Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Concerns over authenticity cause withdrawal of ‘world’s oldest Nobel Prize medal’ from New York auction
21 December 2017Heritage Auctions has withdrawn from sale ‘the world’s oldest Nobel Prize medal ever offered at auction’ after doubts were expressed over its authenticity.
Ring recalls Nelson Band of Brothers
18 December 2017A gold memorial ring made for one of Nelson’s ‘Band of Brothers’ – and containing a lock of the Admiral’s hair – sold for £20,000 (plus premium) at Duke’s of Dorchester on December 7.
Wearing the Vorticist movement on your sleeve costs £29,000
18 December 2017An extraordinary example of British avant-garde clothing made on the eve of the First World War sold for £29,000 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) at Mallams Oxford on December 8.
Christie’s pulls Waldseemüller gores ‘pending further research’ over date
18 December 2017A ‘rediscovered’ fifth copy of Martin Waldseemüller’s globe gores from c.1507 was withdrawn from sale last week after a group of academics and dealers in the US expressed doubts over its authenticity.
Regional highlights of the year – from a Graff ring in Birmingham to a Qing altar vase in Somerset
18 December 20172017 produced some eye-catching prices in the UK’s regional salerooms. Here are some stand-out lots...
TEFAF’s flagship fair to remain in Maastricht after 10-year agreement with venue
13 December 2017The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) has announced a 10-year partnership effectively tying TEFAF’s flagship fair to the city of Maastricht until 2028.
Christie’s withdraws ‘first map’ of America after experts suggest it may be fake
12 December 2017At the eleventh hour, Christie’s has taken the decision to withdraw the headline lot from the December 13 Books and Manuscripts sale in London after serious doubts were expressed over its authenticity.
Fellows’ seven-figure yellow sparkler
11 December 2017The £1.1m paid for this Graff yellow diamond ring at Fellows on December 7 makes it the top price achieved in the UK regions this year.
Pick of the Week: Lofft gives a painting lift
11 December 2017This 17th century Indian painting attributed to one of the best artists of the Mughal court sold for £42,000 at Sworders’ December 5 Country House Sale.
Fellows sets new house record with £1.1m diamond ring
07 December 2017Birmingham jewellery specialist Fellows set a house record today selling an exceptional diamond ring by Graff for £1.1m (plus buyer’s premium).
Pick of the Week: William Bone miniature of Holbein’s Henry VIII sells at Warwick auction
04 December 2017This enamel copy of Hans Holbein’s Whitehall mural portrait is by William Bone Senior (1792-1846) – second-generation member of the Bone dynasty of miniaturists and enamellists.
Chinese archaic bronzes collection takes flight in Lewes
04 December 2017The Jean-Claude Lepileur (1926-2016) collection of Chinese archaic bronzes offered as a stand-alone collection at Gorringe’s in Lewes on November 28 totalled £582,000.
Lee Young takes on MD role at Duke’s
27 November 2017Lee Young, Asian art specialist and international director at Lyon & Turnbull, is joining Duke’s of Dorchester in December. He will assume the role of managing director.
Silver tray that marked the very first ‘Ashes’ test series is to be auctioned in Melbourne
27 November 2017Timed to coincide with the start of the 70th Ashes series, a silver presentation tray marking the very first ‘Ashes’ test series in 1882-83 will be offered at auction by Leonard Joel in Melbourne on December 7.
Export deferral system under internal review
27 November 2017An internal review into the export licence system for works of art is under way, writes Roland Arkell.
Kangxi bronze shines in New Orleans
27 November 2017A Sino-Tibetan gilt-bronze of a serene Amitayus confounded modest expectations to sell for $690,000 (£518,000) at the Neal Auction Gallery in New Orleans.
Michael Paint – 50 years of collecting Channel Islands silver
27 November 2017It is possible to have too much of a good thing in a narrow collecting market – a feature amplified when the leading player has left the field.
Distinctive style of Maltese silver brings strong competition for coffee jugs
27 November 2017The dual appeal of Maltese silver lies in both a sense of national pride and a very limited supply.
Treasure islands – Channel Islands silver on home turf
27 November 2017The sale of a comprehensive collection of Channel Islands silver in Guernsey provides a perfect opportunity to test the market temperature...
Sell-out sale of early spoons in Salisbury
27 November 2017A recent silver sale at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury included a cache of early spoons from the collection of David Constable. Each had been illustrated and discussed in his magnum opus, 'Silver Spoons of Britain', published in 2016.