Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
‘A quite extraordinary day’ as sleeping Asian bronzes bring multi-estimate sums in regions
10 December 2018Two under-catalogued Sino-Tibetan bronzes illuminated the regional saleroom scene with multi-estimate sums in the final days of November.
What lots caught bidders’ eyes this week? Five auction highlights including a Renaissance revival ewer and a vodka-drinking Russian
07 December 2018ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week include a piece by the ‘crystal king of England’, a Japanese style sword, a vodka-drinking Russian figure and a Renaissance revival ewer.
Pick of the Week: Rare 1920s Robert Thompson dining suite with early features shines at Doncaster sale
03 December 2018Capping a vintage year for prime-period Mouseman furniture, a dining suite attracted huge interest when offered for sale in Yorkshire recently.
Super silver-gilt Storr candelabra leads Bonhams’ Important Design auction
03 December 2018A pair of William IV candelabra from the Pembroke service led Bonhams’ Important Design: 500 Years of Fine Decorative Arts sale on November 21, selling at £190,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium).
Sotheby's hoping to be big in Japan again with London sale
03 December 2018For the first time in a decade, Sotheby’s Asian Art in London offering included a designated sale of Japanese art on November 6.
Meiji cloisonné provides boost to English salerooms
03 December 2018An unusual dish from the workshop of Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927) sold for £18,000 at Woolley & Wallis on November 14. But this was not the only example of top-tier Meiji cloisonné for sale last month.
UK sales of Asian art – a coming together of cultures
03 December 2018Despite the disparity in numbers, the market for Chinese and Japanese works of art are increasingly aligned.
De Waal Netsuke collection brings welcome addition to Blythe Road auction
03 December 2018A welcome addition to the November 21 Asian Works of Art sale at Matthew Barton (24% buyer’s premium) of 25 Blythe Road in west London were 79 netsuke from the collection belonging to Edmund de Waal, author of the bestselling memoir 'The Hare with Amber Eyes'. London Japanese art dealer Max Rutherston helped organise the sale and took this section of the auction.
Yuan peony jar leads Dublin sale of Asian art
03 December 2018The influx of Asian art buyers that accompanies the Asian Art in London initiative also encourages activity across the Irish Sea. Both Adam’s (20% buyer’s premium) in Dublin, for the first time, and Sheppards (20% buyer’s premium) in Durrow held designated sales on November 3 and November 11 respectively.
Ming period brick from the Great Wall of China sells at Somerset auction
03 December 2018Included in the sale at Lawrences (22% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne on October 11 was a brick from the Great Wall of China. It probably dated from the Ming period when Great Wall sections were widely built with fired clay bricks, adhered with lime mortar and sticky rice.
Rockefeller pattern Chinese export porcelain ware brings demand at Dreweatts
03 December 2018Among the most coveted of all the standard Chinese export porcelain designs is the so-called ‘Rockefeller’ pattern or Palace ware.
Home turf before theatre of dreams
03 December 2018A rare photographic postcard sold via thesaleroom.com at a surprise £850 (estimate £30-50) at Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Washington, West Sussex on October 30.
What lots caught bidders’ eyes this week? Five auction highlights including Edmund de Waal’s netsukes and a Lalique bronze hand mirror
30 November 2018ATG’s selection of hammer highlights that sold at auction in the last week including a netsuke collection, a Lalique mirror and rare Georgian silver.
Shout, shout, clear it all out! Tears for Fears sell tour gear to make room
29 November 2018Specialist musical instrument auction house Gardiner Houlgate is to sell a cache of touring equipment from '80s band Tears for Fears.
Silver sells as a Malteser pleaser
26 November 2018Despite its size and various eras of occupation, Malta sustained a vibrant silver and gold-working tradition across several centuries.
Commonwealth crackers pair up
26 November 2018This pair of Commonwealth silver plates, London 1645, bear the contemporaneous arms of the Puritan Bulstrode Whitelocke (1605-75).
Pick of the Week: Late Renaissance novelty that turns water into wine
19 November 2018Of all the types of playful drinking cups or trinkspiel made by Dutch and German goldsmiths during the 16th and 17th centuries, the example offered by Sotheby’s in Paris last week was surely the most elaborate.
Portrait sitter in saleroom as ‘Chinese Mona Lisa’ hits £1.7m
19 November 2018Woolley & Wallis celebrated its 10th £1m-plus lot last week, selling a portrait by Chinese contemporary artist Yang Fei Yun (b.1954) for £1.7m (plus premium). The sitter – the artist’s wife pictured in the early days of their marriage – was in Salisbury to watch the sale.
What lots caught bidders’ eyes this week? Five auction highlights including a ‘Rockefeller' pattern dinner service
16 November 2018ATG’s selection of hammer highlights that sold at auction in the last week, including a ‘Rockefeller' pattern dinner service went over seven-times estimate.
Porcelain specialist retires after more than 50 years of trade
15 November 2018Well-known English porcelain specialist Simon Spero is retiring after a professional career lasting 54 years.