Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Asian art in Los Angeles: late Qing vase draws bids at Bonhams
06 January 2020This 12in (30cm) cong form vase with elephant-head handles is decorated in qianjiangcai enamels by Cheng Men (1833-1908) – one of the best known of the late Qing period porcelain painters.
Rediscovered Giambologna bronze cast bought by Versailles
24 December 2019A ‘rediscovered’ lifetime cast of Giambologna’s 'Rape of a Sabine' topped Sotheby’s sell-out sale of works from the collection of the Count and Countess of Ribes in Paris.
Second ‘lost’ Marlborough gem sparkles in Cambridge
23 December 2019An intaglio ring became the second of the ‘lost’ Marlborough jewels to surface at auction in 2019 when it sold for £36,000 (plus 22.5% premium) in Cambridge.
Royal Copenhagen in Newcastle
23 December 2019This 12½in (31cm) Royal Copenhagen blanc de chine vase offered by Newcastle’s Anderson & Garland (22% buyer’s premium) on December 5 has an underglaze ‘three waves’ mark dating to c.1870-90.
Japanese snake slithers beside maps and cup
23 December 2019Alongside two key early maps of colonial North America (see News, ATG No 2422) the sale at Ramsay Cornish (20% buyer’s premium) in Edinburgh on December 7 was distinguished by five-figure bids for two rare items.
Pick of the week: Faraday iron filings create a magnetic pull on bidders
23 December 2019Michael Faraday’s laboratory notebook from 1851 includes a series of diagrams illustrating what he called ‘magnetic lines of force’ – the magnetic field lines that are central to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry.
Airfix D-Day advance to four figures
23 December 2019A recent sale at C&T in Tunbridge Wells included an unexpected bid of £1700 (estimate £50-70) for three unopened Airfix models.
Wight place, right time for censer
23 December 2019The relatively short reign of the Ming emperor Xuande (1425-35) was considered a high point in the production of bronze works of art.
Cocteau ceramics price pushes the goat out
23 December 2019In the 130th anniversary year of the birth of Jean Cocteau (1889-1963), a collection of ceramics by the leading figure of the French avant-garde was a sell-out at Bonhams’ Prints and Multiples sale on December 11-12.
Unusual bed to suit a life on an ocean wave
21 December 2019This unusual piece of mahogany and teak ‘campaign’ furniture below is a naval ship’s cabin bed.
Rare and early white porcelain sculpture from Chelsea factory bought by V&A museum
20 December 2019A white porcelain sculpture made in the experimental years of the Chelsea factory has been acquired for the national collection of ceramics at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Airfix models, a Chinese bronze censer and Australian silverware – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
20 December 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a pair of 19th century electroplated cups from Australia featuring heads of Aborigine people that sold above predictions.
Stewart-Lockhart leaves auction house Woolley & Wallis and Lamond joins
16 December 2019Jeremy Lamond, former director of Halls, will be joining auction house Woolley & Wallis at the end of March 2020 as head of the valuations department and associate director.
Colonial North America discoveries put Scottish saleroom on the map
16 December 2019Two key early maps of colonial North America were offered for sale at Ramsay Cornish in Edinburgh on December 7.
Railwayana, memorabilia from the Snowman film and a ‘James Bond’ watch are among four lots to watch at auction this week
16 December 2019With estimates from £400-3200 here are four previews of upcoming sales this week.