Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Rudell & Rose flute plays to bidders' tune in Sussex
03 February 2020Popular in the first decades of the 19th century, the eight-key flute is something of a transitional instrument, retaining many of the characteristics of the earlier baroque flute and the modern instrument.
Portrait of England's 'last professional jester' brings major competition
03 February 2020This 18th century English provincial school full-length portrait depicts the jester Black John. He was in the employ of the famously eccentric John Arscott (1718-88) of the Tetcott estate in Devon, said to be the last man in England to keep a professional jester.
Art Deco headlamps, rare Pelham puppet, portrait of an artist’s daughter – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
31 January 2020ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a portrait by Victorian artist John Bagnold Burgess of his daughter and a pair of Woodlite headlamps that both made over 10-times estimate.
Stunning hoard of sealed bottles dug up on a building site could fetch £20,000
27 January 2020A spectacular cache of sealed 17th century bottles unearthed by workmen in Worcestershire will come to auction this year.
Rare Mughal coin spotted hanging on a bracelet sells for £248,000
27 January 2020Discovered hanging on a gold charm bracelet, a rare Mughal coin has sold for Can$420,000 (£248,000) at a Canadian auction house.
Modified Irish seal salver brings £9200 in Exeter sale
27 January 2020On the death of the monarch, or when a statesman left office, it was required by law that any seals of royal authority be broken and defaced.
A 17th century purse, a Stuart Devlin silver egg and an Art Deco clock – five lots to watch at auction this week
27 January 2020With estimates from £200-3500 here are five previews of upcoming items this week.
Textbook Lalique choker makes €150,000 in Paris auction
27 January 2020This opal, diamond, enamel and 18ct yellow gold choker, c.1898, is textbook René Lalique (1860-1945).
Submariners surface for sale in Surrey and Birmingham
27 January 2020From 1969-99 there were more than 20 different references to the Tudor Oyster Prince Submariner with numerous variations.
Cufflinks with the royal cypher draw bidders at Lawrences
27 January 2020This pair of silver and enamel cufflinks with the royal cypher of George VI comes in a presentation box by Plante of Bury Street, London.
Seamaster rises to a £25,000 bid in Nottingham
27 January 2020The Omega Seamaster 300 ranks among the most desirable of all diving watches.
Charmed by Spetchley Park: rock crystal pendant soars to 70-times estimate at Sotheby's
27 January 2020This intriguing rock crystal pendant may have been used as a ‘charmstone’. It follows the same form as the famous Glenorchy Charmstone in the National Museums of Scotland and may too have once adorned an early reliquary.
Pick of the week: Rusty Scottish Highland sword makes £30,000
27 January 2020Claymores (the word comes from the Scottish Gaelic claidheamh-mor meaning ‘great sword’) were the weapon of choice in the ongoing warfare between Highland clans and border skirmishes with the English from c.1400-1700.
Rare example of chameleon stone alexandrite sells at Skinner
27 January 2020According to a popular story, alexandrite, one of the three main varieties of chrysoberyl, was discovered in the Urals by the Finnish mineralogist Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld (1792-1866) and named in honour of the future Tsar Alexander II of Russia.
Four cameo and intaglio rings indicating glyphic art is now at the cutting edge of fashion
27 January 2020Glyphic art was one of the success stories of 2019. The return to collecting fashion of this once dusty academic field is bringing more hardstone gems to the market.