Latest News Articles by Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Edgar Allan Poe captured in pioneering photo form
09 January 2026As he died more than a decade before the medium really took off, very few photographs of the American author Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) exist.
Collectors steer towards a P&O boat tiller that probably served as a presentation piece
09 January 2026A handsome 19th century brass boat tiller hammered for $15,000 (£11,235) at Zevantiques (25% buyer’s premium) in Hallandale, Florida.
Munnings thinks outside the box to create an uncommon work
09 January 2026Lurking among the equestrian portraits in a sale held by The Sporting Art Auction (17.5% buyer’s premium) was an atypical work by Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959).
René Lalique jewellery makes Cottone auction debut
09 January 2026A recent sale marked the first time that the Geneseo, New York, house Cottone Auctions (22% buyer’s premium) has handled a piece of René Lalique (1860-1945) jewellery.
Early example of Gallé in demand as Japonisme foo dog vase makes seven times estimate
09 January 2026A Japonisme foo dog vase by Émile Gallé (1846-1904) hammered for $35,000 (£26,440) against a guide of $3000-5000 at Rago (27% buyer’s premium) in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Japanese robot-driven car toy sells at $190,000
09 January 2026“Very few things make me that excited. But this was a really exciting thing.” Tom Sage Jr’s faith was rewarded in September.
The stars aligned for Harvard professor and book collector
05 January 2026Expert in astronomy and history of science amassed an impressive private collection of related works
Rare Darwin signature takes lot to different level
15 December 2025Before the August 8 Historical Manuscripts sale at Heritage Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Dallas, specialist Sandra Palomino fielded many questions about one lot in particular.
Douglass was free to speak about slavery when in GB
15 December 2025Draft of a speech by the author written when he had fled US slavery appears for sale in modern-day Ohio
Four Armory Show catalogues come to auction bound as one
15 December 2025Four complete catalogues for the ground-breaking 1913 Armory Show, bound into a single volume, hammered for $7000 (£5315) against a guide of $10,000-15,000 at Swann (27% buyer’s premium) on October 23 in New York City.
Doulton Portia takes centre stage
08 December 2025Sir Henry Doulton placed great importance on international exhibitions to promote the work of both of his factories.
George II baskets top Krouse silver at Brunk
08 December 2025Sale of collection with superb furniture included high-quality 18th century items in a different field
How two birds were better than one in New Hampshire
01 December 2025Late 19th century French or Swiss singing bird boxes are regular auction visitors. Double bird boxes are a much rarer breed.
Third record now set by another Wedgwood Fairyland lustre piece from Pellet source
01 December 2025For the third time in a year, a new auction record for Wedgwood Fairyland lustre has been set by Woody Auction in Douglass, Kansas.
Old Master sleepers awaken in American auctions
01 December 2025Works by Ambrosius Benson and an unknown artist possibly from Antwerp go way beyond estimates
Two bidders battle for a kris probably made for royalty
01 December 2025Alexander Anapolsky, co-owner of Akiba Galleries (28% buyer’s premium) in Dania Beach, Florida, described an Indonesian or Malaysian kris found in a New York City estate as a compelling object with great presence.
Leonora Carrington sketch for mural now in Mexico City nets $70,000
10 November 2025Drawing for mural design was first thought to be a lithograph
Meiji crafts attracted a worldwide following
03 November 2025The Kiryu Kosho Kaisha (The First Japanese Manufacturing and Trading Company) was set up by the Meiji government after the great success of Japanese crafts at the Weltausstellung 1873 Wien (Vienna world’s fair).
Portrait by Mathilde, Princess Bonaparte makes a record sum
03 November 2025Doyle (28% buyer’s premium) set a record for an artwork by Mathilde, Princess Bonaparte (1820-1904) at a sale in New York.
Candelabra custom-built for the Vanderbilts
03 November 2025A ‘monumental’ pair of 15-light silver candelabra made by Tiffany & Co for a member of the Vanderbilt family hammered for $230,000 (£171,565) at John Moran Auctioneers (27% buyer’s premium) in Monrovia, California.