Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
A Ming dynasty fan, a rare Beswick horse and a stamp archive – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
17 May 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a gold paper fan signed for a Ming dynasty calligrapher that took a multi-estimate €28,000.
Qianlong throne takes £5.2m at Christie’s auction
14 May 2019A fervent bidding battle was witnessed in London earlier today as a Chinese throne sold for five times estimate at Christie’s.
Marklin train, Opium War map and Lalique glass figure – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
10 May 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a Marklin tinplate train that went for 13-times estimate and a Lalique frosted glass statuette that sold above predictions.
Magnificent results for Suleyman portrait and two Safavid carpets in latest Islamic art auction series
06 May 2019One of the few images of a 16th century Eastern potentate by a Western artist emerged from a ‘royal collection’ to sell for a multi-estimate sum at Sotheby’s.
Quality counts in Japanese market
06 May 2019Works by Namikawa Yasuyuki underline how buyers are aiming at the very best when it comes to the Japanese market ahead of a series of UK sales.
Italian side tables, Horatio Nelson prints and Chinese jades – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
03 May 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a pair of North Italian side tables from a distinguished collection and a group of prints relating to Lord Horatio Nelson.
‘Partner to the Canning Jewel’ surfaces in Salisbury
29 April 2019A Renaissance revival jewel perhaps from the same workshop as the famous Canning Jewel has sold at auction in Salisbury.
Pick of the week: Box pushes sentimentality aside for a siege celebration at Welsh auction
29 April 2019Although catalogued as 19th century, this horn, fruitwood and bone inlaid oval patch or snuff box offered by Rogers Jones in Colwyn Bay in north Wales is of a type associated with the late 17th century.
Victorian cameo brooch, Qing pen box and a pilot’s log book – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
26 April 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a Victorian cameo brooch making over 30-times estimate and a Chinese pen box making over 60-times estimate.
Meiji-period cloisonné enamel vase heads back to Japan after auction in Kent
25 April 2019A Meiji period vase by one of the greatest exponents of the intricate art of cloisonné enamel will be heading back to its country of origin after its sale at The Canterbury Auction Galleries.
Early prototype Coca-Cola bottle takes $110,000 at auction in Las Vegas
24 April 2019An early Coca-Cola bottle, a 1915 prototype of the design still used today, has been sold at auction for a premium-inclusive $110,700 (a hammer price of $92,250).
James I silver box, Lucie Rie bowl and a mahogany side table – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
19 April 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a James I silver shell box, a stoneware footed bowl by Lucie Rie and a George II mahogany side table.
Grima and Kutchinsky move into the mainstream
19 April 2019At the turn of the 20th century, work by Italian émigré Andrew Grima (1921-2007) or the London jeweller Kutchinsky was on the periphery of the collecting world – still languishing in the bottom of jewellery boxes or, worse, the melting pot.
Pevsner name builds auction appeal for architectural medallion
19 April 2019Estimated at just £50-80, an Alice Davis Hitchcock medallion sold for £3000 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) at a Spink auction in London on April 10.
Victorian gold necklace shows cutting edge of the Grand Tour
19 April 2019A Victorian hardstone and gold necklace and similar brooch sold for an unexpected £7500 (estimate £600-800) at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne on April 11.
Farnham’s fragrant bloom points to late 19th century Tiffany
19 April 2019Although unmarked, this gold, enamel and diamond brooch offered by Bonhams Knightsbridge (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) was almost certainly made by Tiffany in New York c.1890.
Jewellery: Gold ring dedicated to the Crimean War commander who led the Light Brigade to its doom heads selection of recent jewellery highlights
19 April 2019It was on the battlefield of Balaclava on October 25, 1854 that the name of James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797-1868) first became etched into public memory.
Brooches: major players in 2019
19 April 2019Seemingly, whatever fashion website or Instagram influencer you choose, the brooch is this season’s ‘on-trend’ accessory. One might argue that in the trade, demand for good period examples of this ‘forgotten’ or ‘old fashioned’ item of jewellery has never really gone away.
Fouquet fresh as a daisy
19 April 2019This French mother-of-pearl and gold pin formed as a daisy comes in a fitted box signed for George Fouquet (1862-1957).
Pick of the week: Fierce bidding at Bellmans for panoramic view of London showing the city reimagined after the 1666 Great Fire
15 April 2019A very rare panorama of 17th century London depicting the city skyline in the wake of the Great Fire of 1666 has sold at auction for £90,000.