Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Buttons were a bright idea to find the lost Franklin Expedition crews in the Arctic
11 August 2025During Edward Belcher’s fruitless two-year search for the lost Franklin expedition from 1852-54, many attempts were made to communicate with Inuit hunters in the hope they would have news of Franklin’s men.
Metal detectorist’s 10th century silver penny proves to be a market first
06 August 2025A previously unknown Anglo-Saxon era silver penny, recently found by a metal detectorist in Lincolnshire, is expected to sell for between £20,000-30,000 at auction in the autumn.
De Morgan doubles up with charger and designs
04 August 2025Two contrasting works by William De Morgan (1839-1917) - a sketchbook and a triple-lustre charger - were offered by Dominic Winter in consecutive auctions.
Libertas medal gets away at £63,000 hammer
04 August 2025A fine example of the Libertas Americana silver medal sold for £63,000 at Anderson & Garland in Newcastle. The medal offered on July 22 came to light during a valuation event in nearby Tynemouth and was subsequently sent for professional grading by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).
Pamphlet sold in West Sussex shows William Wordsworth turning from revolutionary to reactionary
04 August 2025The books section at a recent Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium) auction included a volume containing more than a dozen early 19th century political pamphlets concerning the issue of reform.
Sandoz rabbit hops into Kent sale
04 August 2025Along with Francois Pompon and Rembrandt Bugatti, Edouard Marcel Sandoz (1881-1971) was one of the leading animal sculptors of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.
Titus rises: Another Roman antiquity success at Essex saleroom
04 August 2025Bust once thought to be 18th century reassessed as 1st century AD after auction house’s research
Historic Piprahwa gems return to India in private sale after planned Sotheby’s auction cancelled
31 July 2025A collection of relics linked to the historical Buddha will now go on public display in India.
Portrait of first governor of Western Australia reappears at Perth auction
31 July 2025A dozen years after it was last sold in England, a portrait of Sir James Stirling (1791-1865), the first governor of Western Australia, returned to auction Down Under earlier this month.
William De Morgan strikes twice as sketchbook and charger emerge in Gloucestershire
30 July 2025Two contrasting works by William De Morgan (1839-1917) – a sketchbook and a triple-lustre charger – were offered for sale by Dominic Winter in consecutive sales this month.
Ancient Egyptian grasshopper takes six-figure sum at auction
28 July 2025An ancient Egyptian cosmetic vessel made in the form of a grasshopper or cicada sold for £340,000 at Apollo Art Auctions in London on July 27.
Rare Libertas Americana silver medal sells at Newcastle auction
24 July 2025A fine example of the Libertas Americana silver medal sold for £63,000 at Anderson & Garland’s Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu auction in Newcastle this week.
Guennol Grasshopper: Controversial Egyptian vessel comes to auction
24 July 2025An ancient Egyptian cosmetic vessel made in the form of a grasshopper or cicada comes to auction in London this week.
Fouquet-Mucha brooch: Giants of Art Nouveau reunited in Southend
21 July 2025A large gold, enamel and gemset jewel combining the talents of two of the biggest names in French Art Nouveau has surfaced for sale in Southend-on-Sea.
Somerset collection tells perambulator history
21 July 2025The antiques and vintage sale at Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham on July 31 includes the Swift collection of antique prams.
Why Child & Child was the artist’s choice
21 July 2025Walter Child (1840-1930) and Harold Child (1848-1915), the sons of an East End pawnbroker who left a fortune of £30,000, opened as art jewellers in 1880 at 1 Seville Street, Belgravia.
Elizabethan grasshopper ring jumps to £42,000
21 July 2025A previously unrecorded Elizabethan gold and enamel signet ring, a gift from the influential Tudor financier and merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-79), sold for £42,000 at Noonans (24% buyer’s premium).
Dior brooch chimes again, this time at Birmingham auction
21 July 2025Just a month after a rare Christian Dior (1905-57) musical brooch was sold Tajan in Paris, two more examples appeared for sale at Fellows’ (30% buyer’s premium inc VAT) Handbags & Accessories auction in Birmingham on June 24.
Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet flies to 14 times estimate
21 July 2025A modestly estimated Van Cleef & Arpels, 18ct yellow gold gem set charm bracelet from c.1960 did particularly well for Dreweatts.