Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
‘The finest piece of imperial glass to survive’ sells at nine-fold increase since 2000
14 October 2019The most important example of Qing glassware to appear at auction sold for HK$180m (£18m) – the highlight of Sotheby’s recent series in Hong Kong.
Russian porcelain rarity sells for £50,000 online
14 October 2019A State Porcelain Factory figure by Natalina Danko (1892-1943) emerged at auction in Grantham earlier this month.
Pick of the week: Dürer medal to honour emperor
14 October 2019Albrecht Dürer’s medal dedicated to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, is among the most important medals of the Northern Renaissance. As only four are known to commerce, the appearance of one for sale is significant.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including a 6ft King Kong figure, an antique roulette wheel and a Scottish colourist painting
14 October 2019With estimates from £200-35,000, here are five previews of upcoming sales this week.
Christopher Dresser vase, Staffordshire pottery animals and a carved oak panel – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
11 October 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a Christopher Dresser vase that made over 40-times estimate and a group of Staffordshire pottery animals that fetched over 20-times estimate.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including an Edwardian gadget walking cane, studio pottery and Eames chairs
07 October 2019With estimates from £250-12,000, here are five previews of upcoming sales this week.
Commons goes ape for Banksy auction record
07 October 2019Banksy’s derisive portrayal of The House of Commons reduced to an assembly of primates achieved a record £8.5m (plus premium) in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art auction on October 3.
‘Dragon’ charger flexes its wings
07 October 2019A generation ago pieces such as this splendid 20in (50cm) famille rose ‘dragon’ charger from the Guangxu period (1874-1908) were valued chiefly as decorative objects. However, appreciation of the best quality porcelain produced in the last years of the Qing continues to grow.
Stylish Lenci skyscraper lady is on top of the auction world after £34,000 bid
07 October 2019The stylish Art Deco pottery figures for which Ars Lenci became celebrated were first shown at the Turin international exhibition in 1928.
Captain Cook connection
07 October 2019This Resolution and Adventure medal is one of 2000 that were commissioned by the British Admiralty ahead of James Cook’s Second Voyage.
Bede reprint prized for illustrious provenance
07 October 2019The first printed copy of Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica was published in Strasbourg as early as c.1475 with subsequent versions printed in Vienna (1513), Strasbourg again (1500), Haguenau (1506), Paris (1544) and Antwerp (1550).
Chinese dragon charger, Georgian Valentine cards and a majolica cheese dish – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
04 October 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a Guangxu period ‘dragon’ charger and a whimsical majolica cheese dish that both made over 30-times estimate.
10 top lots on offer at Duke’s auction of contents from Athelhampton House
03 October 2019“Good old-fashioned country house auctions are a rarity these days and it is a privilege to organise one against such an historic backdrop.” So says Guy Schwinge of Dorchester auction house Duke’s, referring to the upcoming sale of the contents from Athelhampton House in Dorset.
Art Deco emerald brooch takes £120,000 at Bonhams
30 September 2019Sold at Bonhams last week, the emerald in this Art Deco brooch is a clue to the remarkable life of its one-time owner Lady Hood.
Pick of the week: Polynesian war club is a big hit in Salisbury
30 September 2019A tribal war club from the Marquesas Islands with textbook provenance has sold for £71,000 at Woolley & Wallis. The u’u (head club) came for sale at the Salisbury saleroom from the descendants of an early-19th century missionary.
‘Mother of all Philippine maps’ sells in Essex auction
30 September 2019The first tranche of a private collection of predominantly Far Eastern maps and charts sold for more than £500,000 at Reeman Dansie and included a house record.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including cult Contemporary art, a William IV needlework sampler and a RAF clock
30 September 2019With estimates from £150-1500, here are five previews of upcoming sales this week.