Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Pick of the week: Baseball ale poster is big hit with a US bidder
20 May 2019In US collecting circles the ‘Anson-Ewing Burke Ale poster’ is spoken of in hushed tones. When an example was sold by New Jersey baseball memorabilia specialist Robert Edwards Auctions for $188,000 in 2008, it was described as the best-preserved of only three known. More recently in February another was sold for $96,000 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas.
Qianlong throne tops Asian series as ‘Chenghua’ dragon dish takes flight
20 May 2019A Qianlong (1736-95) three-colour lacquer throne provided the London series of Asian art sales with its headline moment.
Judge dismisses appeal against Simon de Pury in court case over 'gentleman's agreement’
17 May 2019The Court of Appeals in London has upheld a decision that said advisor Simon de Pury was entitled to a $10m fee on the strength of a handshake agreement.
A Ming dynasty fan, a rare Beswick horse and a stamp archive – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
17 May 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a gold paper fan signed for a Ming dynasty calligrapher that took a multi-estimate €28,000.
Qianlong throne takes £5.2m at Christie’s auction
14 May 2019A fervent bidding battle was witnessed in London earlier today as a Chinese throne sold for five times estimate at Christie’s.
Marklin train, Opium War map and Lalique glass figure – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
10 May 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a Marklin tinplate train that went for 13-times estimate and a Lalique frosted glass statuette that sold above predictions.
Magnificent results for Suleyman portrait and two Safavid carpets in latest Islamic art auction series
06 May 2019One of the few images of a 16th century Eastern potentate by a Western artist emerged from a ‘royal collection’ to sell for a multi-estimate sum at Sotheby’s.
Quality counts in Japanese market
06 May 2019Works by Namikawa Yasuyuki underline how buyers are aiming at the very best when it comes to the Japanese market ahead of a series of UK sales.
Italian side tables, Horatio Nelson prints and Chinese jades – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
03 May 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a pair of North Italian side tables from a distinguished collection and a group of prints relating to Lord Horatio Nelson.
‘Partner to the Canning Jewel’ surfaces in Salisbury
29 April 2019A Renaissance revival jewel perhaps from the same workshop as the famous Canning Jewel has sold at auction in Salisbury.
Pick of the week: Box pushes sentimentality aside for a siege celebration at Welsh auction
29 April 2019Although catalogued as 19th century, this horn, fruitwood and bone inlaid oval patch or snuff box offered by Rogers Jones in Colwyn Bay in north Wales is of a type associated with the late 17th century.
Victorian cameo brooch, Qing pen box and a pilot’s log book – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
26 April 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a Victorian cameo brooch making over 30-times estimate and a Chinese pen box making over 60-times estimate.
Meiji-period cloisonné enamel vase heads back to Japan after auction in Kent
25 April 2019A Meiji period vase by one of the greatest exponents of the intricate art of cloisonné enamel will be heading back to its country of origin after its sale at The Canterbury Auction Galleries.
Early prototype Coca-Cola bottle takes $110,000 at auction in Las Vegas
24 April 2019An early Coca-Cola bottle, a 1915 prototype of the design still used today, has been sold at auction for a premium-inclusive $110,700 (a hammer price of $92,250).
James I silver box, Lucie Rie bowl and a mahogany side table – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
19 April 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a James I silver shell box, a stoneware footed bowl by Lucie Rie and a George II mahogany side table.
Pevsner name builds auction appeal for architectural medallion
19 April 2019Estimated at just £50-80, an Alice Davis Hitchcock medallion sold for £3000 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) at a Spink auction in London on April 10.
Grima and Kutchinsky move into the mainstream
19 April 2019At the turn of the 20th century, work by Italian émigré Andrew Grima (1921-2007) or the London jeweller Kutchinsky was on the periphery of the collecting world – still languishing in the bottom of jewellery boxes or, worse, the melting pot.
Jewellery: Gold ring dedicated to the Crimean War commander who led the Light Brigade to its doom heads selection of recent jewellery highlights
19 April 2019It was on the battlefield of Balaclava on October 25, 1854 that the name of James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797-1868) first became etched into public memory.
Victorian gold necklace shows cutting edge of the Grand Tour
19 April 2019A Victorian hardstone and gold necklace and similar brooch sold for an unexpected £7500 (estimate £600-800) at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne on April 11.
Brooches: major players in 2019
19 April 2019Seemingly, whatever fashion website or Instagram influencer you choose, the brooch is this season’s ‘on-trend’ accessory. One might argue that in the trade, demand for good period examples of this ‘forgotten’ or ‘old fashioned’ item of jewellery has never really gone away.