Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Surprise result as Fabergé-Stroganov collaboration helps vase to 157-times estimate
01 July 2019Morphy Auctions’ latest Fine & Decorative Arts sale held in Denver, Pennsylvania included this unusual 7½in (19cm) Russian silver-mounted pottery vase.
Pick of the week: Silver pomander from Tudor period sells above predictions at Cirencester auction
01 July 2019The origin of ‘Tudor’ globe pomanders is still under discussion. It is generally thought that most originate from northern Europe but were probably made by itinerant craftsmen in a number of countries.
Moorcroft in miniature – a microcosm of the art pottery world
01 July 2019No good library of British art pottery literature is complete without a copy of Paul Atterbury’s 'Moorcroft'. The jacket illustration alone with its myriad tube-lined miniatures in a bewildering range of forms and patterns is particularly memorable. More than one collector has attempted to emulate the beguiling display.
Chinese vase and trinket make multi-estimate prices after emerging at regional auctions
01 July 2019Catalogued as a ‘tin glazed hand painted Chinese vase – 17in (42cm) tall’ and estimated at £50-80, a late 17th century Kangxi period famille verte porcelain vase of waisted trumpet form sold on June 22 for a healthier £12,000 – 150 times the top estimate.
A pietra dura and ebonised casket and an early 17th-century English text – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
28 June 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a pottery faience charger and a Fijian sperm whale tooth pendant.
Fur flies in taxidermy oddity
24 June 2019‘Boxing Badgers’ is one of just two known occasions when the celebrated taxidermist Peter Spicer (1839-1935) ventured into the strange world of the anthropomorphic tableau.
Tiffany brooch, George Chinnery drawing and Chinese ‘official's hat’ chairs – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
21 June 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a Tiffany tiger orchid brooch and a pair of Chinese huanghuali armchairs of a type often called ‘official's hat’ chairs.
Capital gains: The wider choice available in the London auction scene
19 June 2019As the battle for the ‘middle market’ heats up, the London auction scene today offers visitors a wider choice of items to buy and more places to bid for them.
Away days: A selection of destinations that act as magnets for antiques enthusiasts
19 June 2019Britain still has many ‘antiques’ towns and streets – those picturesque corners of the island populated by shops, galleries and centres that together act as a magnet for antiques tourists. Two of the largest communities of dealers close to London are Petworth and Hungerford, while a busy schedule of regular fairs and markets takes place to the south-west of London.
Victoria and Albert Museum acquires Chippendale's Harewood House pier tables and mirrors for the nation
18 June 2019A set of pier tables and mirrors from the Thomas Chippendale workshop has been accepted in lieu for the nation and allocated to the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Pick of the week: Early draft of colonial American map impresses at New York auction
17 June 2019A pre-press version of a key map of colonial America emerged for sale at Swann Auction Galleries in New York on June 6. Carrying an estimate of $30,000-50,000, it sold at $100,000/£76,900 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) – a sum that reflected its extraordinary provenance.
Chinese bronze censer used to hold tennis balls sold for £3.3 million
17 June 2019A Chinese parcel gilt bronze censer, that was being used to hold tennis balls when first seen by valuers last year, has sold at auction in Switzerland for close to £3.3m.
An Augustus John portrait, a Fijian war weapon and an early golf putter – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
14 June 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a portrait by Augustus John (1878-1961) of his artist daughter Gwyneth Johnstone.
Remarkable Moorcroft pottery collection comes to auction in Evesham
13 June 2019Worcestershire auctioneer Kingham & Orme is to disperse a remarkable collection of Moorcroft pottery later this week. The June 15 sale in Evesham includes 364 lots of the popular tube-lined ceramics (a few of them group lots) amassed over a 35-year period by a UK collector.
First original cover art of Tintin sells at US auction for more than $1m
11 June 2019The very first original cover art featuring comic character Tintin has sold at auction in the US for a premium inclusive $1.125m.
CLOCKS: Quare and Tompion – Rivals who clicked in London's Golden Age
10 June 2019Golden Age collaboration between two London clockmakers leads a look at the market including hammer highlights, auction previews and dealer news.
Three of the first British female artists on show at Lyon & Turnbull's London exhibition
08 June 2019Lyon & Turnbull is hosting an exhibition spotlighting the work of three of the first British female artists this summer.
English delftware and Thunderbirds artwork once owned by Bob Monkhouse – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
07 June 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes English delftware, an early acoustic gramophone, Thunderbirds artwork and a Qing period double gourd vase.
Rare Roman gold coin found in Kent field sells at £460,000
06 June 2019A rare Roman gold coin, found by a metal detectorist in a field in Kent, was hammered down at £460,000.
Mahatma Gandhi sculpture more than doubles Antiques Roadshow valuation at Salisbury auction
05 June 2019A maquette for the famous statue of Mahatma Gandhi in London’s Tavistock Square that was valued at £20,000 six years ago on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow by dealer Philip Mould drew a lengthy bidding battle at auction today.