Innholdsfortegnelse for MAY 2016 i Homes & Antiques

There is one thing that seems to unite everyone I’ve ever met who loves to buy antiques and vintage. A psychology that spans from the high-end auction connoisseur to the thrifty car boot sale rootler – we all love a bargain. And no one likes to think that they are ever paying over the odds for their purchases, whether they are calculated investments or made from the heart on a whim. So, this issue we decided to add to the roster of wily ways that you can bag a bargain with our guide to buying affordable antiques (p143). One area that is currently fashionable and affordable to invest in is art deco. Learn more in our preview of the Jazz Age and Clarice Cliff pieces about to go to auction…

An inspired move All my life I have lived in modest semis and now I am moving into an apartment in a converted 1869 boarding school. But what furniture would be best? Seeking inspiration, I picked up the March issue of Homes & Antiques and all my questions were answered. Grand homes to check out for styles, advice on places to buy from and how to buy. After a lesson from Drew Pritchard on how to ‘speak antique’ and with your guide to antiques shopping, I’m planning a series of trips to find what I want. I know this will take time, so I’ll be buying next month’s H&A for more help and inspiration and taking out a subscription as a house warming present. Thank you for just the push…

THE FINE PRINT Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood Fine Art sale 19th–20th April The work of artist Eric Ravilious is more popular than ever following the retrospective of his watercolours at Dulwich Picture Gallery last summer. This typically graphic Ravilious design, printed on to a child’s handkerchief, is estimated at £200 to £300. * 01392 413100; bhandl.co.uk BALANCING ACT Tennants Spring Fine Art sale 8th–9th April Bronze gures by the Romanian artist Demétre Chiparus (1886–1947) are highly sought after. This beautiful statuette is called ‘Equilibrium’ and is in green patinated bronze. It carries an estimate of £6,000 to £8,000. * 01969 623780; tennants.co.uk A SALE OF NOTE LET THE MUSIC PLAY Once in a blue moon, special sales come up that mark the enduring passion of a great collector. Such an…

BUY Regency period cut glass from the early 19th century is extremely affordable at the moment. Once the wedding gift of choice, it fell out of favour but is ripe for resurgence. A good pair of decanters can be picked up from as little as £100 at auction. Heavy cut glass bowls are often even cheaper and make a wonderful centrepiece. SELL Drinking glasses of the mid-18th century are the focus of many a glass collector currently. English glass is favoured strongly over continental, and glasses with contemporary engraving (beware examples engraved in the 19th or even 20th century) are especially desirable. Prices are even stronger if the engraving includes a date or name.…

Norbert Wolf’s encyclopedic coverage of art deco features spread upon spread of stunning architecture, jewellery, craft and furniture. He looks at the movement’s influence right up to the present day. (Prestel, £29.99) The V&A’s coffee table tome is dedicated in particular to the Jazz Age period of art deco. It focuses on the hedonism of the age and its impact on the style of everything from ocean liners to skyscrapers. (V&A Publishing, £40) For those looking to start collecting art deco work, Demétre Chiparus is a name to look out for. Relatively unknown until around 25 years ago, his sculptures have now become a visual signature for the period. (ACC Publishing, £65)…

MAY • 5th Fine Art & Antiques, Philip Serrell, Barnard’s Green Road, Malvern, Worcs. 01684 892314; serrell.com • 6th–17th Picasso Ceramics, Christie’s Online, 020 7930 6074; christies.com • 10th Asian Art, Sworders, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mount tchet, Essex. 01279 817778; sworder.co.uk • 10th Charles Miller – Maritime, 25 Blythe Road, London. 020 7806 5530; charlesmillerltd.com • 11th Books, Maps & Postcards, Tennants, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire. 01969 623780; tennants.co.uk • 11th Printed Books, Maps & Documents, Dominic Winter, Mallard House, Broadway Lane, South Cerney, Glos. 01285 860006; dominicwinter.co.uk • 12th Art & Design from 1860, Chef ns, Clifton House, 1 & 2 Clifton Road, Cambridge. 01223 213343; chef ns.co.uk • 14th Country House Sale, Tennants, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire. 01969 623780; tennants.co.uk • 17th & 18th Asian Art,…

TISBURY BROCANTE The spirit of the vide-grenier will be in Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 2nd May as dealers and Antiques Roadshow experts offer bargains galore. 01747 870525; tisburybrocante.co.uk PETWORTH PARK ANTIQUES FAIR Find classical antiques in abundance in the Capability Brown landscape of Petworth Park from 6th to 8th May. Last year’s inaugural fair was a hit and the second shouldn’t disappoint. 01797 252030; petworthparkfair.com ‘AT HOME’ AT YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK YSP’s exhibition of work celebrating domestic spaces, including that of Yoko Ono and Damien Hirst, has been extended. 01924 832631; ysp.co.uk…

NEW ‘Jaipur’ lantern, £55, Marks & Spencer. 0845 302 1234; marksand spencer.com OLD Agra rug, c1900, £1,800, Pars Rug Gallery. 01794 524040; 1stdibs.com NEW ‘Ambala’ square cushion, £59, Iqrup + Ritz. 020 8144 6801; iqrupandritz.co.uk NEW ‘Arian’ mirror, £220, Out There Interiors. 020 8099 7443; outthereinteriors.com NEW Punched metal pendant light, £180, BHS. 0844 411 6000; bhs.co.uk OLD Indian reverse glass painting of a maharaja, c1860, £380, Gallery Forty One. 020 3784 2435; katethurlow.co.uk OLD Pair of Indian elephants (one shown), £4,500, Lassco Brunswick House. 020 7394 2100; lassco.co.uk OLD Vintage sari kantha quilt, £165, Decorator’s Notebook. 0845 474 1747; decorators notebook.co.uk OLD Vintage brass lassi cups, £26.95 each, Nkuku. 01803 866847; nkuku.com NEW ‘Maharani’ curved dining bench, £399, John Lewis. 08456 049049; johnlewis.com NEW ‘Herbert’ pouffe, £89, Swoon Editions.…

Over a period of 40 years, Pat and Alan Firth spent all their spare cash on collecting contemporary silver, jewellery and 20th-century studio ceramics for display inside their modest bungalow in Leeds. ‘We don’t take holidays and we don’t run a car,’ said Alan before his death in 2015. They spent about £27,000 on pottery alone, including pieces by Bernard Leach, Michael Cardew, Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie, Lucie Rie, Hans Coper and many other studio potters. The Firth collection was consigned to Adam Partridge Auctioneers and over the course of a 10-hour sale took £861,460 – eight times the value of the Firths’ bungalow. A total of 21 Coper ceramics made £426,000, with the most valuable, a 1975 ovoid form, selling for £43,500.…

Antiques for Everyone, Birmingham NEC, B40 1NT. 0844 581 0827; antiquesforeveryone.co.uk ‘This is the best fair in the country, with antiques from £10 to many thousands. It takes place three times a year, in April, July and December, and we never miss it,’ says Erna. Bath Decorative Antiques Fair, The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath, BA2 4EU. 01278 784912; bathdecorative antiquesfair.co.uk ‘This is another one of our favourite fairs. It has a wonderful atmosphere and there’s something for the collector and the decorator. It takes place once a year, usually every March. It’s where we see and buy folk art.’ The Canterbury Auction Galleries, 40 Station Road West, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8AN. 01227 763337; thecanterburyauction galleries.com ‘Tony Pratt has built up this independent auction house. He’s knowledgeable and trustworthy. We…

Laboratori PBP, Corso Stada Nuova, 126 Corso Carlo Alberto, Paveri, Italy. +39 0382 27743. ‘I love the selection of vintage objects in this fashion and interiors shop in Paveri,’ says Carlo. L’Antiquarie de San Pantaleo, Sophie e Gianni Scolari, Via Caprera 12, Sanpantaleo, Olbia, Sardinia ‘It is possible to discover some real oddities in this intriguing place.’ Libreria Cardano, Via Cardano 48/52, Pavia. +39 0382 23377; cardano.it ‘This atmospheric shop sells a great selection of antique books.’…

1 TAILOR THE LOOK Your choice of window treatment has a direct bearing on the look and feel of a room, so focus on scale and proportion. ‘It is also essential to consider the character of heritage decor and choose finishes to reflect this and highlight period features,’ says Nicola Brumfitt, of Prestigious Textiles. Neutrals offer a fail-safe option, while traditional prints or stripes ensure longevity. ‘Larger windows allow for large pattern repeats and dramatic fabrics,’ says Brumfitt. Simplifying finishes and designs – try blinds or crisp full-length drapes – can work well on smaller apertures, and help accentuate architectural detail or decorative glazing. Conversely, decorative headings, luxurious layers, prints or pelmets, can all help inject character. 2 FACTOR IN THE FUNCTIONAL How you dress your windows affects more than…

• Bluebellgray 0141 221 0724; bluebellgray.com • California Shutters 0800 195 0196; californiashutters.co.uk • Clarke & Clarke 01706 242010; clarke-clarke.co.uk • Clement Browne 01702 667291; clementbrowne.co.uk • The Curtain Exchange 01225 422078; thecurtainexchange.co.uk • Divinely Vintage 07971 886664; divinelyvintage.co.uk • Donna Flower donna ower.com • Duette 0800 066 3662; duette.co.uk • Emily Burningham 020 7431 0361; emilyburningham.com • Etsy etsy.com • The Fabric Box 0844 8118280; thefabricbox.co.uk • GP & J Baker 01202 266999; gpjbaker.com • Handmade 01625 837 404; handmaderetail.co.uk • Harlequin 0845 123 6805; harlequin.uk.com • Heide Hendricks heidehendricks.com • Hillarys 0800 916 6524; hillarys.co.uk • Ian Mankin 020 7722 0997; ianmankin.co.uk • James Hare 01132 431204; james-hare.com • Jane Churchill 020 7318 6000; janechurchill.com • Jessica Light 020 7256 1157; jessicalight.co.uk • John Lewis 03456 049 049;…

The Paris fair of 1925 The arrival of an art deco style first became evident in Paris in 1925 at the influential world fair, the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which was visited by 16 million people between April and October of that year. With the world in recovery from a shatteringly destructive war, visitors came to witness the very latest in modern art and design – paintings, furnishings, homewares, jewellery, the decorative arts – made in countries as diverse as Austria, Britain, Denmark, Russia and Sweden. The show had a global impact and the style that evolved from it became known as ‘jazz modern’, ‘moderne’, or ‘zig-zag modern’ – the term art deco wasn’t coined until the 1960s. During the 1930s, the art deco look progressed…

A couple of times a year a work by one of the greatest sculptors of the modern age will find its way into the hands of India Phillips. Auguste Rodin (1840- 1917) carved great monumental statues celebrating the human body and exploring the human condition – most famously The Thinker and The Kiss – and is probably eclipsed in fame as a sculptor only by Michelangelo (whom he studied and admired). Handling Rodin’s work on a regular basis is without doubt a rare privilege, but as the head of impressionist and modern art at Bonhams, it is something that India does on a regular basis, for as well as being one of the greats, Rodin was also a commercially successful artist who had his work reproduced in bronze, many, many…

SHOPS AND CENTRES Catherine Southon, Antiques Road Trip specialist and auctioneer • In big antiques centres avoid the glitzy cabinets and head for the dusty corners and shelves where the best bargains hide. • Don’t just look at things at eye level – look underneath tables and on top of cabinets, shelves and dressers. • Ask if there’s anything new that’s just come in, but do it in a friendly way. • If a price ticket is faded, the item has been kicking around for too long so negotiate on price. The dealer will probably want to get shot of it. • Centres often give a standard discount of 10 per cent on items, but ask if they could give you a better deal. If the…

A harmonious blend of Roman ruins and Georgian architecture, Bath has been a mecca for pleasure pilgrims for over 2,000 years, from the founding of the Roman Baths in the first century to the arrival of 19th-century socialites. Many of its spectacular buildings, built from Bath stone, are iconic, from the Pump Rooms and the Abbey to the rows of neo-classical houses that form the Circus and the Royal Crescent. You can realise the dream of owning a period property at the workshop of architectural model maker Timothy Richards (timothyrichards.com). His beguiling plaster productions of landmark buildings have sold at Sotheby’s and Christie’s. Near the Royal Crescent, Margarets Buildings embraces a cluster of independent traders including Jonathan Potter, who relocated his antique maps business to Bath last year after 45…

STUDIO POTTERY Proli c potter Bernard Leach estimated that he made 100,000 pots in his lifetime p46 CLARICE CLIFF Cliff’s pottery peaked when Christie’s sold a charger for £34,000 in 2003. Discover why it’s affordable again p118 AUGUSTE RODIN Discover the latest auction record set by this great modern sculptor, responsible for The Thinker and The Kiss p136 SURVIVAL GUIDE Can’t afford a Tiffany lamp but would like an affordable alternative? Discover our unsung heroes of design p143 WINDOWS How to take a cue from history to transform your windows, from heritage fabrics to sash windows p105 Follow us... FOLLOW THE H&A TEAM… … on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for regular updates and to nd out which fairs we’ll be visiting…

• That Photo Gal @VintageHomeShop lovely cheerful #spring delivery from @homes_antiques! • Fab backdrop @CosiHomewares loves grey, fab backdrop to lots of #colours • @DecorDawg Great article by @DrewPritchard in @homes_antiques when you sleep in your van nobody can hear you dream or is it scream? #coldnoseclub • @Crafts Council UK Congrats to #Hothouse2016maker @RMalinDesign who features in the new @homes_antiques! • @The Ceramics Studio Check out @homes_antiques video on our artist in residence @RMalinDesign and how she makes her work #porcelain • @teabirdUK Just exquisite! Blue-and-white always fresh! @homes_antiques • Shufflebotham @sbwallpaper23h Great read @homes_antiques on restoring #Victorian Homes. Worth a look if you’re starting a period property reno: bit.ly/1nrfuMP Facebook facebook.com/homesantiques • Instagram @homes_antiques • Pinterest pinterest.com/homesantiques • Twitter @homes_antiques…

POT LUCK Early 19th-century mahogany bedside pot cupboard.1stdibs.co.uk £895 MINT CONDITION ‘Linus’ night stand in mint. 03442 571 888; made.com £99 BLUE MOON ‘Lola’ bedside table in distressed indigo. 020 3137 2464; swooneditions.com £169 ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM ‘Barbar’ elephant side table. 01444 415430; frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk £115 STANDING TALL Empire period bedside cabinet, c1810. 020 7823 4900; timothylangston.com £1,850…

If you have watched Bond films, Downton Abbey, Harry Potter or even EastEnders, you have seen Mylands paint. The company was founded over 130 years ago by John Charles Francis Myland and became the go-to supplier of paint to the film and television industry, thanks to its pioneering use of natural earth pigments in emulsion paint that prevented backdrops looking too shiny on screen. John started out as an apprentice French polisher before he spotted a gap in the market for selling necessary supplies to others in the trade. He set up shop in Stockwell, south London, in 1884 and quickly found a steady stream of customers. Not long after, he opened a factory across the road to manufacture his own paint and polishes. In the 1930s the silver screen…

British bizarre You’ll find a bit of quirkiness at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year. For its second year at the show, Harrods has commissioned garden designer and television presenter Diarmuid Gavin to create a ‘British Eccentrics’ garden. The topiary and bedding juxtapose the elegance of English Arts and Crafts and the mad designs of cartoonist William Heath Robinson. Of course, there will also be the usual run of outstanding floral displays, and this year iconic British hotel The Dorchester will be serving tea. * 24th–28th May. Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, SW3 4SL. 020 3176 5800; rhs.org.uk FAIR CLAY For those who love to buy one-off ceramics and other contemporary craft direct from the makers, Made London Bloomsbury, the new sister event to Made London in Marylebone, is not to…

It’s spine-tingling when you walk into a country house and you know how old or rare a piece is, and it’s not been touched for years Ican’t quite explain it and, believe me, I’ve tried because I’ve been asked why I’m so fascinated by antiques many, many times. What I do know is that, even as a child, there was nothing better than hearing that there was a derelict barn or building that I could explore. The feeling I got racing across the countryside to reach one of these places in north Wales on my bike was the exact same sensation I get now when heading to a great antiques fair such as Newark or Ardingly. You just don’t quite know what you’ll find. Two years ago, we got a…

Where would we be without a spoon for measuring ingredients, serving dinner or scooping out a boiled egg? The spoon has been with us since ancient times, when the Egyptians favoured flint and ivory and the Chinese preferred bone. The ancient Greeks and Romans fashioned their spoons from bronze and silver. In medieval England, most had to be content with cow-horn or wood but, for royalty, only silver or gold would do. In 1300, Edward I ordered silver and gold spoons all the way from Paris for use in the royal household. So special were spoons that one particularly beautiful medieval example made its way into the coronation ceremony. This spoon of silver gilt engraved with acanthus scrolls and studded with pearls is still kept with the Crown Jewels. To…

HOME OF THE MONTH HERE AT H&A we love a bold colour palette. Rich, saturated hues are excellent foils for treasures and artwork, and Helen Cooper and Mike Bradwell’s London home is a masterclass in nailing the combination. Peter York explores the abundant interior, while Judith Miller dissects the antiques…

Michael Cardew was Leach’s talented first apprentice and went on to run his own potteries in Gloucestershire, West Africa and Cornwall. He specialised in slipware and stoneware. His son Seth and grandson Ara followed him The Leach potting dynasty includes Bernard’s son David Leach, who consolidated the financial viability of the pottery in the 1940s by selling Leach standard-wares in Liberty, Heal’s, John Lewis and Peter Jones; Bernard’s grandson John Leach, who trained at the Leach Pottery and now runs the Muchelney Pottery in Somerset; and Janet Leach, Bernard’s third wife, who was already an accomplished potter when she met him and who created monochrome wares The aristocrat and glaze genius Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie was an early Leach apprentice who went on to set up a pottery at her family seat,…

Crystal Palace Antiques. Imperial House, Jasper Road, Crystal Palace, London, SE19 1SG. 020 8480 7042; crystalpalaceantiques.com ‘Crystal Palace Antiques is a great local haunt with floors of antique gems at reasonable prices,’ says Torie. ‘I loved and lost a very old Indian window frame here because I didn’t go for it immediately. It would have made a beautiful mirror frame.’ Jane Newbery, 33 Dulwich Village, London, SE21 7BN. 020 8693 2634; janenewbery.co.uk ‘Jane supports local artists like me. Her main shop sells a wonderfully curated collection of homewares. She has a great eye. I bought one of my bedside tables and the flowery bin under my dressing table there.’ Michele Varian, 27 Howard Street, New York City, New York, 10013, USA. +1 212 343 0033; michelevarian.com ‘I’m lucky enough to…

Everything about a sampler tells you about the life and times of its maker, usually a girl aged between six and 17 years old. As they have a name and a date, they can reveal much about the girl’s schooling, upbringing, wealth and home, whether they were privileged or impoverished, dwelled in a country house or an orphanage. In the 17th to 19th centuries, needlework was deemed an important element of a woman’s education at all levels of society. The most basic samplers, used for schoolwork, depict the alphabet, maps and mathematical tables, while later examples are more pictorial, with intricate stitching portraying houses, rural scenes, verses and biblical extracts. Prices for antique samplers range from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds, depending on condition, colour, complexity of stitches,…

1 Fellows Auctioneers Fellows holds over 100 auctions each year. As specialists in a variety of fields and with an auction to cater for every need, its continually changing inventory makes Fellows a hub of excitement for lovers of watches, jewellery and antiques. Forthcoming sales: 12th May – Antique & Modern Jewellery16th May – Watches & Watch Parts19th May – Fortnightly auction of Jewellery24th May – The Watch Sale Augusta House, 19 Augusta Street,Birmingham, B18 6JA fellows.co.uk 0121 222 7666; 020 7127 4198 2 Midland Furniture Auctions Midland Furniture Auctions holds one of the UK’s biggest weekly furniture auctions every Wednesday in the heart of the country. Packed to the brim with the latest ranges and types of furniture, bidders can expect a fantastic choice and great prices. Conveniently located…

Our selection of the latest furnishing fabrics for the heritage home…

We asked the auctioneer Michael Jeffery to choose a piece of art deco for his own collection, if money were no object. Without pausing, he picked a pair of 34cm high ‘Holly’ vases, [one of which is pictured to the left], designed by Truda Carter for Poole Pottery in the mid 1930s and painted by Ann Hatchard. From 1925, when Carter Stabler Adams [as Poole Pottery was then known] was represented at the influential world fair, Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, the company took up the art deco style, producing ceramics decorated with gazelles, bluebirds and flowers reflecting the ‘jazz modern’ look of geometric shapes, stepping and cloud forms. Says Michael: ‘The Holly vases are a brilliant example of Poole’s abstract art deco style championed…

INTERIORS • Standing on a tidal island at Bigburyon-Sea, south Devon, Burgh Island Hotel was built in 1929 and is a beacon of art deco style inside and out. No wonder the hotel was a favourite with Agatha Christie and Noel Coward. 01548 810514; burghisland.com • Built by millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld, Eltham Palace is a beautiful remnant of decadent art deco style, from its fabulous round wood-panelled entrance hall, to the comfortable living quarters of the Courtaulds’ pet ring-tailed lemur, decorated to resemble a Madagascan rainforest. english-heritage.org.uk • Imagine the Bright Young Things partying when you visit Claridge’s in Mayfair. The 1929 ballroom wing and Brook Street entrance, designed by Oswald Milne in collaboration with Basil Ionides, are pure art deco. 020 7107 8886; claridges.co.uk EXTERIORS • Grade…

Christie’s holds the record price for a work by Rodin sold at auction for this first state cast of Eve. Standing at 173cm tall this huge bronze made by the Rudier Foundry in 1897 sold for $18,969,000 in 2008. Rodin also produced thousands of drawings. This ink, gouache and pencil sketch of Medea was sold by Sotheby’s in 2014 for £134,000. A bronze of Rodin’s explicit Iris, Messenger of the Gods, made by the Rudier Foundry during the artist’s lifetime sold for a staggering £11,573,000 at Sotheby’s on 3rd February this year. This cast of Eternal Spring, is from the ‘first state’, that is the original modelling, so lacks the foliage that Rodin later added, leaving the man’s arm floating in air. It was sold by Sotheby’s in 2015 for…

DAY ONE 1 Lose yourself among more than 6,000 antique maps, charts, plans and reference books at JONATHAN POTTER in Margarets Buildings (closed on Sundays). 2 BEAU NASH has a collection of fine antique silverware from Georgian to 1960s pieces as well as vintage furniture, luggage and statement pieces. 3. The BATH VINTAGE AND ANTIQUES MARKET takes place on the first and last Sunday of every month at Green Park Station. The list of traders is wide so expect everything from art deco to restored Morris Minors and vintage vinyl. 4 Open Monday to Friday, the workshop of TIMOTHY RICHARDS, whose exquisite architectural models have been described as ‘antiques of the future’ is housed in a Victorian schoolhouse. 5 Spend the night in Georgian splendour at DUKES, close to the…

1 The Harrogate Antique and Fine Art Fair Antiques fair A huge range of antiques are on offer at the Harrogate Antique and Fine Art Fair this spring. With everything from fine art and porcelain to stunning jewellery, there is something to interest everyone and experienced dealers on hand to discuss the objects they love. There is ample parking and excellent food on site. A great day out. • Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th April, 11am–6pm (5pm Sunday). Harrogate International Centre, Yorkshire, HG1 5LA harrogateantiquefair.com 01823 323363 2 Galloway Fairs Antiques fair • The Avisford Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair Yapton Lane, Walberton, Arundel, W. Sussex, BN18 0LS Friday 15th–Sunday 17th April Open 10.30am–5pm daily Admission £5 • The Arley Hall Antiques & Fine Art Fair Nr Northwich, Cheshire,…

This spade was passed down to me from my mother’s father. He used it on his allotment in Ilkley. It was originally given to my dad who was not a keen gardener. He was a plumber so used it for mixing concrete. Eventually it was handed down to me. My grandad died in the 1950s and it was pretty old then. It must be about 100 years old now. I still use it but I am quite careful with it. I’m conscious that one day it might snap if I try and dig some heavy object up with it. It has a shaft that is as smooth as silk from years of use. It was made by a small firm based in the Midlands called James Potts & Son. Where…

Ahead of the Woolley & Wallis art deco sale, auctioneer Michael Jeffery picks his favourite lots (page 118) Lawrences Auctioneers’ picture expert Richard Kay is beguiled by a miniature of a mysterious lady (page 12) Lisa Lloyd, an Antiques Roadshow miscellaneous specialist, casts her expert eye over an ivory letter opener (page 12) India Phillips, head of impressionist and modern art at Bonhams, tells us about the genius of Rodin (page 136) Mark Huddleston Head of antiques and fine art, Fellows auction house (p101) Hélène Marraud Head of sculpture & assistant curator, Musée Rodin (p136) Judith Miller Co-founder of Miller’s antiques guides (p64) Drew Pritchard Antiques dealer and television presenter (p31) Marijke Varrall-Jones Director of London auction house Maak (p49) Ben Williams Independent ceramics consultant (p51) Ghislaine Wood V&A curator…

EARLY BIRDS Spring often brings with it a sweet hint of nostalgia – muddy childhood walks and an awe for nature. Sanderson’s new ‘Woodland Chorus’ wallpaper will take you right out of busy day-to-day life. Based on an 18th-century painting, it features favourite British birds, from the woodpecker to the thrush, in three unobtrusive yet fresh colourways. £58 per 10m roll. * 0844 543 9500; sanderson-uk.com STYLE STEER 'Collections are deeply individual things. When buying antiques, look for enduring quality and design. I have always loved overscaled objects, such as monumental bookcases that loom over their surroundings like a Roman skyline.’ Will Fisher, founder and owner of Jamb and Hawker Antiques DECORATING CALM AND COLLECTED When you have a home full of much-loved collectables, a busy background can sometimes be…

As a tribute to Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary, pick from antiques and homewares that celebrate the written word…

Zest is something Sarah Campbell has in spades. Not only do her vibrant designs sing with colour, so does her get-up-and-go attitude to work since the sad death of her sister and long time collaborator, Susan Collier, in 2011. For 50 years the pair worked together as Collier Campbell, famously creating designs for Liberty of London (some of which recently featured in the Liberty in Fashion exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum), Habitat and Marks & Spencer. After Susan’s death, Sarah first compiled a retrospective of their work at the National Theatre and then set to establishing herself as an artist in her own right – or as she likes to put it, a painter of patterns. Her work has now been picked up by West Elm and Michael…

WHERE TO SEE • Centre of Ceramic Art at York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW. 01904 687687; yorkartgallery.org.uk/exhibition/ centre-of-ceramic-art-coca • Ceramic Gallery at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3DE. 01970 622882; aberystwythartscentre.co.uk • Leach Pottery Studio & Museum, Higher Stennack, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2HE. 01736 799703; leachpottery.com • Lisa Sainsbury Ceramics Collection at Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ. 01603 593199; scva.ac.uk • Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL. 020 7942 2000; vam.ac.uk WHAT TO READ • British Studio Ceramics by Paul Rice (The Crowood Press) • British Studio Pottery: The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection by Oliver Watson (Phaidon) • The Crafts in Britain in the 20th Century by Tanya Harrod (Yale…

About Judith JUDITH MILLER is a leading antiques expert and co-founder of Miller’s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide . One of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow experts, she’s written more than 100 books on antiques, collectables and interior design. Here, she chooses her favourite room of the houses featured in this issue and explains what makes it so interesting. 1920s CHAIR This French upholstered armchair draws on both contemporary and historical sources for inspiration. The blind mortise-and-tenon construction is in the Arts and Crafts tradition, while its form – notably the curved, sloped back and tapered arm-post legs – echoes the work of leading 1920s and early 1930s French furniture designers such as Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann and Paul Follot, who while helping to develop art…

Profile THE OWNER Erna Hiscock, dealer and leading authority on English needlework, lives here with her partner John Shepherd, who deals in pottery – from Anglo-Saxon to 20th-century (ernahiscockantiques.com). THE PROPERTY This late 17th-century, Grade II-listed Kentish farmhouse has ve bedrooms, two bathrooms, hallway, kitchen, dining room, sitting room, library and a separate garden room. I wouldn’t know how to live with modern things,’ says Erna Hiscock. ‘I’ve only ever lived with old things.’ Both Erna and her partner John Shepherd are antiques dealers so it’s no surprise to find that their home – a late 17th-century Kentish farmhouse – is filled with intriguing finds, from a 19th-century Turkish Iznik olive pot to a palm and bamboo-effect 1920s toleware chandelier. Erna specialises in English needlework while John deals in pottery,…

Profile THE OWNERS Riccardo Bianchi and Carlo Paveri – both stylists – live here with their dog Papo. THE PROPERTY The oldest part of this Italian farmhouse (or cascina) dates from 1871. The house has a kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom, office and two bedrooms spread over three floors. For Carlo Paveri it was the peach-hued rambling roses that did it. ‘He saw the wall full of roses covering the exterior of the house and was electrified,’ says Riccardo Bianchi, of the moment that he and Carlo discovered their 19th-century cascina in the northern Italian province of Pavia, Lombardy, in 2002. ‘We were on a weekend break, sourcing items for our interior styling business when we came across this farmhouse. Carlo stopped the car, got out, rang the doorbell…

WARDROBES From a king’s dressing room to a soldier’s hiding place, the wardrobe has served many purposes in history PAGE 124 WINDOWS Spring is here so freshen up your windows and let the light flood in. We show you how in our detailed eight-step guide PAGE 105 ART DECO Fan of the Jazz Age and Clarice Cliff? Then you won’t want to miss the Woolley & Wallis annual art deco sale PAGE 118 JEWELLERY Audrey Hepburn and Tiffany, Elizabeth Taylor and Bulgari – we look at the stars and their favourite jewellery houses PAGE 130…

For period authenticity, antique curtains and fabrics offer unique, timeless appeal, plus the possibility to bag a bargain. Online, you’ll find specialist dealers, such as Divinely Vintage, Donna Flower and Vintage Home, as well as auction sites or marketplaces, including eBay and Etsy. Alternatively, keep things local and check out vintage stores, fairs, flea markets or charity shops. On the high street The Curtain Exchange buys and sells high quality secondhand curtains. Popular patterns include flora and fauna, retro prints, vintage lace and rare or discontinued designs by established names, such as Sanderson or Liberty. However, do check curtain measurements and pworkmanship – and always ensure that you have a good look for signs of damage or fading. ‘Red dyed areas tend to be the most delicate and fade faster…

The 1930s was a golden era for the Scottish art glass brand Monart, which was produced at the Perth glassworks of Moncrieff, a company whose main business was the production of heat-resistant engineering and laboratory glass. A Spanish glassblower at Moncrieff, Salvador Ysart, experimented with making some art glass forms that were then championed by the factory proprietor’s wife, Isobel Moncrieff. The name Monart is the result of combining both surnames, and the brand was launched in 1924, soon to be sold in upmarket stores such as Liberty. This richly coloured vase in the ‘N’ shape, sold for £230 at Fieldings last spring, against an estimate of £250 to £300.…

AUCTIONS • Bonhams Decorative Arts from 1860 sales. 020 7447 7447; bonhams.com • Fieldings Centuries of Glass, and Decades of Design sales. 01384 444140; eldingsauctioneers.co.uk • Lyon & Turnbull The Scottish sales for Monart glass. 0131 557 8844; lyonandturnbull.com • Woolley & Wallis Clarice Cliff & 20th Century Design, and British Art Pottery sales. 01722 424500; woolleyandwallis.co.uk FAIRS & DEALERS • Abbey Fairs, The Charmandean Centre, Forest Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 9HS. 07812 510298: abbeyfairs.co.uk • Art Deco Fair at Eltham Palace, Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, London SE9 5QE. 0370 333181; english-heritage.org.uk • Jeroen Markies Art Deco, East Sussex. 01342 824980; jeroenmarkies.co.uk. • The Design Gallery, 5 The Green, Westerham, Kent. 01959 561234; designgallery.co.uk…

AUDREY HEPBURN and Tiffany & Co When Audrey Hepburn began her career in Hollywood, her unforgettable facial features and gamine-like figure created an ingénue effect that served her well for her early roles. In the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in which she plays New York party girl Holly Golightly, she peers into the windows of Tiffany & Co’s store on Fifth Avenue at the break of morning – while still in the gown she wore the night before, strands of pearls with a floral clasp in the centre, a tiara, sunglasses and opera-length gloves. She created an aura around diamonds and the jewellery house, and secured its place in movie history. Hepburn was also one of only two people to ever wear the 128-carat Tiffany Yellow Diamond, one…

What can be better than browsing for antiques at a fair, at a multi-dealer centre, at an auction, or even a car boot sale early on a Sunday morning? The hunt is sociable, fun, unpredictable and you get to meet lots of interesting people along the way. Show enthusiasm for an item and most sellers will be happy to go into more detail about it, revealing known provenance, information about the maker, how the object was used in the past, for instance. An appreciation of history and craftsmanship is often why dealers and specialists come into the business in the first place, and more often than not they are collectors too, so will share your sense of intrigue about antiques. We all like to bag a bargain, of course, and…

• 18TH-CENTURY PORCELAIN Floral, feminine, made for the French royal court, Sèvres porcelain of the second half of the 18th century is becoming fashionable with younger collectors willing to pay big prices for special pieces. For instance, this gilded coffee cup and saucer dating to around 1755 and in fabulous condition sold at Woolley & Wallis auction house for £3,200. For porcelain that is as charming but more affordable, consider English Worcester tableware of the later 18th century. Worcester was good, though not royal, quality, with decoration inspired by exported Chinese porcelain. This pretty coffee cup and saucer, c1775–78, sold for £140. • CHILDREN’S BOOKS In the world of children’s literature, illustrator Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) has legions of fans for his works. First editions from limited print runs command the…

NORTH & SCOTLAND 1st Fancy That? Vintage Bazaar, Inglis Hall, Edzell, Angus, DD9 7TF. 11am–4pm. 01356 648732; wefancythat.co.uk 6th–8th Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Arley Hall, Near Knutsford, Cheshire, CW9 6NA. 10.30am–5pm. £5. 01423 522122; gallowayfairs.co.uk 7th–8th Edinburgh Antiques & Collectors Fair, The Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB. 10am–4.30pm (closes 4pm Sunday). £4. 01636 676531; b2bevents.info 8th The Vintage Village, Stockport Covered Market Hall, Market Place, Stockport SK1 1EU. 10am–4pm. Free. thevintagevillage.co.uk 13th–15th The Decorative Home & Salvage Show, Ripley Castle, Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 3AY. 10am–5pm Saturday and Sunday. £5. 01298 27493; asfairs.com 14th Antiques & Collectors Fair, Albert Halls, Albert Place, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, FK8 2QL. 10am–4pm. £1.50. 01764 654555; scotfairs.co.uk 27th–29th Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 4TS.…

A Alternative Flooring 01264 335111; alternative ooring.com Annie Wharton 07901 555254; anniewharton.co.uk Antiques for Everyone 0844 581 0827; antiquesforeveryone.co.uk Appley Hoare 020 7351 5206; appleyhoare.com Aston Matthews 020 7226 7220; astonmatthews.co.uk B Bath Decorative Antiques Fair 01278 784912; bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk Below Stairs of Hungerford 01488 682317; belowstairs.co.uk Beyond France 01285 641867; beyondfrance.co.uk Bonhams 020 7447 7447; bonhams.com Briggs & Oliver 01484 686092; briggsandoliver.com Brownrigg 01666 500887; brownrigg-interiors.co.uk C The Canterbury Auction Galleries 01227 763337; thecanterburyauction galleries.com Carina Ciscato 07748 970148; carinaciscato.com Cider House Galleries 01883 742198; ciderhousegalleries.com Circus Antiques 020 8968 8244; circusantiques.co.uk Crystal Palace Antiques 020 8480 7042; crystalpalaceantiques.com D Dash and Albert at Kensington Design 020 7938 2000; kensingtondesign.com F Farrow & Ball 01202 876141; farrow-ball.com Fermoie 01672 513723; fermoie.com The French Depot 01424 423703; thefrenchdepot.com The French House…