Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Portrait miniature sleeper stars in our pick of five auction highlights
12 May 2023ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a portrait miniature that sold for 160-times estimate after bidders identified it as an Indian prince by the great John Smart.
Exceptional 18th century pocket watch is among five lots to watch
08 May 2023With estimates from £400, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
An astronomical price paid for Mamluk manuscript
08 May 2023A 13th century Mamluk (Egyptian or Syrian) manuscript on astronomy sold for a surprise £140,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) in south London on April 28.
Definitely not selling for buttons: Lucie Rie moulds make £4200
08 May 2023Two moulds for making buttons, given by studio potter Lucie Rie (1902-95) to her cleaning lady, were sold at a London auction on March 29.
Renowned candlestick back in the limelight at Stowmarket sale
08 May 2023Estimated at £15,000-20,000, this 8½in (22cm) Elizabeth I or James I pewter bell-based candlestick sold to a private UK collector bidding online for £25,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) as part of the Chapman collection at Bishop & Miller in Stowmarket on April 27.
The incredible story of Aristophil
08 May 2023Involving a string of spectacular works, the saga of the collapsed French firm is worth a novel itself
From Horatio Nelson to a Hebrew bible and Ulysses to the BFG: a selection of upcoming auction highlights
08 May 2023Stand-out lots to watch out for in UK, Irish, European and US sales of books and works on paper
Pick of the week: Coconut cup could be booty from infamous pirate Black Bart’s defeat
08 May 2023Rising to be Admiral of the Fleet during the War of the Spanish Succession, Sir Chaloner Ogle (1680-1750) had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy.
Crowning glory: George II coronation relic rings a bell
01 May 2023George II coronation bell has considerable regal appeal at £7200
A Victorian majolica dish is among six lots to watch
01 May 2023With estimates from £100, here are six previews of upcoming items.
Pick of the week: Support band turned out to be The Sex Pistols
01 May 2023This rare rock and pop poster advertises a performance by ‘Bazooka Joe’ with ‘Support Band’ at the common room of St Martin’s Art School on November 6, 1975. Entrance was 50p.
UK still holds its own despite overseas focus
01 May 2023Once the centre of the Asian art trade, and still the repository for some of the most knowledgeable dealers on the subject, the London market has weakened in recent years.
Auspicious aspects of vase for sale from a private collector
01 May 2023The Asian art sale at Halls in Shrewsbury on May 11 features this 10½in (27cm) pink ground famille rose vase.
Boxwood netsuke deer among lots at Lyon & Turnbull
01 May 2023The sale of Asian art at Lyon & Turnbull in London on May 16 includes this late Edo or Meiji period boxwood netsuke of a recumbent deer signed Masakiyo.
Guanyin on hand thanks to a noted collector
01 May 2023This rare 2ft 7in (78cm) high white marble stele depicting the Buddhist goddess Guanyin predates was carved in the Northern Qi dynasty, (550-577AD), around the time of the Sutton Hoo hoard.
Spotlight on the Tomkinson collection
01 May 2023This special edition of A Japanese Collection (1898) by Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921) is one of the first 25 copies printed on Indian paper and is signed and dedicated by the author to his daughter Dora.
Wucai wine cups bring flower power
01 May 2023This pair of wucai floral wine cups have Guangxu marks and are of the period (1875-1908).
Lewis Carroll’s ‘child friends’ photographs sell to French dealer
01 May 2023A series of photographs taken by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-98) – aka Lewis Carroll – has sold for £94,400 as part of a timed online auction at Sworders.