Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Pick of the week: Primary reasons for appeal of Omega Workshop pots
28 March 2022Ceramics by the Omega Workshops rose to unprecedented heights on March 17. The Design sale at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury included a small collection of pottery by Roger Fry that came for sale from the former Fulham Road dealer Andrew Harriss.
A Grand Tour architectural model and George III card table are among six lots to watch
28 March 2022With estimates from £600-8000 here are six previews of upcoming items.
Devlin musical box back at auction
28 March 2022This parcel gilt musical box decorated with a frieze of figures is by Stuart Devlin (London 1975).
Admiral’s prize money paid for a splendid service
28 March 2022This 22oz George II serving dish by Paul de Lamerie (London 1747) was formerly part of the service commissioned by Admiral George Anson (1697-1762).
Wine-coolers benefit from silver finishing touch
28 March 2022The London firm Samuel Jackson seems to have specialised in mounting other materials in silver to produce wine-coolers.
Strike two for Sampson & Mordan vesta cases
28 March 2022The Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu sale at Dix Noonan Webb (25% buyer’s premium) in London on March 15 included more fine silver and enamel vesta cases by Sampson Mordan & Co to add to those sold by the firm in September 2021.
Important piece of Victorian silver made to commemorate largest art exhibition in the UK rediscovered in Macclesfield
28 March 2022With more than 16,000 works on display, 'Art Treasures of Great Britain', held in a temporary iron-and-glass structure built in the Old Trafford area of Manchester in 1857, remains the largest art exhibition to be held in the UK.
Stored away since 1920s, brought to light in 2022 sale
28 March 2022Silver was the major strength of a recent two-day sale at Dreweatts (25% buyers’ premium). All bar one of the 549 lots got away to a hammer total tipping the £1m mark.
Porringer counts as Commonwealth survivor
28 March 2022An example of 17th century hollowware appeared for sale at Dawsons (23% buyer’s premium) in Maidenhead earlier this year.
Menagerie of pin cushions provides creature comforts
28 March 2022Appealing to a range of different types of collectors, particularly aficionados of sewing antiques, Victorian and Edwardian animal pin cushions have their own niche in the novelty silver field.
Warwick vase cast became prize presented by Victoria
28 March 2022Estimated at £20,000-30,000, this cast of the Warwick vase by John Samuel Hunt, London 1845, sold for £32,000.
Dee family’s animal magic
28 March 2022Henry William Dee, the son of Soho silversmith Thomas William Dee (c.1792- 1869), made a speciality of producing silver novelties for Garrard, Leuchars & Son and Asprey’s and other retail goldsmiths. There was real genius here and the patterns for many were patented.
Norwich silver celebrated and frost fair memories
28 March 2022For many years the largest city outside London, Norwich had its own silver assay office during three periods from 1565-1702.
Previews: issue 2536
28 March 2022A selection of 13 upcoming lots from auctions taking place around the UK.
Japanese folding screen stars in our pick of six auction highlights
25 March 2022ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a rare four-panel folding screen by Nishimura Sozaemon that sold for more than seven-times estimate.
Warhol's Marilyn could be most expensive 20th century artwork to ever sell at auction
23 March 2022'Shot Sage Blue Marilyn' by Andy Warhol (1928-87) will lead Christie’s New York sales in May.
Deathbed picture of controversial collector William Beckford bought by museum
23 March 2022The 1844 portrait William Beckford on his Deathbed by Willes Maddox (1813-53) has been purchased by Bath Preservation Trust and will go on display at Beckford’s Tower and Museum this month.
Russia Week axed after new sanctions
21 March 2022In the wake of new sanctions on Russia, auction houses Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Bonhams have cancelled sales of Russian art in London scheduled for June.
Raising a toast to John Dwight’s ‘fine Browne stone wares’
21 March 2022Two stoneware tavern bottles produced at John Dwight’s Fulham Pottery in the 1670s surfaced for sale in West Sussex earlier this month.
Moore’s Mother and Child in lead takes £320,000 at Dreweatts auction
21 March 2022Dreweatts offered this market-fresh Henry Moore (1898-1986) figure group, 'Mother and Child', on March 16.