Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Bidders on the scent of an 1810 ‘classic head’ US coin
11 January 2021Some of the best US coin discoveries are today made in the UK.
Auction previews: issue 2475
11 January 2021Our regular selection of previews from UK and Irish salerooms.
Orientalist basin, mahogany bookcases, Arts and Crafts oak chest – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes
08 January 2021ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a rare Orientalist basin by the French ‘father of art pottery’ and a pair of mahogany bookcases that went 16 times over estimate.
‘Earliest dated Irish glass’ sells at auction
04 January 2021What is perhaps the earliest dated piece of Irish glass sold at auction in Lewes.
Pick of the week: Gilbert’s St George figure sells at a £1m high
04 January 2021Closing the year in some style, a patinated and parcel gilt bronze ‘double size’ figure of St George set a new auction record for Sir Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934) at Bonhams.
A games machine and a rare livestock picture are among three lots to watch at auction
04 January 2021With estimates from £300-5000 here are three previews of upcoming items this week.
Glassmaker turns his hand to silver
04 January 2021The name William Beilby (1740-1819) is typically associated with the best of English glass and particularly the enamelling workshop operated from Amen Corner in Newcastle in the 1760s-70s.
Back-painting at sale forefront
04 January 2021Tennants’ (20% buyer’s premium) Autumn Fine Sale in Leyburn was topped by a pair of verre eglomisé pictures by Jonas Zeuner (1727-1814).
Waistel Cooper in his own world
04 January 2021Once dismissed as a mere Hans Coper follower, the studio potter is now in rising demand
Broken and reglued but still sold at £200,000
04 January 2021A recent fine art auction at Hansons (25% buyer’s premium) included a once magnificent Qianlong (1735-99) copper-red and underglaze blue lantern vase.
Automobilia: Dominions sign gets into gear
04 January 2021Petrol-themed enamel signs do not get much better than that made to promote British Dominions Empire Motor Insurance in c.1912.
Auction previews: issue 2474
04 January 2021Our regular selection of previews from UK and Irish salerooms.
Anti-slavery jug leads our pick of five auction highlights sold this month
27 December 2020ATG’s latest selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes an early 19th century ‘anti-slavery’ jug that made over 20-times estimate in Macclesfield.
Wind it even with gloves
21 December 2020Estimated at £800-1000 at Adam Partridge (20% buyer’s premium) but sold at £10,000 was this International Watch Company Luftwaffe pilot’s watch, c.1940.
‘From a royal palace’ to family bathroom in Hull house
21 December 2020Bristol auction house sells mirror with an intriguing link to Marie Antoinette
Rowland Ward went Down Under
21 December 2020Australian species pack into a Rowland Ward taxidermy tableau sold for £4000 in Guernsey auction.
Superb British Smith & Beck microscope bought by US collector for £38,000 in Berkshire auction
21 December 2020Surviving records for the London instrument maker Smith & Beck state this superb microscope from the brass and glass era was purchased on September 2, 1853, by Francis Herbert Wenham (1824-1908) – the British engineer who became a key figure in the improvement of the microscope.
At least you can look at a skiing scene
21 December 2020Selection of skiing posters focused on winter sports and travel is on offer at Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull.
Debut three-day sale graced by an aristocratic selection
21 December 2020In playing condition but with enough problems to be catalogued as ‘sold as seen’, a Nicole Frères brass inlaid music box was one of the unexpected stars of the first three-day sale to be held at Ripon auction house Elstob & Elstob (22% buyer’s premium).
Auction previews: issue 2473
21 December 2020Our weekly selection of previews from UK and Irish salerooms.