Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
EH Shepard’s ‘silly old bear’ Winnie-the-Pooh still delivers the big prices
09 October 2023When Ernest Shepard was first recommended to AA Milne in 1923, the author had originally deemed him unsuitable.
Carry ‘the brains of a genius’
09 October 2023The British scientific author David Salomons (1851-1925) – one-time owner of the world’s largest private collection of Breguet watches and clocks – said “to carry a fine Breguet watch is to feel that you have the brains of a genius in your pocket”.
Clocks: Time for a folk tale
09 October 2023Nineteenth century English clock adorned with Dick Whittington designs leads a look at horological hammer highlights and previews
Samuel Johnson letter located and bought by UK institution at auction
09 October 2023While its existence was known, the whereabouts was a mystery until a routine house valuation
Charlie Watts books sale: it’s all over now
02 October 2023Christie’s sale Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone combined stardust with an extraordinary library of modern first editions.
Elizabethan goblet good to go after further examination
02 October 2023Following examination by a committee of experts and testing at Goldsmiths Hall, an Elizabethan silver and porcelain goblet comes to auction.
Ivory seal deemed to be of ‘outstanding’ value comes to Cirencester auction
02 October 2023The sale at Moore Allen & Innocent on October 11-12 includes a series of personal items relating to William Duke of Clarence, later William IV (1765-1837).
An English School portrait at the Robert Kime sale is among four lots to watch
02 October 2023With estimates from £4000, here are four previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Whitefriars Drunken Bricklayer – a classic on paper
02 October 2023Recent sales at Fieldings (26% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Stourbridge have included elements of a cache of working drawings from the Whitefriars factory.
Baxter’s tangerine dream became reality in Whitefriars form
02 October 2023Geoffrey Baxter’s Banjo vase, part of the Whitefriars’ Textured range, was released in a range of three colours in 1967.
Monart Scottish and Spanish combo rivalled French art glass
02 October 2023Spanish and Caledonian talents combined to create the highly colourful Monart range
A cameo appearance for Art Nouveau
02 October 2023A selection of French Art Nouveau glass coming up for sale at sales in the UK and Germany. Bidding is available via thesaleroom.com.
Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi: two titans of Italian post-war glass
02 October 2023Inspired by Carlo Scarpa’s use of murrine glass in the 1930s and 1940s, Paolo Venini (1895-1959) designed a number of vessels in the 1950s that have become classics of post-war Italian design.
Banksy reimagines Warhol with value branding
02 October 2023'Only Banksy' was the title of a 24-lot offering at Forum Auctions (30/24/15% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in London.
De Lempicka picks Art Deco style for her mandoline player
02 October 2023'Femme a la Mandoline' was among the first paintings in what would become Tamara de Lempicka’s (1898-1980) full signature Art Deco style.
Grass always greener in Los Angeles
02 October 2023A classic example of Italian ‘anti-design’ led Billings’ (30% buyer’s premium) latest auction of Modern Art & Design.
Imperial Qing porcelain comes to Dallas sale
02 October 2023A good example of imperial Qing famille rose porcelain emerged for sale at J Garrett Auctioneers (28% buyer’s premium) in Dallas on September 11.
Lighters ignite interest in classic Dunhill design
02 October 2023In the wake of an auction record for an ‘aquarium’ lighter at Chiswick Auctions (25/12% buyer’s premium), six more of the classic Dunhill accessories lit up the saleroom.
New dress? How Souper
02 October 2023With crossover appeal between modern prints and vintage fashion, this Souper Dress attracted strong attention at a recent US sale.