guns with provenance to one of the most renowned enthusiasts
Auction previews: issue 2441
04 May 2020The auction calendar has been much changed by Covid 19 restrictions. However, as indicated by these lots offered for sale in May, some UK auctioneers continue to transact behind closed doors holding ‘live online’ sales with bids taken via bidding platforms such as thesaleroom.com or over the phone. Typically purchases can either be collected safely and couriered, or stored by the auctioneers until the current government guidance is lifted.
Christopher Dresser vase, Live Aid poster and photographs of the Queen are among five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes
01 May 2020ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes an original poster of Live Aid from 1985 that made nearly 10-times over estimate.
Auction calendar begins revival via the virtual rostrum
27 April 2020After a month’s hiatus, a number of top-tier regional auction houses are returning to the rostrum to conduct ‘live online’ sales.
Pick of the week: Tiffany ‘orchidomania’ returns with auction of tiger orchid brooch
27 April 2020Of all the sensational jewellery displayed by Tiffany at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle the most memorable was a group of 24 enamelled orchid brooches.
Covent Garden during the time of Cromwell among lots to be offered at Sotheby's online auction
27 April 2020Following the success of the dedicated online sale of works from the collection of Old Masters dealer Rafael Valls, which more than tripled the high estimate to gross £1.6m (see Art Market in this issue), Sotheby’s will conduct its mid-season sale of Old Masters as an online event.
Sharp eyes spot top blade at Grantham auction
27 April 2020Ken tanto, distinguished by double-edged blades, are one of the rarer styles of Japanese sword. Most were made as Buddhist ritual implements rather than weapons and are decorated accordingly.
Elvis Presley debut single, a Chinese vase and a Victorian snuff box are among five lots to watch at auction this week
27 April 2020With estimates from £200-1000, here are five previews of upcoming items this week.
Ingenious chalices conceal Catholic purpose
27 April 2020The Penal Laws weigh heavily on the history of Ireland. Before they were largely repealed in the period 1778-93, the series of statutes were imposed in an attempt to force Irish Catholics (and Protestant dissenters) to accept the established Church of Ireland.
Summers Place Auctions' last-minute decision to take remote bids only pays off
27 April 2020The sale at garden statuary specialist Summers Place Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Billingshurst on March 24 (the day after lockdown) was among the first conducted under new government restrictions on social distancing.
Auction previews: issue 2440
27 April 2020The auction calendar has been much changed by Covid-19 restrictions. However, as indicated by these lots offered for sale in April, some UK auction houses continue to transact behind closed doors holding ‘live online’ sales with bids taken via bidding platforms such as thesaleroom.com or over the phone.
Qwerty minded: typewriters tempt bidders in German sale
27 April 2020Specialist auction house sells early versions hailing from the US
Specialist dealer plays his cards right with new website
27 April 2020Dealer Timothy Millett, a specialist in historical medals and associated works of art, has launched a website to sell greeting cards based on images of some of his favourite objects.
Lizzie: the biggest and best Hornby loco
27 April 2020Appearing in 1937, a couple of years after the locomotive itself was launched, the LMS Princess Elizabeth was the biggest and best locomotive that Hornby ever made.
17th century longcase clock and first English edition of Moomin book are among four auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes
24 April 2020ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a 17th century walnut longcase clock by London maker Henry Jones that made over seven-times estimate.
Antique jewellery auction to benefit National Emergencies Trust
21 April 2020A gold and garnet red cross, known as a symbol of help and support around the world, is among the highlights of an online jewellery charity auction to be held by Elmwood’s auctioneers in West London on Thursday.
New faces at Sworders, Phillips and Bonhams - the latest Movers and Shakers from auction houses
21 April 2020Among the latest appointments across auction firms, Sarah Flynn has left Cheffins to join Sworders.