Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Pick of the week: Chinese instruments belonging to a Dutchman who was in tune with China
13 November 2023The Dutch diplomat, musician, writer and sinologist Robert Hans van Gulik (1910-67), also known as Gao Luopei, was a great admirer of traditional Chinese literati culture.
Buyer chooses Chadwick couple
13 November 2023Lynn Chadwick’s (1914-2003) figure sculptures of the 1960s-80s consist largely of angular male and female couples – standing, sitting, walking or lying together.
Rare set of Keika chrysanthemums kept intact
13 November 2023The late 19th century Japanese artist Keika Hasegawa remains something of an enigma.
Drawing by young Elizabeth II failed to impress her mother
13 November 2023The October 18-19 sale at Everard Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Savannah, Georgia, featured manuscripts, photos and ephemera focused on European royalty.
Previews: issue 2618
13 November 2023Our selection of lots from five upcoming UK and Irish auctions
Egg breaks out of hotel confines
13 November 2023Famous chair created as just an edition of 50 went on to become signature product of Danish design house
Elizabethan gent ready to research
13 November 2023This three-quarter-length portrait of an Elizabethan gentleman, attributed to the circle of the court painter George Gower (c.1540-96), hammered for $32,000 (£26,500) on October 15.
‘Circle of JMW Turner’ watercolour stars in our pick of five auction highlights
10 November 2023ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a watercolour of steamboats on the Rhine that made over 60 times estimate in Derby.
Chinese bronze hands vendor big reward
06 November 2023A spectacular Chinese bronze surfaced at DuMouchelles’ auction in Detroit.
Mini Reynolds comes to auction in Chicago
06 November 2023A small autograph version of the famous portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) in the permanent collection of the Royal Academy of Arts comes for sale at Hindman in Chicago on November 16.
An Aesthetic Movement cabinet is among five lots to watch
06 November 2023With estimates from £150, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Lismann definitely not forgotten by collectors
06 November 2023The most contested lot in Bonhams’ October 19 Expressionism: Germany, Austria and Beyond sale was a self-portrait by the German painter Hermann Lismann (1878-1943).
Table suitable for Grand Tour big buyer
06 November 2023No 19th-century Grand Tourist would have considered his or her visit to Rome complete without a day spent shopping for micromosaics. Most would return home with a small box, a paperweight or a plaque.
Riding in with Carter provenance
06 November 2023This pair of Qianlong (1735-96) cloisonné standing lion dogs with riders came for sale at Heritage (25% buyer’s premium) with a provenance to George Ann Brown Carter, wife of media scion Amon Giles Carter Jr (1919-82) of Fort Worth, Texas.
Scroll on Song in the Windy City
06 November 2023Chinese item was owned by dealer who ran famed store on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago
Baskets bring in the bidders
06 November 2023Japanese Contemporary crafts currently enjoy a stronger following than more traditional works of art.
Shi Lu picked out at $430,000
06 November 2023Estimated at $30,000-50,000, an ink and colour on paper hanging scroll by Shi Lu (1919-82) took a mighty $430,000 (£354,500) at the latest Bonhams (28/27/21% buyer’s premium) auction of Fine Chinese Paintings in New York.
Go fishing to catch a Prunella Clough work in Canada
06 November 2023It was in the early 1950s that Prunella Clough (1919-99) ‘found’ her subject matter after touring London’s industrial wastelands and factories.
Exquisite Chinese sleeper – but not in best condition
06 November 2023A textbook Chinese sleeper emerged at a recent sale held by Helmuth Stone (25% buyer’s premium): this 11in (29cm) cinnabar red lacquer circular box and cover.