Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
The spoils of many Ganna Walska marriages
18 April 2017A late 19th century/early 20th century ruby cameo and baroque pearl pendant once formed part of the celebrated jewellery collection assembled by Ganna Walska (1887-1984). It sold for a multi-estimate £55,000 at Sotheby’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) sale of fine jewels in Bond Street on March 22.
‘Good forms and good work’ at Messrs Phillips
18 April 2017In the chapter titled ‘Modern Jewellery’ in her taste-making book, The Art of Beauty (1878), English writer Mary Eliza Haweis references the “artistic appreciation of good forms and good work” she found at Messrs Phillips of Cockspur Street.
Rich seams for dealers and auctioneers from Portuguese ‘golden period’
18 April 2017From noble jewels to semi-precious gems, a show in May will celebrate a ‘golden period’ of Portuguese jewellery in the 18th century. Here we preview the exhibition and then present other recent and forthcoming sale highlights.
George IV grand piano goes home to Brighton Pavilion
13 April 2017A grand piano commissioned by George IV for the Brighton Pavilion in 1821 is to make its way home after a local museum won the bidding at auction.
Former Christie's South Kensington boss decries closure plans
10 April 2017A former chairman of Christie’s South Kensington has written an open letter to owner François Pinault warning that his plans for the company could “gravely harm Christie’s in London”
Goya’s bullfighting epic rediscovered
10 April 2017A previously unknown complete set of Goya’s La Tauromaquia led Sotheby’s sale of Prints & Multiples in London on April 4.
Turner and Guardi: big guns arrive for London’s July Old Masters series
10 April 2017A large, late work by JMW Turner appears at Sotheby’s on July 5 with an estimate of £15-25m.
Guardi to lead Christie’s summer Old Masters evening sale
07 April 2017Christie’s Old Masters evening sale on July 6 will be led by Francesco Guardi’s 'The Rialto Bridge with the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi' which is expected to fetch more than £25m.
Exceptional Ming ‘fish pond’ bowl sells for more than £22m at auction in Hong Kong
05 April 2017An exceptional Xuande mark and period ‘fish pond’ bowl, trumpeted by Sotheby’s as among the greatest examples of early Ming blue and white porcelain in private hands, sold in Hong Kong for HK$229m (£22.9m) on April 4.
Taxidermy burglar sentenced after recovery of van full of stuffed animals
05 April 2017A member of a gang which stole taxidermy from a well-known dealer a year ago, has been sentenced.
Confused about a term? Take it on the Chinnery
05 April 2017At the end of an article penned for the Regional History Society titled Furniture Terminology in Post-Medieval Middle Class Inventories, the late Victor Chinnery wrote that any full glossary on the subject should include, not just furniture, but also pottery, glass, metalwork and architectural fittings.
Fauvist oil tops Leicestershire sale
05 April 2017A painting from the early career of French artist Auguste Herbin (1882-1960) appeared on the market for the first time in nearly a century at Gildings’ Market Harborough salerooms on March 28.
Droit de suite: Court says seller must pay levy
05 April 2017The way Droit de Suite is applied in France was affirmed by a French court ruling last month.
Pick of the Week: A double helping of Russian Raphael
05 April 2017Inspired by an exhibition marking the 400th anniversary of Raphael’s birth in 1883, Alexander III (1845-94) commissioned a porcelain dinner service for use in the Catherine Palace of Tsarskoe Selo, writes Roland Arkell.
Beadwork and embroideries
05 April 2017Through surviving examples of Charles II beadwork, it is possible to catch a glimpse of the splendid colours of Stuart England.
Two private collections of rushlights at Bonhams
05 April 2017Folksy 18th and 19th century vernacular lighting retains a strong following.
Elizabethan furniture shines in Met’s California dispersal
05 April 2017Two pieces of early oak furniture deaccessioned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York far outstripped modest expectations when offered for sale in California last month. The two tersely catalogued lots – both bequeathed to the museum in 1964 – appeared at Clars in Oakland on March 18. They sold to New York buyers.
Finding out if small is beautiful
05 April 2017Exceptional items star as Bonhams’ oak sales face the challenge of reduced space and lots
Chiswick sees eastern promise
01 April 2017As evidenced by prices recently recorded on these pages for Meiji and earlier material, collectors and dealers have been ahead of the City analysts currently looking at the revival of the Japanese stock exchange.
French court rules artist's resale rights must be paid by the sellers
31 March 2017The French law that states vendors should pay Droit de Suite has been affirmed by a Versailles court.