Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
McWhirter’s four-minute-mile stopwatch clocks up five figures at auction
03 January 2022On May 6, 1954 - the day British middle-distance athlete Roger Bannister (1929-2018) ran the first ever sub-four-minute mile - there were five official timekeepers plus a sixth watch manned by race commentator Norris McWhirter (1925-2004).
Irish ploughman notes picked up by collectors
03 January 2022On November 25 Dix Noonan Webb sold the first tranche of banknotes from the enormous collection of the late Gus Mac Amhlaigh of Dublin.
Knight and Bomberg as war artists
03 January 2022In 1946 the artist Laura Knight (1877-1970) was commissioned by the War Artists’ Advisory Committee to create a painting of the Nuremberg Trials.
Pick of the week: A round the world trip in the 1560s
03 January 2022Sixteenth-century globes rarely appear on the market. So, Jim Spencer, Hansons’ works on paper specialist, had been amazed to encounter one at a valuation day in Bishton Hall, Staffordshire.
Museum given rare Scottish silver trio
03 January 2022National Museums Scotland has acquired a trio of exceptionally rare Scottish silver objects created in the 1600s from the collection of Edinburgh jeweller Ron (1946-2012) and Rosemary Haggarty.
Bidders sense the Links effect
03 January 2022Perhaps established as early as 1735, the Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh holds claim to be the oldest golfing society in the world.
Clothing worn on Everest attempt
03 January 2022This group of clothing offered at Railtons (20% buyer’s premium) in Wooler, Northumberland, on December 3, was used by geologist and explorer Lawrence Wager (1904-65) during the 1933 Everest expedition.
The quality Aynsley appeal
03 January 2022The Aynsley factory’s reputation for good quality, unadventurous bone china tea and coffee wares made it the safe choice for many British households.
Collecting couple who revived the ‘unfashionable’ Victorian market
03 January 2022Rose and Gallichan sale reflects pioneering spirit of a duo fascinated by late 19th century design.
Medal reflects unofficial Olympics that followed the 1904 St Louis flop
03 January 2022This silver medal sold for £3250 at Fellows (23% buyer’s premium) is one of a relatively small number awarded at the Intercalated Games in Athens in 1906.
Novelty pin cushion in our pick of five auction highlights
24 December 2021ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a lion pin cushion that made over 13-times estimate in Scotland.
The £9000 tribute to the talented Miss Biffin
20 December 2021A rare work by Sarah Biffin (1784-1850), the early 19th century artist born without limbs, sold for £9000 at Sworders on December 15.
An Art Nouveau butterfly-shaped screen and a three-piece Georgian silver tea set are among four lots to watch
20 December 2021With estimates from £300-5000 here are four previews of upcoming items.
Previews: issue 2523
20 December 2021A selection of eight upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK and Ireland.
Nuremberg Trials sketch by Laura Knight in our pick of five auction highlights
17 December 2021ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a Nuremberg Trials sketch by Dame Laura Knight that doubled its estimate at Woolley & Wallis.
Pick of the week: Nicole musical boxes to get your teeth into
13 December 2021François Nicole (b.1766), the Geneva-based pioneer of the key-wind musical box, is thought to have made around 440 boxes during his working life, but only around 60 are known today.
New York collector given lifetime ban after four-year antiquities investigation
13 December 2021One of New York’s most prolific antiquities collectors has surrendered 180 ‘looted’ items from his collection and been barred for life from acquiring antiquities again.
Take the throne: extraordinary Victorian carved chair in demand at Scottish sale
13 December 2021The sale at Thomas R Callan in Ayr on December 3-4 included this extraordinary Victorian carved throne chair estimated at £2000-3000.
A drawing by CRW Nevinson and artworks from Simon Parker Bowles’ Green’s Restaurant are among six lots to watch
13 December 2021With estimates from £150-60,000 here are six previews of upcoming items.