Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Glass: Message in a bottle
25 July 2022Sealed examples with coats of arms, names, dates and places reveal a social history and give an ideal opportunity for genealogical research
Buyers bag onion form bottles
25 July 2022This sealed and dated onion in olive green glass, below, comes with a handwritten scrap of paper inscribed 'George found [this bottle] when he dived into the Thames at Windsor'. The seal reads 'S Slater 1710'.
Stockbroker’s Beilby ready to share – at a price
25 July 2022For reasons of both supply and economics not every collector of English 18th century drinking glasses gets to own a piece from the great Beilby enamelling workshop that operated at Amen Corner in Newcastle in the 1760s-70s.
All Souls College sealed bottles remain a common favourite
25 July 2022Of all antique sealed bottles, those made for the All Souls College Common Room are probably the most prevalent.
Not so romantic: sailor’s valentines as souvenirs
25 July 2022Sailor’s sweethearts or valentines were once thought to have been made by sailors as love tokens during their long trips away from home.
Previews: issue 2553
25 July 2022A selection of 14 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Rare 17th century miniature bottle emerges for sale at BBR Auctions
25 July 2022Among the very rarest bottles to appear for sale in recent months was a miniature shaft and globe in dark aqua glass, c.1650, sold in South Yorkshire.
Knife and fork made for Napoleon star in our pick of five auction highlights
22 July 2022ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes two pieces of silver-gilt cutlery from a service made for the French emperor
Bunnykins figures set Doulton record
18 July 2022A new record for a Royal Doulton figure has been set in Stoke-on-Trent.
Rawley or Raleigh, it’s worth £22,000
18 July 2022The sale of Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh on July 13 included a document signed by the adventurer and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618).
Guide gets to the point: needlework sample album highlight of Nottinghamshire sale
18 July 2022Just as the title reads, this album offered by Mellors & Kirk in Nottingham contains Specimens of Needle-Work Executed in the Female Model School, Kildare-Place, Dublin.
A silver bear pin cushion and a portrait of Thomas Hardy are among five lots to watch
18 July 2022With estimates from £200-7000, here are five previews of upcoming items.
Previews: issue 2552
18 July 2022A selection of 12 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
A Rolex chronograph rarity surfaces in Italy
18 July 2022The reference 3330 antimagnetic is one of the rarest pre-Oyster chronographs made by Rolex.
Important custom-made doll’s house sells for £30,000
18 July 2022‘The Gregson House’ and its contents date from the early Victorian period.
Pair of ‘Bakewell decorated’ Wedgwood plates bid to over 30 times estimate
18 July 2022Estimated at £40-60, a pair of puce decorated creamware plates sold for a surprise £2000 at Bamfords (21% buyer’s premium) in Derbyshire.
Pick of the week: Vases of true exhibition quality
18 July 2022Although he initially specialised in small furnishing objects and statuettes, the Parisian bronzier Victor Paillard (1805-86) began exhibiting with more elaborate creations in the 1840s.
Watches: Sherpas on the rise
18 July 2022ATG reports on the market for the Enicar series of watches that were taken to Everest
Play the name game for value
18 July 2022The watch market can be obsessed with brand names – and the best names do come with a price tag to match.
Rolex Military Submariners with macho provenance command high prices at Bonhams
18 July 2022Two Rolex tool watches were estimated to bring £80,000-120,000 each at a recent Fine Watches sale at Bonhams’ (27.5/25% buyer’s premium).