Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Auctioneers unite for mammoth Felix Dennis dispersal
14 August 2015Two regional auctioneers – Halls of Shrewsbury and Bigwoods of Stratford-upon-Avon – are joining forces to conduct an ‘on-the-premises’ sale of art and antiques owned by the colourful publisher Felix Dennis (1947-2014).
Lombardy escritoire sells for £19,500 at Chorley’s auction in Gloucestershire
13 August 2015The highlight of Chorley’s latest two-day sale at Prinknash Abbey was this unusual late 18th century Lombardy escritoire.
Palitoy Star Wars Death Star toys show the force is strong at auction
12 August 2015For many of the 40- and 50-somethings who trawl the internet for Star Wars toys, the ‘holy grail’ object is the Palitoy Death Star play set.
VAT on showground fair pitches
12 August 2015COMMENT: So we finally have a ruling from the VAT tribunal but it is not good news.
Showground fairs must charge VAT
12 August 2015Showground fair organisers have reacted with disappointment to the news that exhibitors must pay 20% VAT on pitch rentals.
London numismatists urge clients to oppose German Cultural Property law changes
04 August 2015Coin specialists AH Baldwin & Sons are encouraging their customers to sign the petition opposing an amendment to the controversial German Cultural Property and Heritage Protection Law.
Vincennes sugar bowl sells for £45,000
31 July 2015Yellow-ground wares from the Vincennes soft-paste porcelain workshops are great rarities.
Ambitious Dutch online auction firm aims to be a high-end eBay
30 July 2015Dutch online auction business Catawiki has raised $82m to build its business.
Provincial silver packs a £17,000 punch
22 July 2015This rare Irish provincial silver punch strainer took £14,000 at Lawrences’ latest sale in Crewkerne. Dated to c.1740-60, it is struck twice for Joseph Johns, one of only a handful of silversmiths working in Limerick in the middle of the 18th century.
Bidding comes to rest at £23,000
16 July 2015This superbly patinated Shona hardwood headrest sold for £23,000 at only the second auction at new Stowmarket saleroom Bishop & Miller.
Hôtel Drouot ‘pleased’ as 47 auctioneers and porters face trial
14 July 2015The Hôtel Drouot, the communal saleroom facility used by most Paris auctioneers, has welcomed the news that swathes of former staff members are to face charges relating to stolen property.
The first Silver Cross pram returns home
03 July 2015William Wilson’s patent for a perambulator was cheered by the infants of well-to-do-Victorians.
Lawyer slams DEFRA over CITES chaos
01 July 2015A leading CITES lawyer has criticised DEFRA’s “wholesale failure” to alert the public to law changes, after a court fined a jeweller £2000 for selling antique tiger claw pendants.
Regulations on tiger parts
29 June 2015The law on tiger jewellery is frequently flouted. Last week on eBay – a site that operates a ban on antique ivory – several items of big cat jewellery were on sale from UK vendors.
Five things you need to know about CITES
29 June 2015
Chiparus’ Queen of Babylon shines once more
29 June 2015“The ivory ban has been a right old dampener on the market as a whole but after taking time to consider its implications, collectors are coming back.”
Goodman and de Pury launch web-only auctions with promises to keep down fees
23 June 2015Two senior members of the international auctioneering profession launch separate online-only ventures this week.
Bonhams to close Oxford salerooms
10 June 2015Bonhams are to close their Oxfordshire salerooms and move more merchandise to London as part of a further review of their regional operations.
Godwin barn find becomes £31,000 reward at Essex auction
10 June 2015This spectacular barn find, an ebonised coromandel and inlaid octagonal centre table designed by Edward Godwin (1833-86), sold for £31,000 at Sworders’ sale of decorative art and design in Stansted Mountfitchet.
Saved from a skip, Ault pattern book on display at DresserFest
08 June 2015A previously unpublished book of ceramic designs that could shed new light on the work of Dr Christopher Dresser goes on public view for the first time during a three-day festival celebrating the life and work of the Victorian designer.