Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
The incredible story of Aristophil
08 May 2023Involving a string of spectacular works, the saga of the collapsed French firm is worth a novel itself
From Horatio Nelson to a Hebrew bible and Ulysses to the BFG: a selection of upcoming auction highlights
08 May 2023Stand-out lots to watch out for in UK, Irish, European and US sales of books and works on paper
Pick of the week: Coconut cup could be booty from infamous pirate Black Bart’s defeat
08 May 2023Rising to be Admiral of the Fleet during the War of the Spanish Succession, Sir Chaloner Ogle (1680-1750) had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy.
Crowning glory: George II coronation relic rings a bell
01 May 2023George II coronation bell has considerable regal appeal at £7200
A Victorian majolica dish is among six lots to watch
01 May 2023With estimates from £100, here are six previews of upcoming items.
Pick of the week: Support band turned out to be The Sex Pistols
01 May 2023This rare rock and pop poster advertises a performance by ‘Bazooka Joe’ with ‘Support Band’ at the common room of St Martin’s Art School on November 6, 1975. Entrance was 50p.
UK still holds its own despite overseas focus
01 May 2023Once the centre of the Asian art trade, and still the repository for some of the most knowledgeable dealers on the subject, the London market has weakened in recent years.
Auspicious aspects of vase for sale from a private collector
01 May 2023The Asian art sale at Halls in Shrewsbury on May 11 features this 10½in (27cm) pink ground famille rose vase.
Boxwood netsuke deer among lots at Lyon & Turnbull
01 May 2023The sale of Asian art at Lyon & Turnbull in London on May 16 includes this late Edo or Meiji period boxwood netsuke of a recumbent deer signed Masakiyo.
Guanyin on hand thanks to a noted collector
01 May 2023This rare 2ft 7in (78cm) high white marble stele depicting the Buddhist goddess Guanyin predates was carved in the Northern Qi dynasty, (550-577AD), around the time of the Sutton Hoo hoard.
Spotlight on the Tomkinson collection
01 May 2023This special edition of A Japanese Collection (1898) by Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921) is one of the first 25 copies printed on Indian paper and is signed and dedicated by the author to his daughter Dora.
Wucai wine cups bring flower power
01 May 2023This pair of wucai floral wine cups have Guangxu marks and are of the period (1875-1908).
Lewis Carroll’s ‘child friends’ photographs sell to French dealer
01 May 2023A series of photographs taken by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-98) – aka Lewis Carroll – has sold for £94,400 as part of a timed online auction at Sworders.
European landscapes in view on Canton vase
01 May 2023This 14in (36cm) Qianlong mark and period Canton vase of square baluster form is painted with four oval cartouches with European rural landscape views.
Heads you win a final proof coin set bearing Queen Victoria’s portrait
01 May 2023The final proof coin set bearing Queen Victoria’s portrait was issued by the Royal Mint in two sets in 1893.
Bannermen set to fly high at auction
01 May 2023Bonhams’ flagship sale of Fine Chinese Art in Bond Street on May 18 includes a rare Qianlong period ink on silk court painting.
Transitional vase decorated with scene from literary epic
01 May 2023This 16in (41cm) blue and white sleeve vase from the Transitional period is on offer at the Bonhams Knightsbridge sale titled Asian Art on May 15.
Owned by a London connoisseur, gentleman collector and agent to Victor Rothschild
01 May 2023This pair of 10in (25cm) famille verte and ormolu vases has a provenance to Arthur Tite (1904-84), the London connoisseur, gentleman collector and agent to Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron (1910-90).
Sword makers and armourers courted a new clientele after abolition of Samurai
01 May 2023Among the most striking Japanese works of art in Chiswick Auctions’ sale is this life-size model of an eagle with wings outstretched on a gnarled branch.