Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell

Jackson Type I typewriter

Jackson Type I typewriter, Waterloo officer’s pistols and Lord Mayor’s letter – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes

10 April 2020

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a rare early typewriter that sold above estimate in Germany.

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ILAB to hold Covid 19 Crisis webinar

09 April 2020

The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) is to hold a webinar today (Thursday April 9) to discuss trading difficulties during the coronavirus shutdown.

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Cat’s out of the bag – May emerges from behind the Morris curtain

06 April 2020

Although often overshadowed by her famous father William, May Morris (1862-1938) was herself an important figure in the British Arts & Crafts movement.

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Pick of the week: The Kashmir shawl of a former governor of India

06 April 2020

The recent auction held ‘live online’ by Aldridges of Bath included this spectacular hand-woven north Indian long shawl, or dochalla. It came with a colonial provenance.

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Kookaburra flies into Cumbrian saleroom

06 April 2020

Maud O’Reilly (1886-1971), a key figure in Queensland’s Arts & Crafts movement and a student of the LJ Harvey school, showed her pottery at a number of British exhibitions in the mid 1920s.

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Edwardian footballer's career and tragic ending remembered in memorabilia sale

06 April 2020

The first 20 lots of the recent football memorabilia sale at Stacey’s in Rayleigh, Essex came from the family of the Edwardian player Benjamin Warren (1879-1917).

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Auction explorers locate rare silver pocket watch

06 April 2020

An unusual late Victorian silver pocket watch by Herbert Blockley of London sold for an unexpected £2800 at Potteries Auctions (20% buyer’s premium) in Stoke-on- Trent.

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Spring auction brings varied array of Asian art to Lewes along with European treats

06 April 2020

A cross-section of Asian art – Qing porcelain, Meiji Satsuma and Euro-Asiatic ivories – provided the prizes at Gorringe’s (21% buyer’s premium) spring sale held in Lewes.

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Rare ‘Brooks slavery ship’ creamware beaker with a dark tale sells at Nottingham auction

06 April 2020

A rare creamware transfer printed and painted beaker offered for sale by Mellors & Kirk (20% buyer’s premium) in Nottingham told a dark tale.

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Linthorpe pottery dish showing how Christopher Dresser looked to Fiji for inspiration sells in Rotherham

06 April 2020

A Linthorpe pottery dish designed for the Middlesbrough pottery by Dr Christopher Dresser sold online well over a £400-600 estimate for £4200 at Paul Beighton (17.5% buyer’s premium).

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Constance Spry wall pockets for flowers rated high by devotees

06 April 2020

Responsible for the flowers at the Queen’s coronation, the society florist Constance Spry (1886-1960) is also credited with the ‘democratisation’ of flower arranging.

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Machine exerts a strong influence

06 April 2020

The Wimshurst influence machine, an electrostatic generator capable of creating high voltages, was developed between 1880-83 by British inventor James Wimshurst (1832-1903).

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Auction record set for British ‘society’ portraitist Ambrose McEvoy at Dreweatts

06 April 2020

Artist battles back to regain favour with auctioneers, private buyers and dealers

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Victorian travel wardrobe draws interest as it reappears at auction

06 April 2020

This deluxe Victorian travel accessory is a ‘campaign wardrobe’ made by Robinson & Sons of Ilkley, Yorkshire.

Gavin Strang of Lyon and Turnbull

“The longest time I have ever spent on the rostrum” – Lyon & Turnbull’s live online sale delivers results

03 April 2020

Lyon & Turnbull held a remarkably successful sale of Decorative Arts on April 1 – the firm’s first using the ‘live online’ format.

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A lion and stallion bronze sculpture, a May Morris panel and a Chinese dragon dish – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes

03 April 2020

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a striking bronze of a lion attacking a horse that sold at 22-times its top estimate.

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Pick of the week: Mah-jong set that counts for a lot

30 March 2020

The popular Chinese game of mah-jong is a relative newcomer.

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Exotic touch to anniversary auction with Australian picture at Surrey sale

30 March 2020

An early coastal scene of Australia sold for more than five times its top estimate to an online buyer from New South Wales at Ewbank’s anniversary sale.

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Immortal bowl’s lasting effect

30 March 2020

This Yongzheng (1722-35) mark and period Eight Immortals bowl sold for £26,000 at the Hansons (20% buyer’s premium) auction in Teddington last month.

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The minaudière from Mr Arpels

30 March 2020

The minaudière, a case for storing several personal items in a small space, first appeared during the 1930s.