Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Padamsee prime period work comes for sale
20 February 2026A newly discovered prime period work by Indian Modernist Akbar Padamsee (1928-2020) comes for sale at Roland Auctions in New York state on March 28.
Harry Davis designs for Royal Worcester bear up well at auctions
20 February 2026Of all the many subjects painted by Harry Davis (1885-1970) during his long and celebrated tenure at the Royal Worcester factory, among the rarest and most desirable are polar bears in an Arctic landscape.
Ceramic Highlander was made in the Lowlands
20 February 2026From the 1770s Portobello was one of the main centres of industrial ceramic production in Scotland.
Quality tea caddies and sugar box rise above a scrap value rating
20 February 2026So much silver has sold based solely on melt value of late. One wonders exactly how many decent antiques and collectables will have been lost once the bubble has deflated.
Gold medal winning performances in the regions
20 February 2026Spotlight on awards that brought rewards for vendors in three separate sales
‘Mum went out to buy a coat but got a Lambeth delft candlestick instead’
20 February 2026Dealer from a Cotswolds family business acquired English tin glazed earthenware as a personal interest
Rare Taddy’s ‘Clown’ cigarette cards attract bidders at Reading sale
17 February 2026One of the rarest of all British cigarette card sets sold for £8800 at Loddon Auctions in Reading on February 11.
Meissen with a Delft touch emerges in Nottingham
13 February 2026This Meissen plate painted with a view of Delft was among the contents of Lamb Close House sold by Mellors & Kirk in Nottingham on February 11.
Antique props once seen on screen, now starring in the saleroom
13 February 2026Latest sale of props from renowned company features several surprises such as Spanish revivalist chairs
Bradbury Wilkinson saved for posterity
13 February 2026Two collections of banknote designs and specimens from engraving and printing firm Bradbury Wilkinson & Company were offered at either end of 2025.
Masterpiece of numismatic neoclassical design on offer
13 February 2026The reverse to the 1817 George III crown is considered a masterpiece of numismatic neoclassical design.
Coins, banknotes and medals: It could have been a terrible year... but it certainly wasn’t
13 February 2026While fears in these uncertain times such as tariff disputes and the London market potentially moving overseas made 2025 a daunting prospect, specialists can instead look back on an encouraging period full of resilience and high prices
Royal Doulton figures add touch of character from the 1920s
13 February 2026Although he chose to work as a freelancer from a small home studio in Luton, Leslie Harradine (1887-1965) provided a regular supply of figures to Royal Doulton for almost 40 years.
Modern era gold coins: The battle of the giants
13 February 2026A Ferdinand III (1608-57) 100-ducat gold piece briefly became the most expensive ‘modern era’ European gold coin ever sold at auction when it hammered for SFr1.95m (£1.83m) in Geneva.
‘Car boot’ badge find makes major windfall for owners – twice
13 February 2026Established in 1687 by James II (also James VII of Scotland), membership of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is in the personal gift of the sovereign, just as it is with the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit.
Early America begins to emerge on a silk map
06 February 2026In this the 250th anniversary year of American Independence being declared, a rare printed silk map of British North America emerged for sale in Dorset.
Bright and beautiful 19th and early 20th century jewels shine at auction
06 February 2026This array of jewels formed part of the first tranche of a remarkable private collection sold by Catherine Southon (23% buyer’s premium) in Chislehurst.
Price and estimate for liner china oceans apart
06 February 2026Liner china – ceramics associated with shipping lines and the golden age of maritime travel – can occasionally throw up surprising results.