Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Pick of the Week: Scottish library find reveals Indian photos
19 February 2018A country house library in south-west Scotland was the source of an album of 19th century photographs of India that provided a Valentine’s Day surprise at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh.
A mermaid at auction? Half mammal-half fish creation in demand at Sworders’ Out of the Ordinary sale
19 February 2018This late 19th century ‘natural history’ specimen purports to be the mummified body of a creature that was half mammal and half fish.
UK Auction Report part 1: Regional values stay firm
19 February 2018In the first of a two-part report spotlighting UK auction house performance and trends in 2017, ATG reviews the hammer totals and top lots at some of the regions’ leading salerooms.
Spectacular Leeds show kicks off Thomas Chippendale anniversary events – video tour
14 February 2018Furniture maker Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779) is 300 years old and across this year a series of events is taking place to mark the tercentenary. Here ATG takes a video tour around Leeds City Museum as the first exhibition was being set up to kick off the celebrations.
Date change as New York coin convention scraps antiquities
12 February 2018The New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC) has taken the decision to drop antiquities from its offering amid concerns over looted art.
Chippendale under 300-year spotlight
12 February 2018The first of a series of events to mark the tercentenary of Thomas Chippendale’s birth has opened at Leeds City Museum.
London numismatic highlights of 2017 - from a 1839 Una and the Lion five pound coin to the Smart collection of banknotes
12 February 2018A coin that a set a record for a British five pound piece features among the hammer highlights for coins and banknotes sold across the year at auction.
Heads and tails of London’s coin market
12 February 2018Almost a quarter of a century since ATG’s first overview of the numismatic market, ATG reviews the comings and goings of 2017
EBay drops Paypal after signing with new payment platform
08 February 2018Across the next five years, eBay is to drop PayPal in favour of a new online payment processor. The e-commerce giant says the decision to use Dutch firm Adyen to process future payments will benefit both sellers and buyers.
Assay Office crackdown on illegal silver
05 February 2018The London Assay Office (LAO) is to launch a crackdown on what it says is a rise in illegal antique silver being offered for sale.
Early longitude trials survivor up at auction
05 February 2018A pendulum clock used in an early longitude trial will be offered for sale by Dreweatts next month.
Tiffany cat and mouse chased at Roseberys auction
05 February 2018The December 6 jewellery sale at Roseberys (23% buyer’s premium) was the maiden auction for new head of department Mark Bowis.
Treasures from safe deposit box sold at Lawrences' auction
05 February 2018The closing nine lots in Lawrences’ January 18 sale were consigned by a lady in Somerset. They had belonged to her mother and grandmother and had been kept in a safe deposit box in the bank for about the last 30 years.
Designer Wendy Ramshaw's work re-emerges on the market
05 February 2018Contemporary jewellery designer Wendy Ramshaw’s earlier work, including her signature ring stacks first made in 1967, is coming back onto the market.
Unexpected discovery of Duke of Wellington coronet and more auction previews
05 February 2018A selection of jewellery and watch previews from around the salerooms, including the recent discovery of an intriguing coronet at Dix Noonan Webb...
Pick of the Week: Warehouse reveals a treasure trove as Indian miniature takes £80,000 at Dreweatts' auction
29 January 2018“Every auctioneer dreams of being instructed to handle a wide-ranging collection lovingly put together over decades and then packed away out of sight.“
Art Deco vase by René Buthaud proves best by design
29 January 2018Leading Roseberys’ inaugural stand-alone sale of 20th century decorative arts on January 23 – the first under new head of department Fiona Baker – was this large Art Deco ceramic vase and cover (right) by the important French Art Deco ceramicist René Buthaud (1886-1986).
Shaft and globe shows a lot of Cornish bottle
29 January 2018A 17th century long-necked sealed ‘shaft and globe’ wine bottle sold for an unexpected £8300 (plus 15% buyer’s premium) at Barbara Kirk Auctions in Penzance on January 23.
Management changes as Dix Noonan Webb builds for future
29 January 2018London coins and medals specialist Dix Noonan Webb is changing its management structure.
Sylvia Plath’s personal copy of ‘The Bell Jar’ comes to auction at Bonhams
29 January 2018A sketch, family books and other personal effects of poet Sylvia Plath are to be offered at auction this spring.