Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Grima and Omega – the About Time partnership
08 March 2021At the peak of his fame in the 1969, the Anglo-Italian jewellery designer Andrew Grima was invited by Omega to create what would become the About Time collection.
Value judgment: Interview with the new head of watches at Lyon & Turnbull
08 March 2021With classic watches usually priced in five or six figures, it is worth discovering the less well-known brands and especially those from the 1980s, says newly appointed Lyon & Turnbull specialist Sarah Fergusson
Foyer doors from Abbey Road studios star in our pick of five auction highlights
05 March 2021ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes the original foyer doors from the Abbey Road recording studios that tripled their estimate in Surrey.
A Clarice Cliff jug and an Edwardian travel desk are among the four lots to watch at auction
01 March 2021With estimates from £400-15,000 here are four previews of upcoming items this week.
Auction previews: issue 2482
01 March 2021A selection of 11 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
It’s Tompion time in Birmingham
01 March 2021Although Thomas Tompion (1639-1713) is often referred to as the Father of English Clockmaking, his talents were not just limited to clocks.
Rare Royal Navy set shipshapes up to £4600 result
01 March 2021The latest Interiors sale at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge included one of the rarest of all the Britains lead soldier sets.
Trade views ahead of auctions ‘are business meetings’
22 February 2021Christie’s has explained its policy of holding trade-only viewings of its sales, saying they comprise ‘business meetings’ rather than public viewings.
Wallace Collection archive stays open after closure u-turn
22 February 2021Following an internal consultation – and a public outcry – the Wallace Collection has announced its library and archive will remain open to the public.
A Cartier ‘tool’ watch from 1915 makes £12,000 at Fellows
22 February 2021Although the elegant lines of the Cartier Tonneau Curvex wristwatch are the antithesis of today’s macho tool watch, many were used by soldiers in the First World War.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including a Soviet propaganda plate
22 February 2021With estimates from £400-2000 here are five previews of upcoming items this week.
Silver teapot with provenance to the Wedgwoods and Darwins sold at Cumbria auction
22 February 2021This silver teapot has London hallmarks for 1792 and a maker’s mark for silversmith Michael Plummer who worked out of Gutter Lane, London, from 1791-95.
Antiquities from Cotswolds local history hero turn heads at auction
22 February 2021A recent sale at Cotswold Auction Company (22% buyer’s premium) included a single-owner collection of antiquities from Lionel Walrond (1927-2020).
Auction previews: issue 2481
22 February 2021A selection of 17 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Christie’s closes Barcelona office and moves Spanish headquarters in Madrid
20 February 2021Christie’s has closed its existing offices in Madrid and Barcelona and will now operate from a premises on Calle Serrano in Madrid, about 2km north of its previous address.
Victorian silver goblet stars in our latest pick of five auction highlights
19 February 2021ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a Victorian chased silver goblet with ‘beautiful workmanship’ showing the first Bath Regatta.
Coins and medals ‘up 15-20%’ during £53m year for London’s salerooms
15 February 2021Despite the near absence of face-to-face trading, 2020 was a record year for London’s coins and medals auction houses with combined total sales just shy of £53m.
Pick of the week: Pondicherry carpet saved from the ashes of Ossian’s Hall
15 February 2021In his book 'Oriental Rugs' (1998), textiles scholar Murray Eiland Jr lamented the challenges in dating and identifying carpets woven in south-east India.
A Tompion pocket watch and Jaws poster are among six lots to watch at auction
15 February 2021With estimates from £100-6500 here are six previews of upcoming items this week.