Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Historic archive of Second World War floating harbour designer bought at auction by museum
24 March 2020An historic archive belonging to the engineer who oversaw the design of the Mulberry Harbours in the Second World War has been bought by a museum after being offered at Mitchells’ auction last week.
A market still ticking as pocket watches bring demand at Lawrences of Bletchingley
23 March 2020A superb collection of 61 pocket watches drew strong demand at a Surrey auction last week as remote bidders, using the phone and online platforms, competed for some outstanding 17th, 18th and 19th century examples.
Pick of the week: Rare The Who poster – once in a Blue Moon chance for collectors
23 March 2020The Blue Moon, a club above Burton’s on Cheltenham High Street, existed for less than two years from July 1965 to May 1967, but in that time the compact 250-capacity venue with a tiny stage hosted Elton John, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, The Yardbirds and (on February 11, 1967) Jimi Hendrix.
The biggest of bids for the biggest of Staite Murray pots
23 March 2020The recent sale of Clarice Cliff, Art Deco & Design at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury included 27 works by the studio potter William Staite Murray (1881-1962).
Go With Noakes: Rozenburg collection sold in Dorset
23 March 2020The collection of Rozenburg pottery and porcelain belonging to the late children’s television presenter John Noakes (1934-2017) was sold at a recent auction in Dorchester.
A Queen Anne-style giltwood dressing mirror and a First World War propeller chair are among four lots to watch this week
23 March 2020With estimates from £1000-10,000 here are four previews of upcoming items this week that you can view and bid for remotely.
Previews: £2001 - £5000
23 March 2020Our weekly selection from salerooms. Please note, due to the rescheduling of events in relation to the coronavirus outbreak, we strongly advise any bidders to check in advance that the auction will take place as planned.
Huge competition for Chinese export plates with Jacobite Highlands scenes
23 March 2020Among the most recognisable of all the famille rose porcelain designs produced in China for export to Europe are the so-called ‘Scotsmen’ or ‘Highlander’ plates.
Previews: £5001 - £30,000
23 March 2020Our weekly selection from salerooms. Please note, due to the rescheduling of events in relation to the coronavirus outbreak, we strongly advise any bidders to check in advance that the auction will take place as planned.
Portraits of mystery young women catch the eye in auctions
23 March 2020Two alluring early-20th century British school portraits of attractive young women caught the eye in recent regional sales. Both modestly estimated, they brought similar four-figure sums.
Previews: Up to £800
23 March 2020Our weekly selection from salerooms. Please note, due to the rescheduling of events in relation to the coronavirus outbreak, we strongly advise any bidders to check in advance that the auction will take place as planned.
Previews: £801 - £2000
23 March 2020Our weekly selection from salerooms. Please note, due to the rescheduling of events in relation to the coronavirus outbreak, we strongly advise any bidders to check in advance that the auction will take place as planned.
Doulton Lambeth frogs and cricketers make for a lively sale
23 March 2020A c.1880 Doulton Lambeth stoneware tobacco jar and cover was one of the pleasant surprises at a recent David Duggleby (18.75% buyer’s premium) sale in Scarborough.
Gaming board pays £30,000
23 March 2020A valuation day in Tunbridge Wells led to the consignment of a late-16th century south German rosewood and bone gaming board at Catherine Southon.
Baroque ivory sleeper could be Schenck masterwork
23 March 2020This stellar 17th century Baroque ivory plaque depicting the Pieta attended by angels and putti carries the name 'IC Storer' for the German artist Johann Christoph Storer (1621-71).
18th century creamware mug, Victorian deluxe campaign wardrobe, early electrostatic generator – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes
20 March 2020ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes an 18th century creamware mug that evokes the hysteria that greeted the Catholic Relief Act of 1778. It sold for over 12-times estimate.
Unseen for a century, pocket watches bring £145,000 in Surrey sale
20 March 2020A cache of pocket watches, unseen on the market for close to a century, sold for £145,000 in Surrey today.
Rare and early The Who poster headlines Somerset auction
18 March 2020A poster for a gig by The Who at The Blue Moon Club in Cheltenham attracted fans at a recent Gardiner Houlgate sale.
Coronavirus: Christie’s postpones many forthcoming international sales and shuts down offices
16 March 2020Christie’s has chosen to postpone many of its forthcoming international sales and close most of its offices in response to the coronavirus. The firm's March and April calendar is being restructured with sales in New York and Paris put on hold for at least two months, although its London office remains open.
Trio of high-value paintings stolen in raid on Oxford college collection
16 March 2020Three Old Master paintings, including Annibale Carracci’s A Boy Drinking, have been stolen from a museum in Oxford.