Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Isaac Newton's ‘greatest intellectual stride’ strolls into a Swiss saleroom
17 November 2025The books sale at Koller (25% buyer’s premium) in Zurich on September 17 was topped at SwFr250,000 (£237,250) by a first edition of the book Einstein described as “perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make”.
Antiques Roadshow vase stars in saleroom at £125,000
17 November 2025The renewed fashion for ancient bronzes during the Qing period reflected a confluence of scholarly interest, artistic expression and political strategy.
Javanese please: Items from the Indonesian island’s true golden age
17 November 2025Jewellery shows great artistic and technical sophistication that catches the eyes of collectors
Lady Joceline’s tiara on offer in Dublin
17 November 2025This late Victorian diamond tiara set with old mine, old European and old cut diamonds comes for sale at Adam’s in Dublin on December 2 by descent from Dermot Chichester, 7th Marquess of Donegall (1916-2007).
Hoot if you are a Lalique car mascot worth £70,000
17 November 2025Rare stalking owl catches the eye in Lewes as local vendor sells Lalique car mascots and advertising signs
Ring deemed of ‘Tudor or Stuart’ origin rather than 18th century
17 November 2025The unexpected highpoint of the sale at Potteries Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Staffordshire on November 7 – a sale otherwise dominated by 20th century collectable ceramics – was this high-carat gold signet or seal ring.
Ashbee guild trio on offer over two days
17 November 2025Serendipity had it that three jewels by the Guild and School of Handicraft emerged for sale across three UK salerooms on November 5-6.
Bidder makes tripod table trunk call at £15,000
17 November 2025This late 19th century French gilt bronze and griotte rouge marble tripod table-stand in the Japonisme style sold for £15,000 (estimate £4000-6000) at Hansons (26.5% buyer’s premium) in Richmond, south-west London.
Early Isaac Newton work emerges in Macclesfield auction
17 November 2025Influential scientific papers were originally bought by library after a bequest from a local surgeon
Cesare Dandini’s saintly figure brings trans-Atlantic bidding battle
14 November 2025On the same day that Freeman’s Hindman announced it would rebrand simply as Freeman’s, the firm held a $2.5m two-part sale of Old Masters and 19th century European art.
Pick of the week: Pared-back Modernist Loos clock chimes with buyer at £320,000
10 November 2025Phillips set a new auction record for Adolf Loos (1870-1933) when a dwarf longcase clock, a prime example of his work, drew strong competition on November 4.
Soprano photograph from 1856 hits a high note at auction
10 November 2025This hand-coloured daguerreotype was taken in 1856 by Rufus Anson, a New York photographer who operated a studio on Broadway from about 1851 to 1867. His address is cut into the velvet interior of the case.
The Land of Nod drifts off to a new owner
10 November 2025A sale at Leland Little (25% buyer's premium) in Hillsborough, North Carolina, included a once well-known work by the Edwardian artist Charles Sims (1873-1928).
Striking Suffragette image emerges at Bonhams
10 November 2025The artist Margaret Bartels (1887-1932), who trained at the Camberwell School of Art, came from a family of suffrage campaigners living in south London.
Polar bears produced in Copenhagen pair up in vase form
10 November 2025Polar bears have inspired multiple models by the Bing & Grondahl and Royal Copenhagen factories.
Stacks of atmosphere created by a travel poster promoting Edinburgh
10 November 2025Poster specialist Antikbar of Chelsea will stage an auction on November 15 which includes this original 1920s travel poster issued by the London and North Eastern Railway promoting the Edinburgh to Kings Cross route and an ‘Illustrated booklet free from LNER Offices and Agencies’.
Breadboard collecting – it’s on a knead to know basis
10 November 2025Bidders given a first slice of Britain’s ‘biggest collection of breadboards’ from museum in family home
Chinese huanghuali armchairs owned by Chairman Mao's adviser sell at 15-times top estimate
05 November 2025A pair of Chinese huanghuali armchairs, formerly owned by a US Treasury official who became an economic adviser to Chairman Mao, were hammered down at £600,000.
Indian art market hits new heights
03 November 2025Capping a strong year for the Indian art market, Christie’s has set a new record for any classical Indian or Islamic painting at auction.