Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Chinese glass painting, Art Deco figure and historical archive – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
19 July 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a bronze and ivory Art Deco figure by Ferdinand Preiss, a Chinese Export reverse painted mirror and an archive of documents from a historic Berkshire estate.
Long-lost Marlborough gem bid to £62,000
18 July 2019A sapphire intaglio ring that was identified as one of the long-lost Marlborough gems shortly before it was due to be auctioned was bid to £62,000 at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury today.
London Auctions enters liquidation with vendors left unpaid
16 July 2019London Auctions Ltd is insolvent and has entered liquidation proceedings. The west London firm, based at 30-34 Chiswick High Road is understood to have debts of more than £137,000 with around £44,000 owed to unpaid consignors.
Auction record for English watch as George Daniels timepiece sells for £3m at Sotheby’s
16 July 2019Among the objects in demand at Sotheby’s this season was one of only 23 pocket watches made by George Daniels (1926-2011) – the 1982 Space Traveller I.
Pick of the week: A woman’s first-hand view of the Cape
15 July 2019Two previously unpublished watercolours painted by Lady Anne Barnard (1750-1825) during her momentous visit to the Cape of Good Hope emerged for sale at Stephan Welz & Co in South Africa earlier this month. They came for sale from the descendants of Lady Anne who had owned them since 1966.
Silver Tompion pocket watch discovered buried in Hexham ground
15 July 2019A silver pocket watch by ‘father of British clockmaking’ Thomas Tompion has been literally unearthed in Northumberland.
Five lots to watch at auction this week including a plague plaque, a Willy Wonka golden ticket and a lost Marlborough gem
15 July 2019With estimates from £800-12,000, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.
Wedgwood collection emerges from collector’s fairyland flat
15 July 2019Visit by auctioneer to a regular auction-goer’s apartment uncovers Wedgwood collection.
The late 19th century finds fashion favour
15 July 2019Pieces from the late 19th century, a vibrant but occasionally derided moment in the history of the decorative arts, provided many of the highlights to Sworders’ summer Fine Interiors sale in Stansted Montfitchet.
Lost Marlborough jewel unearthed in Salisbury
15 July 2019A sapphire intaglio ring coming up for sale in Salisbury this week has been recognised as one of the Marlborough gems. At the eleventh hour, and after a deluge of interest, the ring, with its octagonal faceted stone carved with the bust of a Roman emperor (probably Julius Caesar), has been re-catalogued.
Welsh art, Qajar armour and a book on hysteria – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
12 July 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes an oil painting by Welsh artist Sir Kyffin Williams and a group of 19th century Qajar armour.
Beatles' original 1962 management contract sold at auction
12 July 2019The Beatles’ original management contract with Brian Epstein has been sold at Sotheby’s for £220,000 (plus premium).
Seven highlights from Christie’s sale of a Rothschild collection
11 July 2019Christie’s sale Masterpieces from a Rothschild Collection was arguably the most eye-catching auction of the summer season in London.
Sapphire intaglio ring identified as one of the long-lost Marlborough gems
10 July 2019Ahead of its auction in Salisbury, a sapphire intaglio ring has been re-catalogued after being recognised as one of the renowned Marlborough gems.
Christie’s counters Egypt’s threat to sue over £4m sale of Tutankhamun head
09 July 2019Christie’s has reiterated that it “carried out extensive due diligence” into a head of Tutankhamun after the Egyptian National Committee for Antiquities Repatriation (NCAR) said that it will instruct a UK law firm to file a lawsuit over its £4m sale.
Pick of the week: Print shows bidding for books way back in c.1700
08 July 2019A rare copy of the earliest-known depiction of a book auction emerged for sale in Gloucestershire at the end of last month.
Masterpieces to a Rothschild’s taste tempt buyers during a packed London sales week
08 July 2019The 52-lot auction of furniture, paintings and works of art collected by members of the Rothschild family was among the most animated during a packed week of London showpiece sales.
Pugin parliamentary letter box posts £4200
08 July 2019On December 27, 1851, the architect Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) wrote to Augustus Pugin (1812-52) with a progress report on the interior decoration of the Palace of Westminster.
Collection of Wedgwood Fairyland lustre and rare cricket memorabilia – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
05 July 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a surprise result for art pottery in Macclesfield and a discovery of Wedgwood Fairyland lustre in Nottingham.
Big bids from collectors for Moorcroft little and large
01 July 2019The recent sale of a single-owner collection of Moorcroft pottery by Kingham & Orme in Evesham demonstrated two distinct faces of the Staffordshire factory.