Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Shipshape teapot: Wedgwood commemorative surfaces in the saleroom
05 May 2025This Wedgwood creamware tea or punch pot commemorating the launch of a gun ship at Deptford in 1784 was among 29 lots from the collection of The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights sold by specialist Charles Miller.
Already got Mantel’s Mirror and the Light? Now you can have her desk too
05 May 2025Among the attractions at this year’s Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair on May 15-18 is the desk upon which Hilary Mantel wrote her celebrated Wolf Hall trilogy.
Print shows British delight at American woes
05 May 2025The etching 'A View in America in 1778' is a satire on the progress of the American Revolution.
Need ointment for your ‘emrods’? Why early remedy books help in the modern day
05 May 2025With crossover interest to several collecting disciplines, early manuscript recipe and remedy books continue to thrive at auction.
Printed catalogues retain their charm for book buyers
05 May 2025It’s probably no surprise that, even in the days of digital first, printed catalogues are still loved by rare book collectors.
‘Featherie’ golf balls: ideal to score a birdie?
05 May 2025An early leather-bound feather golf ball consigned for sale from a house move in Old Woking in Surrey comes for sale at John Nicholson’s in Haslemere on May 14.
Asian Art: Previews of lots from 16 upcoming auctions
05 May 2025There is no doubt that the Asian art auction market in London’s major salerooms is feeling the squeeze.
'Unique' sulphide portrait of George Washington emerges
05 May 2025Possibly a pair with Franklin, but saleroom unable to trace another example depicting Washington
Rare Qianlong period painting headlines upcoming Hong Kong auction series
30 April 2025Sotheby’s Hong Kong Asian Art Week is led by one of the great imperial Qianlong period paintings in private hands – The Blue Goats by the Italian Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione and the Chinese court artist Jin Tingbiao.
Sotheby's conducts its ‘longest ever bidding battle' as 20ft Chinese scroll flies over estimate
29 April 2025Hong Kong auctioneer CC Wang conducted Sotheby’s ‘longest ever bidding battle’ when a calligraphy handscroll by a Yuan dynasty master took over 200 bids and 97 minutes to sell.
Dealer offers Hilary Mantel’s desk used to write Wolf Hall trilogy
28 April 2025Among the attractions at this year’s ‘Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair’ on May 15-18 is the desk upon which Hilary Mantel wrote her celebrated ‘Wolf Hall’ trilogy.
Shanks joins LADAPA as new chief executive to replace Simms
28 April 2025LAPADA, The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Shanks as its new chief executive officer from June 2025.
Pick of the Week: Watching Georgian life in a goldfish bowl
28 April 2025Stands and side tables were a prominent feature in many large Georgian houses and were used for a variety of quite specific purposes. However, it is extremely rare to find a piece of furniture designed specifically to take a goldfish bowl.
Reform Club acquires William IV clock that appeared at Cirencester auction
28 April 2025A new addition to the permanent collection of the Reform Club on Pall Mall is a William IV Scottish eight-day painted dial longcase.
‘Nomadic’ dealer’s items set for new home
28 April 2025Sworders’ run of single-owner sales continues with a two-day auction on May 13-14 titled Paul Atkinson, The Nomadic Collector.
Reticulation adulation for Royal Worcester
28 April 2025A large-scale work by Royal Worcester’s near-legendary craftsman George Owen (1845-1912) led a recent sale at Philip Serrell (20% buyer’s premium) in Malvern, Worcestershire.
Auction turns over an old leaf: fragment from the Gutenberg Bible
28 April 2025Fragment found in an attic with receipt for £25 now sells for £39,000 hammer price
All the world is indeed a stage - playbill promotes Arctic theatre production
28 April 2025This rare playbill on silk printed in the Arctic in 1852 sold for £4400 at a recent sale at Keys (25% buyer’s premium) in Aylsham.