Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Napoleon’s own Civil Code copy sells in Paris
31 March 2025Before his death on St Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte said: “What nothing will erase, what will live forever, is my Civil Code.”
Writing chairs sat unnoticed until a deluge of enquiries poured in
31 March 2025Chinese chairs smaller and less formal than the ‘yoke-back’ or ‘horseshoe-back’ armchairs are referred to as rose chairs (meiguiyi) or writing chairs (wenyi).
Pick of the Week: Urns made in Glasgow sold in Glasgow
31 March 2025Among the most desirable of all Scottish garden ornaments are the Garnkirk urns, a pair of neoclassical vases first made for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Spoilum alerts for two portraits
31 March 2025A work catalogued as “an 18th-century French School portrait of a gentleman” went for Can$32,000 (£17,180) at a Montreal sale, well above its broad guide of Can$1000-2000.
The language of love and loss
31 March 2025Far more fluent than us in the language of jewellery and stones, Georgians and the Victorians would immediately have made the link between snakes and eternal love.
Fabergé collection snapped up via private sale in eleventh-hour deal
31 March 2025An en bloc private sale has been arranged for a group of Fabergé object d’art formerly in the Wernher collection at Luton Hoo.
Discoveries unearthed by metal detectorists then treasured by bidders
31 March 2025Metal-detecting finds, properly reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and since disclaimed as Treasure, are increasing significantly the supply of pre-Georgian jewels. Some fine examples have appeared at auction of late.
Cartier featured in The Illustrated London News advert hits the headlines
31 March 2025A Cartier Egyptian revival jewel, previously known only from an advert that appeared in The Illustrated London News in the 1920s, sold for £55,000 at Woolley & Wallis (26% buyer’s premium).
The minute chance of mining a pink diamond
31 March 2025A Cartier necklace with a rare pink diamond was offered by Tennants (22% buyer’s premium) of North Yorkshire on March 15. It sold towards top hopes at £190,000.
‘Complete and original’: 16th century pocket watch makes 14 times estimate in Cheshire
26 March 2025The latest jewellery and watches sale at Wilson55 in Nantwich included a rare pocket watch from the 1580s.
Auction house Gorringe’s back under family control
24 March 2025Sussex and Kent auction house Gorringe’s begins a fresh chapter next month under full family ownership and new management.
Coffee pot plundered from burning White House makes five times estimate in Tetbury
24 March 2025A Georgian silver coffee pot that once formed part of the silver at the White House has emerged for sale in Gloucestershire.
Gloves ‘given by Charles II’
24 March 2025The timed online sale of Books & Manuscripts at Bonhams Knightsbridge that closed on March 20 included a pair of 17th century embroidered gauntlet gloves that reference one of the most famous - and most romanticised - moments of the civil war.
Cheffins: looking back on a rich 200-year history
24 March 2025Cambridge auction house Cheffins is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.
Top British honours shine in Viennese auction
24 March 2025Late 18th century Order of the Garter soars way over estimate as part of an Austrian sale
Dickensian world of blacking brought back to mind by stoneware bottle
24 March 2025Blacking ink was widely used in the 19th century for the cleaning and polishing of boots and shoes, floors and doorsteps.
Einstein signature and date teaches a lesson on value
24 March 2025The second tranche of material from a German autograph collector, the late Franz-Peter Bach, was offered by Anderson & Garland (30% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Newcastle upon Tyne on March 5.
Medal marks the unpopular royal marriage of Mary and Philip
24 March 2025A Renaissance gilt bronze medal made to mark the marriage of Queen Mary I (1516-58) and King Philip II (1527-98) sold for £15,500 at Sloane Street Auctions (26.5% buyer’s premium).
Nice little earner: Wealth of Nations generates double the low estimate
24 March 2025Second edition copy of Adam Smith classic work sells at £8000 in Cumbrian saleroom