Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Group of prime period De Morgan tiles take close to six-figure sum at auction
29 April 2024The Art & Design post 1880 sale at Duke’s in Dorchester on April 25 included 44 lots of William De Morgan tiles consigned by descendants of Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930), Earl of Balfour and prime minister from 1902-05. He is understood to have bought them directly from De Morgan in Fulham.
Lover’s eye miniature is among five lots to watch
29 April 2024With estimates from £200, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
New Zealand welcomes the Great White Fleet
29 April 2024An auction of traditional European decorative arts at Sotheby’s New York (20/10% buyer’s premium) on April 16 included this New Zealand Arts & Crafts presentation casket.
Satyrs and nymphs back at Billingshurst
29 April 2024The first auctions of the year at Summers Place Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Billingshurst – a live event on March 26 and a sealed bids sale on March 27 – included this pair of rare Portland stone groups of a nymph and satyr by Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885-1934).
Scarce medieval stained glass now sought after
29 April 2024The March 14 sale at Willow Auction House (25% buyer’s premium) in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, included a New York private collection of leaded and stained-glass panels.
B for Byron: letter of apology
29 April 2024Found in a country house in Gloucestershire, this letter written by Lord Byron (1788-1824) to Major John Cartwright (1740-1824) sold for £6000 at Chorley’s (28.2% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on March 20.
Flower power: British majolica hits the bigtime in US
29 April 2024A Copeland vase produced to mark 100 years of American Independence was among the highlights of the second tranche of the Flower collection of majolica.
Massier Art Nouveau vase goes bats at auction
29 April 2024Abell’s (25% buyer’s premium) sale in Los Angeles on April 17 included a spectacular Art Nouveau vase from the workshop of French ceramicist Clement Massier.
Chinese vase goes over the moon with 140-times estimate price
29 April 2024The stand-out performance in the March series of Asian art sales was a Qing monochrome clair-de-lune bottle vase offered by Freeman’s Hindman (26% buyer’s premium) in Chicago on March 24.
Tureen dished out the delicacy of turtle soup
29 April 2024Turtle soup, which first became a delicacy on European tables with the emergence of the West Indies trade in the 18th century, was hugely popular among the elite of American society at the turn of the 20th century.
Mercedes-Benz tools make $8000 on their own
29 April 2024As an original Mercedes-Benz 300SL now costs something north of $1m, it is perhaps no surprise to learn that original accessories associated with the Flügeltürer are eagerly sought.
Scientist’s microscopes go under a bidding inspection
29 April 2024A collection of microscopes and other antique scientific instruments from the estate of Ohio scientist John A Davidson Jr (1939-2023) came for sale at Gray’s Auctioneers (20% buyer’s premium) on April 17.
Collector gripped by Classical Greek pottery appeal
29 April 2024Among the highlights of Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) Fine Interiors sale was a collection of antiquities formed by the late Sir Clinton Charles Donald Cory (1937-2022), 5th Baronet of Coryton.
Uncle Sam joins the world as influential timeline gets an update
29 April 2024'A New Chart of History' by the British chemist and natural philosopher Joseph Priestley is considered one of the most influential timelines published in the 18th century.
Beautiful binding boosts Nisbet's Holy Land book
29 April 2024First published by James Nisbet in 1858, 'Lays of the Holy Land from ancient and modern Poets' comprises verse from a range of authors together with black and white Illustrations from Victorian artists including Myles Birket Foster, John Everett Millais and Thomas Seddon.
Light Ponti armchairs carry weighty auction value
29 April 2024Among the starring lots at the Wright (26% buyer’s premium) Design sale on March 28 was a pair of Gio Ponti lacquered wood, upholstery and brass Triennale armchairs, dating to 1951.
Death sentence for king's mistress proves popular
29 April 2024Warrant for Madame du Barry, mistress of Louis XV, sells well eight years after last auction appearance
Nelson left Emma an expensive legacy
29 April 2024The so-called Horatia service – named after the daughter of Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton – is among the best documented commissions from the Chamberlain’s factory.
PG Wodehouse presentation copy comes in sought-after dust jacket
29 April 2024The third book in the 'Blandings Castle' saga by PG Wodehouse was first published in the United States on July 1, 1929 by Doubleday Doran, New York, under the title 'Fish Preferred'.