Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
For poetical and practical purpose
13 May 2024Ladies and gentlemen of the Georgian period carried not only prayer books and bibles, but also books of poems and the annual miniature almanacs containing practical information on everything from the phases of the moon to the currency exchange rates of Europe.
Clipper by ‘the Irish Alfred Wallis’ sails into Dublin to set a record
13 May 2024A picture by the artist dubbed ‘the Irish Alfred Wallis’ soared above estimate to bring a record at Dublin saleroom Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium).
Furniture given by Mouseman to his daughter emerges at auction
11 May 2024Elements of a collection of ‘Mouseman’ furniture made for the daughter of Robert Thompson (1876 -1955) himself have come for sale in Yorkshire this month.
Buyer hunts down a record Dunhill lighter
11 May 2024Chiswick Auctions has nudged forward its own record for an Alfred Dunhill Aquarium table lighter.
A vintage publication saved from The Great Fire
10 May 2024One of the earliest works on English viticulture comes for sale at Chiswick Auctions this month.
‘British School’ waterfall scene takes 60 times estimate after bidders identify artist
09 May 2024An early 19th century ‘British School’ watercolour painting of a waterfall raced away from a guide of $200-300 to bring $18,000 (£14,400) at an auction in Massachusetts this week.
A Magritte sketch is among five lots to watch
06 May 2024With estimates from £380, here are five previews of upcoming items.
Asian Art previews
06 May 2024While the market-defining sales of Asian works of art are now held in New York and Hong Kong, the UK still holds its own.
On the hunt for a record-breaking Dunhill Aquarium lighter
02 May 2024Chiswick Auctions has nudged forward its own record for an Alfred Dunhill Aquarium table lighter.
Shahmoon family Giambologna bronzes sell at over 400 times estimate
01 May 2024Casts of two well-known Mannerist bronzes raced to 400 times their estimate at an online sale conducted by a New York auction house last month.
Group of prime period De Morgan tiles take close to six-figure sum at auction
29 April 2024The Art & Design post 1880 sale at Duke’s in Dorchester on April 25 included 44 lots of William De Morgan tiles consigned by descendants of Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930), Earl of Balfour and prime minister from 1902-05. He is understood to have bought them directly from De Morgan in Fulham.
Lover’s eye miniature is among five lots to watch
29 April 2024With estimates from £200, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
New Zealand welcomes the Great White Fleet
29 April 2024An auction of traditional European decorative arts at Sotheby’s New York (20/10% buyer’s premium) on April 16 included this New Zealand Arts & Crafts presentation casket.
Satyrs and nymphs back at Billingshurst
29 April 2024The first auctions of the year at Summers Place Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Billingshurst – a live event on March 26 and a sealed bids sale on March 27 – included this pair of rare Portland stone groups of a nymph and satyr by Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885-1934).
Scarce medieval stained glass now sought after
29 April 2024The March 14 sale at Willow Auction House (25% buyer’s premium) in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, included a New York private collection of leaded and stained-glass panels.
B for Byron: letter of apology
29 April 2024Found in a country house in Gloucestershire, this letter written by Lord Byron (1788-1824) to Major John Cartwright (1740-1824) sold for £6000 at Chorley’s (28.2% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on March 20.
Flower power: British majolica hits the bigtime in US
29 April 2024A Copeland vase produced to mark 100 years of American Independence was among the highlights of the second tranche of the Flower collection of majolica.
Massier Art Nouveau vase goes bats at auction
29 April 2024Abell’s (25% buyer’s premium) sale in Los Angeles on April 17 included a spectacular Art Nouveau vase from the workshop of French ceramicist Clement Massier.