Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell

Silver dealer Michael Baggott

Michael Baggott’s collection comes to Salisbury auction

04 June 2025

Woolley & Wallis is selling the private collection of silver specialist Michael Baggott (1973-2025) who died unexpectedly in January of this year.

Architectural tea caddy

Rediscovered tea caddy in form of a Georgian house sells at Sheffield auction

04 June 2025

The fashion for tea caddies and other boxes in the form of houses or other decorative buildings emerged in the last quarter of the 18th century and continued into the 19th century.

George III table clock

Rimbault clock bid to five times estimate at Dutch sale

02 June 2025

A fine English table clock by Huguenot maker Stephen Rimbault (1711-86) generated plenty of competition at auction in the Netherlands.

Vizagapatam figure of a cavalryman

Pick of the week: Call in the cavalry for an Indian toy soldier at auction

02 June 2025

The sale of a private collection of arms and armour at C&T Auctions in Kent, on May 13 included a brass figure of a cavalryman from a small but well-known group of Indian toy soldiers.

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Jewellery: The Jean-Pierre Cornille collection of Christian Dior creates a costume drama

02 June 2025

This impressive array of costume jewellery sold in Paris showcased the work of half a century and seven creative directors of the Dior brand.

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Feel blue but buoyant thanks to Cartier design

02 June 2025

Cartier’s aquamarine jewellery appears to have been predominantly produced from the London workshop starting in 1932.

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Rings that come with emotional messages

02 June 2025

While Whitby jet was particularly fashionable during the reign of Victoria, it had been a popular material for jewellery from the Romano British period onwards.

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‘Deeply moving’ Ribera work went from shed to saleroom

02 June 2025

A painting by Spanish artist Jusepe de Ribera (1591- 1652) which emerged from a shed in rural Sweden drew competition at an auction in Stockholm.

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Sapphire ring soars to Irish highest price for jewellery at auction

02 June 2025

The sale of Fine Jewellery & Ladies Watches at Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dublin on May 13 included an impressive retro sapphire and diamond ‘tank’ ring, c.1940, that came for sale from the ‘private collection of a Continental lady’.

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Bountiful selection to explore in Chicago saleroom includes accounts of famous mutiny

02 June 2025

US auction offers lots ranging from mutiny on the Bounty to polar tales and a starry menu

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Story of the formidable goldsmith Sybil Dunlop

02 June 2025

In the 1920s-30s, the Scottish-born goldsmith Sybil Dunlop (1889- 1968) presided over a workshop in London’s Kensington Church Street dressed in a kaftan and Russian fur boots.

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Spectacular Cartier on offer includes tiara with Astor provenance

02 June 2025

Bonhams’ London Jewels sale on June 5 features a spectacular Cartier turquoise and diamond tiara that comes by descent from Nancy, Viscountess Astor (1879-1964).

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Feather brooch finds new owner after five-minute bidding battle

02 June 2025

This large diamond, sapphire and emerald peacock feather brooch was the highlight of a recent Fine Jewellery sale held at Fellows (25% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham.

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Parure produced in Princes Street Edinburgh sells well south of the border

02 June 2025

Among the highlights of a recent jewellery sale held by Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford was this mid-to late-19th century amethyst parure.

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Previews: issue 2696

02 June 2025

Our selection of lots from 13 upcoming auctions

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Grasshopper ring bound to attract attention as a Tudor gift

02 June 2025

A previously unrecorded Elizabethan gold signet ring, a gift from the influential Tudor financier and merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-79), comes for sale at Noonans on June 17.

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Necklace boosted by a fascinating backstory

02 June 2025

This Victorian acrostic gold, hardstone and paste necklace, probably made in Rome c.1890, sold for £3800 (estimate £2000-3000) at Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) Jewellery & Watches sale on May 22.

The Flagellation of Christ by Ribera

Newly discovered Ribera painting makes top estimate in Swedish auction

27 May 2025

A painting by Spanish artist Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652) which emerged from a shed in rural Sweden drew competition at an auction in Stockholm.

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Gerrit Jensen is the suggestion as marquetry strong box maker

26 May 2025

Like many English joiners of his time, not a great deal is known about the private life of Gerrit Jensen.

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Gould proud of his work on the most sumptuous and costly of British bird books

26 May 2025

Chiswick Auctions (26% buyer’s premium) held a sale titled The Art of Nature – a themed catalogue of art and antiques based on the natural world.