Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Gallantry top-seller: Crimean War naval VC
12 February 2024The best-selling gallantry medal of 2023 was offered at Noonans late in the year on December 6. The Naval Victoria Cross awarded to Seaman James Gorman at the Battle of Inkerman sold for a hammer price of £320,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium) and now forms part of a private collection of Crimean War medals.
Scrimshaw reminder of the whaler that was captained and crewed by African-Americans
12 February 2024A 19th century scrimshaw carved on board a whaling ship with an all African-American crew sold for $7250 (£5700) at Bruneau & Co (20% buyer’s premium).
St Roch rises miraculously among New York lots
12 February 2024A Venetian Old Master painting of St Roch attributed to the circle of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696- 1770) awoke from the slumber of a $600-900 estimate to hammer for $75,000 (£59,000).
Lalique and Doulton star in Florida saleroom
12 February 2024A small 8in cast bronze relief or architectural element c.1900 designed by Art Nouveau and Art Deco master René Lalique was offered in Florida.
‘Patience and taste personified’: more lots from the outstanding Ann and Gordon Getty collection
12 February 2024New York auctioneer remembers Ann and Gordon Getty as the latest lots come to market
Coins & medals: Stable currency but market is far from static
12 February 2024Total sales across London coin and medals auctions were £61.6m in 2023, just a fraction down on 2022’s record aggregate
Bony slept here: Souvenirs from Napoleon's surrender come to auction
09 February 2024A cache of memorabilia from the descendants of Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland – the officer Napoleon surrendered to aboard HMS Bellerophon on July 15, 1815 – is coming to auction.
London Scottish Regimental Trust to sell Victoria Cross to fund upkeep of Westminster home
09 February 2024The London Scottish Regimental Trust is putting up for auction one of the three Victoria Crosses that it holds.
Silver under the floorboards and vinaigrettes in the cooker
08 February 2024The extraordinary collection of the Bath dealer-collector George Withers (1946-2023) comes for sale across three days and two salerooms later this month.
Collection of Anglo-American art and antiques dealer Warner Dailey comes to Essex auction
06 February 2024Items from the remarkable collection of Warner Dailey come to auction this month.
Third Qing ‘dragon boat’ flask emerges in US
05 February 2024A famille rose porcelain moon flask, possibly made at the imperial kilns for the Qing emperor Jiaqing, took more than 75-times estimate at auction.
Pick of the week: Chippendale’s Brocket Hall suite
05 February 2024A set of six George III giltwood side chairs made by Thomas Chippendale for Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire sold at Dreweatts on January 31.
Petition crown sets British silver coin record
05 February 2024A new auction record for an English silver coin was set during the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC).
Props from Netflix’s The Crown are among five lots to watch
05 February 2024With estimates from £3000, here are five previews of upcoming items.
Dealer Bruce Knight’s personal collecting taste was a cut above
05 February 2024An 18th century Native American trade axe pipe linked to the great Shawnee chief and warrior Tecumseh (1768-1813) was the runaway performer when the collection of Ohio dealer and entrepreneur Bruce Knight was dispersed in the first days of the New Year.
Shaving mugs attract top prices from foam bidders
05 February 2024A staple at American barber shops of the 19th and early 20th centuries was the occupational shaving mug.
Cranach ‘copies from 19th century’ carry their own value
05 February 2024Among the most contested lots at Nadeau’s (23% buyer’s premium) sale on January 1 was a set of miniature watercolour and gouache portraits credited to a follower of the German court painter Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553).
Bereny tobacco advert poster: a good little burner
05 February 2024An original version of one of the great Art Deco posters emerged at Sapphire Auction Gallery (20% buyer’s premium).