Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Bonhams to close Oxford salerooms
10 June 2015Bonhams are to close their Oxfordshire salerooms and move more merchandise to London as part of a further review of their regional operations.
Godwin barn find becomes £31,000 reward at Essex auction
10 June 2015This spectacular barn find, an ebonised coromandel and inlaid octagonal centre table designed by Edward Godwin (1833-86), sold for £31,000 at Sworders’ sale of decorative art and design in Stansted Mountfitchet.
Saved from a skip, Ault pattern book on display at DresserFest
08 June 2015A previously unpublished book of ceramic designs that could shed new light on the work of Dr Christopher Dresser goes on public view for the first time during a three-day festival celebrating the life and work of the Victorian designer.
Ely House to become London auction venue
05 June 2015Auctioneers Dreweatts-Bloomsbury are to make increasing use of Ely House – Mallett’s showroom on Dover Street – as their primary London sale venue.
Liebermann restituted from Gurlitt cache comes to auction
04 June 2015Max Liebermann’s ‘Zwei Reiter am Strand nach links’ (Two Riders on a Beach) has become the first painting to be sold from Cornelius Gurlitt’s hoard of art.
A £23,000 Benson light show in Oxford
29 May 2015The work of designer and architect William Arthur Smith Benson (1854-1924) entered a new price arena when this silvered brass ceiling light sold for £23,000 at Mallams Oxford.
Eighteenth century Chinese bowl shines as £340,000 highlight in Salisbury
27 May 2015The highlight of the latest Woolley & Wallis sale of Asian art held in Salisbury was this 4in (10cm) Yongzheng (1723-35) mark and period doucai lingzhi bowl.
Stunning delft chargers take £34,500 in Exeter
14 May 2015The two outstanding blue dash chargers offered at a recent sale held by Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter form part of a small but distinctive group of early 18th century delft dishes boldly painted with a variety of quirky bird, animal and figure subjects.
Judge praises trade’s role in sting operation
13 May 2015A judge has hailed the “professionalism and integrity” of members of the trade who helped snare a thief who stole antiques and art from her wealthy employer.
Thomas Loomes clocks: two come along at once
07 May 2015Two lantern clocks engraved with the signature ‘Thomas Loomes at ye mermayd in Lothbury’ recently appeared at auction within days of each other.
Soldani bronze brings £320,000
29 April 2015This Italian baroque bronze depicting ‘Ganymede and the Eagle’ by Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi (1656-1740) proved the highlight of Lyon & Turnbull’s recent sale in Edinburgh.
From £20 to £7000 – vendor spots rare Burmantofts plaque at car boot fair
23 April 2015This large Burmantofts faience plaque sold for £7000 at 1818 Auctions of Milnthorpe, Cumbria. The vendor, who bought it at a car boot sale for £20, was in the room to watch bidding surge way beyond a £400-600 estimate.
Art Loss Register launch stolen watch database
15 April 2015The Art Loss Register has launched a database dedicated to stolen watches, one they say can help anyone buying, selling or providing loans against second-hand wristwatches.
Nantgarw dessert service is a sweet success
13 April 2015A 20-piece Nantgarw dessert service has sold for £20,000 at Campbells of Worthing. It was consigned on behalf of a titled lady.
Victorian novelty silver salts hop to £18,000
10 April 2015This 5in (12cm) high pair of Victorian salts in the form of kangaroos made by Bond Street silversmiths Hunt & Roskell sold for £18,000 at Catherine Southon’s latest sale at Farleigh Court Golf Club near East Croydon.
Connecticut considers total ivory ban
08 April 2015Antique dealers, collectors, auctioneers and museum representatives gathered in Connecticut last month to oppose a bill seeking a total and uncompromising ban on the sale of ivory.
The signs of progress for Sheffield dealers
08 April 2015Sheffield’s antiques quarter has been put on the map with new brown signs to illustrate its cultural significance.
A marvel in marquetry
02 April 2015This c.1690 marquetry cabinet on stand in the manner of the Anglo-Dutch maker Gerrit Jensen (d.1715) sold for £35,000 at the latest sale at Brightwells of Leominster.
Sotheby’s start their new eBay experiment
26 March 2015Sotheby’s have begun live streaming their sales on eBay’s new auctions platform.
Striking Russian gold in Dorset
25 March 2015Two large 18th century gold medals depicting events from the reign of Catherine the Great sold for spectacular sums at Duke’s latest auction in Dorchester.