Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Judge hears challenge to California ivory law
01 December 2016A Superior Court judge in Los Angeles has heard the legal arguments that challenge California’s uncompromising ban on the sale of practically all ivory objects.
Korean uniform flies 100 times above estimate at Woolley & Wallis’ Asian sale
24 November 2016The latest Asian art sale at Woolley & Wallis generated a total of £3.6m and posted some of the strongest prices at auction in the UK regions this year.
Vendor’s waste paper basket proves to be rare Burmese silver bowl
11 November 2016A rare late 19th century Burmese silver bowl has come to auction having previously been used by the vendor’s mother as a waste paper basket.
Forum and Fellows join forces for jewellery auction in London
07 November 2016Forum Auctions and Fellows are to join forces for a jewellery sale in London at the end of this month.
Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition opening at Sotheby’s
31 October 2016The venerable Oriental Ceramic Society are holding an exhibition of Asian ceramics at Sotheby’s which opens later this week.
Bottled-up demand for medicine that ‘restores life’ – auction record set for rare Victorian flask
28 October 2016A new record for an empty English medicine bottle was set by BBR Auctions in Elsecar, North Yorkshire when a Victorian flask of ‘Dr Sibley’s Solar Tincture’ took £8200.
New valuations firm launched in London
27 October 2016Well-known general valuers Rachel Doerr and Sean McIlroy launch a new UK valuations firm this month.
Collector and shippers indicted over New York tax dodge
21 October 2016A Manhattan district attorney has warned the art and antiques trade of its obligations regarding local sales taxes after a collector and his shippers were indicted for fraud.
$10m puts TEFAF – and New York – on the map
21 October 2016Among the undisputed highlights of TEFAF New York Fall is the most expensive map ever offered on the open market.
Wedgwood vase adds lustre to auction in Scotland
20 October 2016At just over 17in (42cm) high, the 1920s Wedgwood vase (shape 2465) is among the largest produced in the Fairyland Lustre range.
TEFAF talks to tackle antiquities and fashion
19 October 2016The ‘cultural programming’ built up around the inaugural ‘TEFAF New York Fall’ (October 21-26) includes a week of panel discussions and lectures scheduled to coincide with the fair at the Park Avenue Armory.
Dealers Wartski buy metal detectorist’s medieval ring
17 October 2016This late medieval marriage ring, unearthed by a metal detectorist last year in North Yorkshire, has been sold to London dealers Wartski for a five-figure sum after a private deal was negotiated by independent valuer Mark Littler.
Going, Going, Gomm: mahogany commode bid to £28,000
14 October 2016This early George III mahogany serpentine dressing commode with distinctive carved decoration forms part of a group thought to have been made by the London cabinet-maker William Gomm (c.1698-1780).
Roger Keverne sells works from personal collection at Hong Kong auction
13 October 2016London Asian art specialist Roger Keverne chose to mark his 50th year in the trade with a sale of items from his personal collection.
Ornate Japanese cabinet from Leicestershire house takes £34,000 at Gildings’ auction
06 October 2016“It’s a super quality piece, the sort you can stand in front of for hours appreciating the quality and intricacy,” said Will Gilding in the wake of the sale of this Meiji period shodhana for £34,000.
‘Unseen’ works by Bloomsbury group artists to be sold at Dorset auction
05 October 2016Bridport saleroom Busby’s will offer ‘unseen’ works by members of the Bloomsbury group on October 20.
The Australian gold rush of 2016 – bracelet takes £57,000 in Chorley’s auction
30 September 2016A remarkable Australian gold rush era bracelet was sold by Chorley’s of Prinknash Abbey Park earlier this month for £57,000. The buyer was an Australian private collector.
Robert Salmon painting leaps to a house record in Cumbria
29 September 2016Robert Salmon’s 1814 oil painting ‘The Frigate William Fell off Greenock’ set a house record at Mitchells of Cockermouth earlier this month when it was knocked down at £79,000.
Benin plaque surfaces in Virginia auction after family dispute
27 September 2016One of the famed 16th century bronze plaques recovered from the charred ruins of the Benin Kingdom’s royal palace carries an estimate of $800,000-$1.2m at Quinn’s Auction Galleries in Virginia on October 1.
Tate acquire early Joan Carlile portrait
26 September 2016The Tate has acquired its earliest picture by a female artist.