Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Pick of the week: Faraday iron filings create a magnetic pull on bidders
23 December 2019Michael Faraday’s laboratory notebook from 1851 includes a series of diagrams illustrating what he called ‘magnetic lines of force’ – the magnetic field lines that are central to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry.
Airfix D-Day advance to four figures
23 December 2019A recent sale at C&T in Tunbridge Wells included an unexpected bid of £1700 (estimate £50-70) for three unopened Airfix models.
Wight place, right time for censer
23 December 2019The relatively short reign of the Ming emperor Xuande (1425-35) was considered a high point in the production of bronze works of art.
Cocteau ceramics price pushes the goat out
23 December 2019In the 130th anniversary year of the birth of Jean Cocteau (1889-1963), a collection of ceramics by the leading figure of the French avant-garde was a sell-out at Bonhams’ Prints and Multiples sale on December 11-12.
Unusual bed to suit a life on an ocean wave
21 December 2019This unusual piece of mahogany and teak ‘campaign’ furniture below is a naval ship’s cabin bed.
Rare and early white porcelain sculpture from Chelsea factory bought by V&A museum
20 December 2019A white porcelain sculpture made in the experimental years of the Chelsea factory has been acquired for the national collection of ceramics at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Airfix models, a Chinese bronze censer and Australian silverware – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
20 December 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a pair of 19th century electroplated cups from Australia featuring heads of Aborigine people that sold above predictions.
Stewart-Lockhart leaves auction house Woolley & Wallis and Lamond joins
16 December 2019Jeremy Lamond, former director of Halls, will be joining auction house Woolley & Wallis at the end of March 2020 as head of the valuations department and associate director.
Colonial North America discoveries put Scottish saleroom on the map
16 December 2019Two key early maps of colonial North America were offered for sale at Ramsay Cornish in Edinburgh on December 7.
Railwayana, memorabilia from the Snowman film and a ‘James Bond’ watch are among four lots to watch at auction this week
16 December 2019With estimates from £400-3200 here are four previews of upcoming sales this week.
Bowls and saucers for the ‘Shadow of the King’
16 December 2019This group of late-19th century Chinese export bowls and saucers was made for the Middle Eastern market – specifically for the Qajar prince Mas’ud Mirza Zill al-Sultan (1850-1918).
Ancient glass reflects modern appeal
16 December 2019The sale at John Nicholson’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Haslemere on October 24 included a substantial collection of ancient (or ancient style) coloured glassware: more than 60 pieces sold across half a dozen group lots.
Top-drawer Meiji productions
16 December 2019Two lots of Japanese cloisonné – both by top-drawer Meiji workshops – merited sums way over estimate at a sale conducted by Thomas R Callan (20% buyer’s premium) in Ayr on November 30.
Job lots of tiles with specific draw
16 December 2019Two mixed lots of Victorian dust-pressed tiles sold for multi-estimate sums at Mander (24% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Sudbury on November 30. Key to their appeal were the inclusion of near sets of tiles made by Minton Hollins & Co to designs by Arts & Crafts luminaries.
The draw of Devonshire
16 December 2019The sale at flood-hit Bamfords (21% buyer’s premium) on October 30 included chattels from the estate of Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Alice Cavendish (1926-2018), daughter of the 10th Duke of Devonshire of nearby Chatsworth House.
Staffs figures in fresh focus
16 December 2019In preparation for the 25th anniversary of the Staffordshire Figure Association (SFA) in 2020, its 60 members worldwide are, for the first time, receiving a wall calendar.
17th century silver candlesticks, Louis Vuitton trunk and a Hans Coper vase – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week
13 December 2019ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a Hans Coper 'Cycladic' vessel and a Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk that both sold above predictions.