Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Bountiful selection to explore in Chicago saleroom includes accounts of famous mutiny
02 June 2025US auction offers lots ranging from mutiny on the Bounty to polar tales and a starry menu
Story of the formidable goldsmith Sybil Dunlop
02 June 2025In the 1920s-30s, the Scottish-born goldsmith Sybil Dunlop (1889- 1968) presided over a workshop in London’s Kensington Church Street dressed in a kaftan and Russian fur boots.
Spectacular Cartier on offer includes tiara with Astor provenance
02 June 2025Bonhams’ London Jewels sale on June 5 features a spectacular Cartier turquoise and diamond tiara that comes by descent from Nancy, Viscountess Astor (1879-1964).
Feather brooch finds new owner after five-minute bidding battle
02 June 2025This large diamond, sapphire and emerald peacock feather brooch was the highlight of a recent Fine Jewellery sale held at Fellows (25% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham.
Parure produced in Princes Street Edinburgh sells well south of the border
02 June 2025Among the highlights of a recent jewellery sale held by Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford was this mid-to late-19th century amethyst parure.
Grasshopper ring bound to attract attention as a Tudor gift
02 June 2025A previously unrecorded Elizabethan gold signet ring, a gift from the influential Tudor financier and merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-79), comes for sale at Noonans on June 17.
Necklace boosted by a fascinating backstory
02 June 2025This Victorian acrostic gold, hardstone and paste necklace, probably made in Rome c.1890, sold for £3800 (estimate £2000-3000) at Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) Jewellery & Watches sale on May 22.
Newly discovered Ribera painting makes top estimate in Swedish auction
27 May 2025A painting by Spanish artist Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652) which emerged from a shed in rural Sweden drew competition at an auction in Stockholm.
Gerrit Jensen is the suggestion as marquetry strong box maker
26 May 2025Like many English joiners of his time, not a great deal is known about the private life of Gerrit Jensen.
Gould proud of his work on the most sumptuous and costly of British bird books
26 May 2025Chiswick Auctions (26% buyer’s premium) held a sale titled The Art of Nature – a themed catalogue of art and antiques based on the natural world.
Bone models story fleshed out: by prisoners of war or craftsmen?
26 May 2025Some ‘prisoner of war’ productions are now thought to have been made by skilled craftsmen
Numbers add up to good result for revolutionary mathematical book
26 May 2025Important mathematical work by young German genius Gauss makes a rare appearance at auction
Teaset design by Vanessa Bell fits the bill in Cornwall
26 May 2025Vanessa Bell submitted two designs for the 1934 Modern Art for the Table exhibition at Harrods.
Japanese art auctions moving out of London leaves a gap for others
19 May 2025While few will welcome the news that Bonhams – the last of the major auction houses to hold regular sales Japanese works of art in London – is moving its department to Paris (ATG No 2690), there will be opportunities for UK salerooms that continue to plough this selective but occasionally fruitful furrow.
Roman statuary sought after in Dublin
19 May 2025Although cautiously catalogued, the Library Collection sale at Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dublin on April 29 included three pieces of Roman statuary that had been in an Irish private collection since around 1940.
Boulton’s belting vases bust estimates in two salerooms
19 May 2025Leading a recent sale at Sheffield Auction Gallery (24% buyer’s premium) was a pair of George III ormolu mounted Derbyshire fluorspar candle vases.
Rediscovered Kangxi bird paintings raise £600,000 total at Roseberys
13 May 2025A group of Kangxi bird paintings from the celebrated ‘Imperial Manual of Birds’ sold for a combined £600,000 at Roseberys in south London.