Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Pick of the week: Costume drama – the great Pinetti
22 January 2024A rare portrait of the magician Chevalier Joseph Pinetti (1750-1800) emerged for sale in Asheville, North Carolina.
English Civil War siege relics race away to hammer for 25 times the low estimate
22 January 2024This 19th century glazed wooden case containing musket balls, ceramic fragments and three complete clay pipes was eagerly contested at auction.
Nantgarw plate displays Pardoe’s decorating talent
22 January 2024Roseberys’ (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) final Fine & Decorative sale of the year included this recent charity shop donation: a Nantgarw cabinet plate decorated by Thomas Pardoe (1770-1823).
Silver plane travels well at small scale
22 January 2024A sterling silver scale model of the Lockheed TriStar aircraft was the top lot at Kinghams’ (25% buyer’s premium) Silver and Objects of Vertu sale in the Cotswolds.
Titanic memorabilia fascination surfaces once more at auction
22 January 2024A tartan deck blanket, a pocket watch and a first-class dinner menu were all top-sellers in the latest auction of Titanic, White Star and Transport Memorabilia at Henry Aldridge & Son (plus 26.4% buyer’s premium).
Morden map cards lead the way at Newbury auction
22 January 2024Auction offered near-complete example of the set that also formed a first pocket atlas of England and Wales
Fertile imagination can generate a healthy price
22 January 2024This terracotta figure is typical of the highly stylised pottery models honouring a fertility or mother goddess, made in Persia in the first millennium BC.
Beck Underground map success blew away Stanford bubbles version
22 January 2024London Transport commissioned publisher Edward Stanford to create the so-called ‘Bubble Map’ in 1934-35.
Six-figure candlestick stands out as a shining example of Mamluk artistry
22 January 2024Estimated at $5000-10,000, a 14th century candlestick made during the classical period of Mamluk artistic production hammered for $100,000 (£79,500) at Leland Little (20% buyer’s premium) in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on December 1.
Archive shines light on Wedgwood Liberty ware
22 January 2024A rare archive related to the Wedgwood Liberty Ware project designed to raise money for victims of the First World War comes for sale at Freeman’s Hindman in Philadelphia.
Abigail and Maria’s sampler skills still celebrated today
22 January 2024There is a huge disconnect today between the best and rest in the sampler world.
Exceptional George II chairs lead Manolovici collection at Doyle
19 January 2024Three exceptional George II period chairs lead the line in the upcoming Old Masters, English & Continental Furniture auction at Doyle New York.
Bronzes from the Biennais Napoleonides series surface in upstate New York
19 January 2024Spotted in a regular ‘Thursday Morning at Stair’ sale in upstate New York, a trio of French Empire gilt bronzes by Martin-Guillaume Biennais sold way above expectations on January 15.
Rediscovered Ashbee piano with exhibition history sounds a £16,000 note
17 January 2024A recently-rediscovered version of one of the best known Guild of Handicraft designs has sold at Sworders for £16,000.
Remarkable Wedgwood Liberty Ware archive comes to market
16 January 2024An archive related to the Wedgwood Liberty Ware project designed to raise money for victims of the First World War comes for sale at Freeman's Hindman in Philadelphia.
Portrait of 18th century conjurer Joseph Pinetti works magic at auction
15 January 2024A rare portrait of the magician Chevalier Joseph Pinetti (1750-1800) emerged for sale in Asheville, North Carolina.
An Evelyn De Morgan drawing is among five lots to watch
15 January 2024With estimates from £100, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Pick of the week: Troubled treaty port revealed in photo form
15 January 2024Estimated at £3000-5000, an album containing possibly unique views in the Treaty Port of Chinkiang (Zhenjiang) sold for £8200 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at the Flints auction on January 9.
Wedding textile takes 144 times its top estimate
15 January 2024A 19th century silk weaving sold for a surprise £26,000 in East Sussex.