Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Diamonds highlight a luxury comeback
12 November 2018By the 1950s, as the global economic landscape improved, luxury was making a comeback and so too was the prolific use of diamonds in the jewellery of France’s premier ateliers.
Sensational royal jewels at Sotheby’s
12 November 2018In the end, it was diamonds, not cake, that triggered the tragic downfall of Marie-Antoinette (1755-93) and her family. Even though the doomed queen was innocent of conspiracy, it was the affair of a diamond necklace that lit the powder-keg of revolution.
A £1900 diamond in the rough
12 November 2018An unusual entry to Hansons’ September auction in Teddington, south-west London, was a ‘diamond’ in the rough – an uncut 5ct crystal still in its original carrier stone.
Medieval brooch at TimeLine
12 November 2018This well-preserved medieval annular brooch set with cabochon rubies and sapphires is a rare survivor from the 14th century.
Dix Noonan Webb offers de Temple ring
12 November 2018From c.1969-75, Charles de Temple (b.1929) – the son of the American film actor Tom Mix – created his series of ‘nervous jewels’, employing prickly cultural designs in two-coloured gold wire. This 18ct gold and beryl dress ring is a good example.
Timely Cartier lot at Sworders
12 November 2018The Fine Jewellery and Watches auction at Sworders of Stansted Mountfitchet on November 20 will include this Cartier Art Deco rose-cut diamond, black and white enamel and seed pearl-set pendant watch, c.1915.
Five lots that caught bidders’ eyes this week including a Regency table, a Maltese silver bowl and a Beatles poster
09 November 2018ATG’s selection of hammer highlights that sold at auction in the last week include a Regency rosewood table and a Beatles poster from a Leeds Queen's Hall appearance.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh tearoom chairs sit comfortably at a combined £150,000
05 November 2018Two Charles Rennie Mackintosh chairs made for Glasgow’s Argyle Street Tea Rooms starred at Lyon & Turnbull’s Decorative Arts sale in Edinburgh last week.
Sales in North America: previews of 10 upcoming lots including a Maurice Guiraud-Rivier figure
05 November 2018A selection of preview highlights from upcoming American auctions, including a terracotta bust by Maurice Guiraud-Rivier.
Suffragettes stand up for rights by burning a grandstand
05 November 2018On June 13, 1913, just five days after the infamous death of Emily Wilding Davison under the king’s horse at the Derby, two Suffragettes set fire to the Hurst Park grandstand in Surrey.
Break-out price from Mafeking siege case
05 November 2018A German silver cigarette case, sold for £4600 at C&T Auctioneers (20% buyer’s premium) in Tunbridge Wells on October 24, was engraved with a detailed scene from the Siege of Mafeking – the famous Boer War defence of a small town commanded by Robert Baden-Powell.
Awards for excellence mark start of Asian Art in London
05 November 2018Copenhagen auction house Bruun Rasmussen and London dealer Grace Tsumugi Fine Art were the recipients of the 2018 Asian Art in London Awards, co-sponsored by ATG.
Great lookers eyed on the same day by Newbury auctioneer
05 November 2018“The chances of finding one that had been bought in a £90 box lot was probably one in a million; the chances of finding two more on the same day are incalculable.” Scientific instruments expert Hugo Marsh was talking about specialist camera lenses he was shown in September, first by a south-coast vendor, then by a West Country enthusiast, which sold at Special Auction Services (17.5% buyer’s premium) at Newbury on October 23.
Books from Ireland's Dromoland castle offered in Florida auction
05 November 2018The sale to held by Blackwell auctions in Florida on November 10 will include a selection of books from the library of Dromoland Castle, the Irish castle in County Clare where the historic ‘Armada table’ sold last month by Adam’s in Drogheda, Ireland, for €360,000 was housed for 300 years (ATG No 2364).
Hammer highlights: five lots that caught bidders’ eyes this week including a Giuliano bracelet
02 November 2018ATG’s selection of highlights sold at auction in the last week include a stunning Giuliano bracelet, a picture postcard showing Manchester United’s original ground and rare posters from a music festival in Bath.
Assyrian relief sets second-highest price for ancient art at Christie’s New York despite Iraq’s repatriation call
01 November 2018An Assyrian relief unearthed from the royal palace at Nimrud in modern-day Iraq has set the second highest ever price for a piece of ancient art at auction after selling at Christie’s New York.
Saleroom selection: 10 pieces of Asian art on offer in November 2018
01 November 2018November is the UK’s busiest month of Asian art sales with a glut of auctions taking place in both London and the regions.
Rediscovered Schumann piano masterpiece comes to auction at Bonhams
31 October 2018Bonhams is to offer an extensive handwritten draft of Robert Schumann’s 1837 piano masterpiece Fantasiestücke Opus 12 – written in the composer’s own hand.
Rediscovered Iznik charger leads London’s Islamic Week sales after record-breaking 20-minute bidding battle
29 October 2018A newly discovered Ottoman charger described as one of the most important pieces of Iznik pottery remaining in private hands was the toast of Islamic Week, selling at Sotheby’s for a spectacular £4.55m (£5.4m including buyer’s premium).
The timely record for punning Lutyens clock
29 October 2018Included in the Important Design sale at Phillips in London on October 18 was an unusual mantel clock designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869- 1944).