Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Forum Auctions announce venue for first London sale
31 May 2016New books and works on paper specialists Forum Auctions will hold their first London sale at the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair on July 13-14.
New head promises change at High Road Auctions in Chiswick
27 May 2016The owner of a new company operating High Road Auctions in Chiswick has told ATG he will be investing in the refurbishment of the premises and has already created escrow accounts to separate client’s money from day-to-day business expenses.
French trade respond to ivory ban threat
26 May 2016French art market associations have protested at environment minister Ségolène Royal’s plan to push for “a ban on any kind of ivory trade in France”.
Wagner weapons sold after ivory elements surrendered to customs
25 May 2016A series of antique weapons were sold by Bonhams earlier this month missing their ivory elements after the items had been surrendered to the UK’s Border Force.
Unique printing of early rugby rules makes £13,000 at Cardiff auction
25 May 2016An early printed copy of the laws of rugby appeared at Rogers Jones in Cardiff as part of a themed sale titled Sweat, Mud & Blood. Auctioneer Ben Rogers Jones said: ”In 25 years of our business, it is the most valuable book we have sold and probably the smallest.”
“A jaw dropping result” – nautilus shell outstrips estimate and sells at £8500
20 May 2016A large scrimshaw-decorated nautilus shell by Charles B Wood sold for an unexpected £8500 at Charles Miller’s latest sale of maritime antiques in London. It sold to a UK private collector.
Double joy at Halls as Chinese vases bring £85,000
19 May 2016A pair of Daoguang (1821-50) mark and period vases sold for £85,000 at a recent sale held at Halls of Shrewsbury.
High Road Auctions close Twickenham saleroom
19 May 2016Chiswick-based High Road Auctions have closed their satellite branch in Twickenham.
Online auction tie-up as Auctionata and Paddle8 join forces
18 May 2016Online auction firms Auctionata and Paddle8 are to merge.
Prison for thief who sold church relics
17 May 2016A 48-year-old man has been sentenced to three years and eight months at Hereford Crown Court for the theft of works of art from churches across the country.
Ex-Bloomsbury staff and former Dreweatts chief Stephan Ludwig launch Forum Auctions
16 May 2016Key former members of Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions have started a new auction firm.
Joseph Chait pleads guilty in smuggling case
12 May 2016Joseph Chait, a 38-year-old senior auction administrator with IM Chait gallery and auction house in Beverly Hills, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to smuggle items of rhino horn, ivory, coral and a hornbill casque.
Yongzheng perfection brings £750,000
06 May 2016Made under the watchful eye of the third Qing emperor, a Chinese porcelain vase valued at just £12 in the 1950s sold for £750,000 at the latest sale held by Mallams in Cheltenham.
Record price for British motorcycle as Brough Superior makes £331,900
04 May 2016Bonhams set a record auction price for any British motorcycle with the sale of a 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4 for £331,900.
Taxi driver’s £40 car boot find turns out to be £75,000 Indian miniature
22 April 2016A large Indian gouache on paper miniature was the unexpected highlight of a specialist Islamic & Indian Arts sale at Roseberys in London last week.
Three medal experts defect from Spink to DNW
13 April 2016Three leading specialists in orders, decorations and medals are leaving Spink to join rival London firm Dix Noonan Webb.
Medieval mourning figures return to Paris for Christie's sale
06 April 2016Christie’s Paris are to sell two figures of mourners as part of their European Sculpture and Works of Art sale on June 15.
Charles George collection vase to go to auction
06 April 2016Made under the watchful eye of the third Qing emperor, a porcelain vase valued at just £12-15 in the 1950s is expected to bring over £20,000 when it is sold at auction on April 27-28.
Cols Rouges deserve jail, says prosecutor
04 April 2016The prosecution in the trial of the Cols Rouges – the erstwhile portering staff at Hôtel Drouot, the communal saleroom facility used by most Paris auctioneers – have called for prison sentences of up to five years and fines of €250,000 for those found guilty of theft and criminal conspiracy.
Bath museum buys Wood the Elder’s instruments at Clevedon auction
31 March 2016John Wood the Elder’s (1704-54) set of drawing instruments were offered at Clevedon Auction Rooms earlier this month and were bought by the Bath Preservation Trust for £21,000.