Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Chinese art consigned from outside US shines in New York auctions
17 September 2018Ahead of a threatened import tax, overseas consignments of Chinese art were among the best sellers in the September Asian art sales in New York.
Old treasures return from the New World
17 September 2018From antiquities to Chinese works of art and 20th century European sculpture, a sale in Maine showcases America’s rich supply of European and Asian art.
Opportunities abound for buying traditional European art and antiques in the US
17 September 2018Following more than a century of art market activity, opportunities now abound to buy traditional European art and antiques in the US
Coin specialist Sovereign Rarities and the Royal Mint to conduct inaugural auction
03 September 2018London coin dealership Sovereign Rarities will conduct its first auction on September 25.
Six of the best from LAPADA fair
03 September 2018Jewellery is the single biggest element of the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair (September 13-19), with 13 specialist dealers and a handful of others who will include items of personal adornment alongside decorative arts or antiquities.
Grima spearheads revival of 1960s and 70s designer jewellery
03 September 2018His daring organic sculptural designs re-energised the British jewellery scene in post-war Britain. Now Andrew Grima’s (1921-2007) creations are leading the revival of 1960s and ‘70s designer jewellery on the secondary market.
Bissinger gem carving turns heads in Oxford auction
03 September 2018This agate, enamel and gemset cameo brooch carved with the profile of a classical maiden is signed verso for Georges Bissinger.
Taking a £3400 bite out of Victorian sentimentalism
03 September 2018Victoria, Princess Royal (1840-1901), shed her first baby tooth at the age of seven while the royal family was a guest of the Duke of Abercorn at Ardverikie, by Loch Laggan. Her father Prince Albert tugged the tooth free himself and had it set in gold and enamel as a brooch. The milk tooth formed the blossom of thistle.
Swedish jewellery and portrait miniature in Leominster sale
03 September 2018A demi-parure of mid-18th century Swedish gold jewellery offered by Brightwells (22% buyer’s premium) in Leominster was accompanied by a painted portrait miniature of the original owner wearing the set. The miniature, although uninscribed, was dated 1845.
Snake symbol of eternal love warms auctioneer's heart in south London
03 September 2018Far more fluent in the language of jewellery and stones, the Georgians and Victorians would have immediately made the link between snakes and eternal love. The ouroboros – a serpent swallowing its own tail – was commonly understood as a symbol of eternity.
Sale season opens in west London and Salisbury
03 September 2018Ahead of its season-opening September 18 jewellery sale, Chiswick Auctions invited Jessica Diamond, the suitably-named jewellery editor for 'Condé Nast Traveller', to pick her top 10 lots from the catalogue.
Bidding for a little history
03 September 2018Forthcoming jewellery auction highlights at home and abroad – from the first ‘smart’ watch to the first female mayor in the British Empire.
Ancient and medieval jewels acquired by Gas Board engineer in 1960s shine in Derby auction
03 September 2018A remarkable collection of early rings was offered by Hansons (20% buyer’s premium) in Etwall, Derbyshire, this summer.
Ivory removed from Chippendale commode before Christie's sale
27 August 2018Ivory elements of an important piece of Chippendale furniture were removed prior to its appearance at auction earlier this year, ATG has learned.
Pick of the Week: Trinidad painting sails into Cumbrian auction
20 August 2018A ship painting by the artist regarded as the first great Trinidadian painter, Michel-Jean Cazabon (1813-88), surfaced for sale at Cumbrian auction house PFK earlier this month.
Leo Kaplan sale tests transatlantic ceramics taste
20 August 2018After 49 years of trading in Manhattan, ceramics and glass dealer Leo Kaplan Ltd closed its doors earlier this year.
Sotheby's place £5-7m estimate on pair to ‘Bainbridge vase’
20 August 2018The pair to the famous ‘Bain bridge vase’ – knocked down at £43m in 2010 but later sold for half that sum – has come to market. Sotheby’s will sell the near identical vase, that has a century-long provenance, in Hong Kong in the autumn
Trengoff’s bottle brings seal of approval at Reeman Dansie
20 August 2018The most desirable of all sealed bottles are those that are both named and dated. It is the possibility for geneaological research that fires many collectors.
A £7500 toast to the Dutch East India Company
20 August 2018A valuation day find for Kingham & Orme (20% buyer’s premium), this Dutch-engraved East India Company baluster goblet c.1760, took a multi-estimate £7500 in Evesham.
Ex-Bonhams specialists launch new saleroom in Los Angeles
20 August 2018Downtown Los Angeles has a new mid-market fine art auction house, formed by a group of ex-Bonhams specialists.