Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
All the fun of the fair: John Barker collection comes to Essex auction
05 March 2024A collector of late 19th and early 20th century fairground art is offering 47 examples at Sworders.
Rare mezzotint of 18th century native American chief who visited London takes nearly 10-times estimate
05 March 2024Rare prints from a remarkable collection deaccessioned from a library in Massachusetts starred in a Boston auction.
Lawrence portraits from New York industrialist come for sale in US
04 March 2024Portraits by the English virtuoso painter Sir Thomas Lawrence owned by an upstate New York family since the 1920s lead our selection of five lots to buy in the US.
Rediscovered George II period table takes 100-times estimate at Berkshire auction
04 March 2024A timed online auction at Thimbleby & Shorland of Reading included this fine quality Kentian console table that had come from a probate sale in London.
Snake armlet designed by Alma-Tadema slithers for sale
04 March 2024This gem-set gold snake armlet, a gift from the celebrated Victorian artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) to his second wife Laura Epps (1852-1909), will take centre stage on the stand of London jeweller Wartski at TEFAF Maastricht.
Pick of the week: Poster promoting global baseball tour pitches up at a record price
04 March 2024Discovered by a small auction house in Ohio, a baseball poster described as ‘the finest known’ has sold at auction for a record $200,000/£158,000 ($240,000 including premium).
Chair prices propelled higher thanks to Picasso
04 March 2024A Parisian sale titled Pablo Picasso and his Friends staged at Piasa in France on February 15 included a series of artworks to which the great man had contributed in some way.
A Regency table from the collection of TV star Drew Pritchard is among five lots to watch
04 March 2024With estimates from £100, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Brooches concealing watches make striking auction prices
04 March 2024Two fine Art Deco jewelled pendant brooches featuring miniature fob watches achieved strong results at Bonhams’ (28% buyer’s premium) London Jewels sale.
Bangle by architect turned designer Zaha Hadid builds interest
04 March 2024Among the most eagerly contested lots at a west London saleroom was a Georg Jensen silver bangle from the Lamellae collection designed by the architect-turned-designer Zaha Hadid.
Auctions and dealer shows aplenty at Asia Week New York
04 March 2024Fifteeth year of the New York event involves 28 dealers and 12 salerooms taking part
Art Deco-era vanity cases highly sought by contemporary collectors
04 March 2024Legend has it that Charles Arpels (of Van Cleef & Arpels fame) saw a lady friend stashing her lipstick and other cosmetics in an ordinary cigarette tin for a trip out on the town.
De Medici letter reveals Pope appointment plot
04 March 2024This single-sheet letter was written by Catherine de Medici (1519-89) to the ambassador to Spain.
Memorabilia from a famous 1913 show in US is now highly sought after
04 March 2024The 'International Exhibition of Modern Art' held at the 69th Regiment Armory building in New York from February 15 to March 15, 1913, ushered in a new era for the art market.
Ring by Dubret influenced by Lalique but at a more affordable level
04 March 2024Dawsons’ (25% buyer’s premium) Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver sale included this Art Nouveau gem-set foliage panel ring by Henri Dubret (1872-1947).
Omega watches by Andrew Grima are bang on time
04 March 2024At the peak of his fame, the Anglo-Italian jewellery designer Andrew Grima was invited by Omega to create what would become the About Time collection.
Purple patch – Arts & Crafts collection of dealer duo comes to auction
04 March 2024Collection of dealers who founded a shop and popular brand is up for sale next month in Sussex, offering more than 600 lots in a dedicated sale
Map gives a one-sided religious global view
04 March 2024John Nicholson’s (25% buyer’s premium) Fine Paintings sale in Fernhurst on February 20 included a good example of The Pictorial Missionary Map of the World - a rarity that appears at auction perhaps once in every decade.
Original Alastair illustration for Oscar Wilde edition soars above estimate
04 March 2024The aristocratic German artist, composer, dancer, mime, poet, singer and translator Hans Henning Otto Harry Baron von Voigt (1887-1969) is best known by his pen name. From 1914 he went simply by the pseudonym Alastair.