Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i Homes & Antiques

What kind of antiques shopper are you? A browser, a rummager, a dedicated collector? You might be a whimsical decorator who loves to seek out unusual pieces for an ever evolving, eclectic home; an avid enthusiast for a particular era; or someone who loves the thrill of the hunt for the perfect piece to complete a collection. You may simply have discovered that antique furniture provides a quality alternative to flat-pack pieces at a similar price, or that mid-century originals win hands down over high street copies. Whether you buy with your head (for investment or longevity) or with your heart (and fall for wildly impractical impulse buys that you just have to take home), there is common ground. What unites us all is a desire for variety, choice, provenance…

RICHARD KAY Picture expert at Lawrences Auctioneers This portrait has probably been executed in watercolour on ivory – most of the best miniatures are – and I agree about the coarsely painted clothing, which may indicate the work of only a fairly minor hand. In addition, the picture appears to have faded from too much time in the sunlight and now has an overall brownish tone, which isn’t appealing. It dates from around 1830–1840 and is broadly similar to some works by Sir William Charles Ross but may be unattributable to a specific hand. If the frame isn’t gold, it is probably pinchbeck (zinc and copper alloy) rather than pure copper. I don’t believe this portrait depicts Lord Byron, who had thick curly dark hair and was the very image…

Perfect for a gourmet picnic, or basking in the weekend sunshine, these herringbone picnic rugs by Tolly McRae are handwoven in the British Isles and come complete with a leather carry strap. Larger and softer than your average outdoor rug, they’re also great to wrap around your shoulders and knees as the evening cools. For your chance to win one of two blankets, send your name and contact details on a card marked ‘Tolly McRae blanket’ to the address on page 153 before 26th July 2017. * tollymcrae.co.uk…

Filled with inspiring ideas and clever tips, Rebecca Atwood explains how you can effectively decorate with pattern at home. (Penguin Random House, £28) Peter Koepke takes an intimate look inside the world’s largest archive of heritage patterns and textiles, The Design Library. (Phaidon, £49.95) The Pattern Base explores over 550 unique textile and surface designs by some of the world’s most up-and-coming young artists. (Thames & Hudson, £19.95)…

Perhaps you would prefer to soak in a claw-footed, roll-top bathtub with heritage-inspired wall-mounted taps and an elegant beech vanity unit. Or maybe you’ve always longed for a sleek and streamlined modern tub, complete with a contemporary bath rack to rest a book or magazine. Whatever your design preference, Victoria + Albert Baths has been crafting unique and long-lasting bathtubs and bathroom accessories for over 20 years, and each piece is designed to work in complete harmony with a range of bathroom looks and styles. In 1996, South African brothers Nico and Alwyn Neethling discovered and developed a unique material made from a mixture of volcanic limestone and resin, which proved to be strong, practical and far superior to the heavy cast-iron and acrylic designs that had previously dominated the…

• 1st Antiques & Interiors, Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood, St Edmund’s Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU. 01392 413100; bhandl.co.uk • 3rd Antiques, Furnishings & Collectors’ Items, Bristol Auction Rooms, The Old Brewery, Baynton Road, Ashton, Bristol, BS3 2EB. 0117 953 1603; bristolauctionrooms.co.uk • 7th Antiques, Silver & Collectables, Fellows, Augusta House, 19 Augusta St, Birmingham, B18 6JA. 0121 212 2131; fellows.co.uk • 7th Furniture & Works of Art, Mallams Abingdon, Dunmore Court, Wootton Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6BH. 01235 462840; mallams.co.uk • 8th Jewellery, Silver, Antiques & Interiors, Bellmans (Winchester branch), The Red House, Hyde Street, Winchester, SO23 7DX. 01962 861789; bellmans.co.uk • 10th The Oriental Sale, Cheffins, Clifton House, 1 & 2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7EA. 01223 213343; cheffins.co.uk • 11th Rugs & Carpets, Tea Caddies &…

NELSON AND NORFOLK Norwich Castle Museum focuses on an array of artefacts connected with Admiral Nelson. Until 1st October. 01603 493625; museums.norfolk.gov.uk FESTIVAL OF QUILTS 2017 Admire the art of quilting at Birmingham’s NEC. Book online quoting HOME17 for discounted entry. 10th–13th August. thefestival ofquilts.co.uk INSPIRING PLACES At a pop-up gallery in London’s Spitalfields view works inspired by iconic British landmarks. 29th June–4th July. 01628 825920; landmarktrust.org.uk…

NEW ‘Facet Bright’ salad servers, £30, Robert Welch. 01386 840522; robertwelch.com OLD Silver salad servers with ivory handles c1890, £325, Piers Rankin. 020 7354 3349; antiquesilverlondon.com NEW ‘Nixon’ salad servers, £128, Jonathan Adler. 020 7589 9563; uk.jonathanadler.com NEW ‘Krenit’ salad servers, £15, Amara. 0800 587 7645; amara.com NEW ‘Mediterraneo’ salad servers, £39.95, Alessi. 020 7518 9091; store.alessi.com OLD Minton salad servers with matching bowl (not shown), £29, Manor On The March at Etsy. etsy.com OLD George Adams sterling silver servers, £750, Michael Sedler Antiques. 020 7430 1949; sedlerantiques.com NEW ‘Snake’ salad servers, £19.50, Marks & Spencer. 0333 014 8000; marksandspencer.com NEW ‘Bambu’ salad servers, £22, Oka. 0844 815 7380; oka.com OLD Victorian silver and glass salad servers, £545, AC Silver. 0191 240 2645; acsilver.co.uk NEW Wooden salad servers, £24, Oliver…

1 Tennants Auctioneers With over 40 Specialist sales a year, three major Fine Art sales, country house sales and almost weekly antiques and interiors sales, Tennants is firmly established as a leading regional auction house. Forthcoming sales: 15th July – Summer Fine Art Sale 16th July – Cars & Automobilia 21th July – Toys & Models; Sporting & Fishing 26th July – Coins & Banknotes 29th July – Antiquities & Sculpture The Auction Centre, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5SG tennants.co.uk 01969 623780 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 off…

POCKET-SIZED PERFECTION Silver and enamel vesta case, 1893 Smoking cigarettes became fashionable from the 1880s and vesta cases – named after Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth and home – were designed to hold the safety matches that lit them. These little cases were produced in great numbers from the 1880s to the 1920s when they were superseded by petrol-fuelled lighters. Neat and small, they appeal to silver collectors and there’s a vast array to choose from, including engraved and chased surfaces and pictorial designs. This colourful case, featuring an enamel painting of a rower on the river, was made by Constantine & Floyd of Birmingham at premises in Caroline Street, and sold for £300 at a Woolley & Wallis silver sale last October. THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY…

As clients gathered at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries on 28th March this year, a mounting sense of expectation rippled through the air. Glossy catalogues in hands, bidders took their seats to await the sale of property belonging to the Forbes of Pitsligo, gathered from Fettercairn House in the Scottish Highlands. At 10am, the aptly named auctioneer Henry House – first of four auctioneers to conduct the sale – stepped onto the podium and offered up lot 1, a clutch of 19th-century canes and shooting sticks that quickly sold for £3,500. The auction of 412 lots was out of the traps, finishing some eight hours later and making £2.4m, tripling the pre-sale estimate, and drawing in 1,000 bidders from across 43 countries. ‘In some ways the Fettercairn House auction is…

I’m Herefordshire born and bred. My job takes me all over the UK but I’ve almost always lived within a stone’s throw of the Black Mountains. There are still untouched corners of the county, which is partly why I like it here so much. I have two children (eight and 10), and a very outdoorsy husband and we love hiking and walking. We live right on the River Wye and our children are old enough now to come canoeing with us. The Black and White Trail I live close to the Black and White Trail, which takes in some beautiful villages. The medieval village of Weobley is a firm favourite – it has a little pottery gallery, The Pottery, an old-fashioned post office and the Green Bean Cafe. Other black-and-white…

2–FOR–1 4th–6th Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Stonyhurst College, nr Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 9PZ. 10.30am–5pm. £5. 01423 522122; gallowayfairs.co.uk 2–FOR–FREE 11th–13th The Cotswolds Decorative, Antiques & Art Fair, Westonbirt School, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QG. 11am–5pm. £5. 01278 784912; cooperevents.com 2–FOR–1 18th–20th Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair, The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, N Yorks, HG1 2HU. 10.30am–5pm. £5. 01423 522122; gallowayfairs.co.uk 2–FOR–1 23rd Royal Windsor Racecourse Antiques & Collectors Fair, Royal Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5JJ. 9am–4pm. £3. 07828 772475; bentleysfairs.co.uk 2–FOR–1 Present this page on entry to buy two tickets for the price of one 2–FOR–FREE Present this page on entry to receive two tickets for free…

SALE STORY The Fettercairn estate sale (which included this unique jewel) tripled its estimate and made £2.4m COLONIAL STYLE There’s more than meets the eye to campaign pieces – desks like this one had secret compartments AUCTION FOCUS Silver is making a comeback and is a steal with prices starting in the low hundreds. Snap it up now! ESSENTIAL GUIDE A key decorative element in 19th and 20th-century homes, some original tiles are still in production DESIGN HISTORY We look at the sun lounger, and find that one rescued from the Titanic sold in 2015 for £101,000 Follow us... FOLLOW THE H&A TEAM… … on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for regular updates and to find out which fairs we’ll be visiting…

This enchanting oil, painted c1910 by self-taught Oscar Ricciardi, is expected to fetch £600–£900 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood, 11th–12th July. * 01392 413100; bhandl.co.uk Picasso ceramics from the Madoura Pottery make affordable investments. This plate up for sale 19th–29th June (est £6,000–£8,000) is no exception. * 020 7930 6074; christies.com Up for auction 27th–28th June, this Edwardian table (est £200–£400) was possibly once owned by HRH Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. * 020 8761 2522; roseberys.co.uk…

OLD Original 1950s Cuban travel poster, £1,250, Antikbar. 020 7352 9309; antikbar.co.uk NEW ‘Ruby’ cluster light, £119, Marks & Spencer. 0333 014 8000; marksandspencer.com NEW Blue rattan ‘Peacock’ chair, £565, Puji. 020 8886 3000; puji.com OLD Victorian leather cigar case c1900, £1,100, Bentleys. 020 7730 6832; bentleyslondon.com OLD Reclaimed shutter mirror, £675, Scaramanga. 01334 657642; scaramangashop.co.uk OLD Four vintage cactus sculptures (all over 1m tall), £11,000, A Modern Grand Tour. 01869 810636; amoderngrandtour.com OLD 19th-century painted screen, £5,600, Julia Boston Antiques. 020 7610 6783; juliaboston.com OLD 19th-century French butterfly collection, £1,250, Lorfords. 01666 505111; lorfordsantiques.com OLD Ochre painted sideboard c1920, £1,295, Orchid. 01264 811111; orchidfurniture.co.uk NEW ‘Arrington’ sofa in ‘Chixoy Brocade’ and ‘Volcan Ikat’, £5,950, A Rum Fellow. 020 8245 6779; arumfellow.com OLD 19th-century porcelain parrot, £2,500, Patrick Moorhead. 01273…

HOME OF THE MONTH THE RESTORATION of Barbro Grandelius and Göran Petersson’s beautiful 17th-century Swedish farmhouse in Stora Herrestad has been a labour of love. When not working on the house, Barbro and Göran spend time tending to their garden, often using the light-filled study as a place in which to pot up cuttings.…

Miniature portrait paintings were popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries before the invention of photography, and artists specialising in this genre would tour cities and towns in search of commissions. Portrait miniatures offer the collector a huge range of styles and themes to choose from. They were often executed on wafer-thin sheets of ivory or on card. Sometimes they were set into a brooch and worn, or encased in a leather folding travelling case – especially those commemorating a loved one who had died. These might also have had a locket of the loved one’s hair mounted into the back of the frame. Rare examples had exquisite gold, enamelled or jewelled frames, but most were mounted in black papier mâché frames with gilt metal hanging loops. Silhouette miniatures…

TRAVEL Discover the treasures of Herefordshire, from the best antiques haunts to the splendours of Croft Castle PAGE 134 SHOPPING From folk art to chandeliers and vintage finds, don’t miss our guide to 70 of the best UK shops for summer browsing PAGE 116 ESTATE SALE The Sotheby’s auction of the contents of Fettercairn House told the story of 250 years of Scottish history PAGE 126 TAKE A SEAT Rosanna Morris traces the evolution of the sun lounger, from colonial verandas to the decks of ocean liners PAGE 112…

• Architectural Decor 0117 958 5322; architecturaldecor.co.uk • Artisans of Devizes 01380 735888; artisansofdevizes.com • Beswick Stone 01285 885795; beswickstone.co.uk • Bisazza 020 7584 8837; bisazza.com • British Ceramic Tile 01626 831490; britishceramictile.com • Chase & Sorensen 020 8533 5523; chaseandsorensen.com • The Decorator Source 01666 505358; thedecoratorsource.co.uk • Decorator’s Notebook 0845 474 1747; decoratorsnotebook.co.uk • Farrow & Ball 01202 876141; farrow-ball.com • Fired Earth 0845 366 0400; firedearth.com • The French House 020 7371 7573; thefrenchhouse.co.uk • Gemini Tiles 0800 014 2994; geminitiles.co.uk • Lapicida 01423 796288; lapicida.com • Mandarin Stone 01600 715444; mandarinstone.com • The Old Cinema 020 8995 4166; theoldcinema.co.uk • Original Style 01392 473004; originalstyle.com • Roger Oates Design 020 7351 2288; rogeroates.com • Samuel Heath 0121 766 4200; samuel-heath.co.uk • Swoon Editions 020 3389 7550;…

A STAR COLLECTION In the summer of 2016, one of those rare-as-hen’s-teeth collections was consigned for sale at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury. It was a hoard of silver collected by Nottinghamshire estate agent, Arthur Holder (1918-2016), from the late 1960s until his death. And it was so large and wide-ranging that it was sold in three parts – last October, and in January and April this year. More than 2,000 lots were put up for sale, with estimates starting at £80 going up to £4,000. What drew Holder to collecting silver was its connection with social customs and lifestyles of past centuries. Consequently he couldn’t resist those mementoes of another time such as snuff boxes and nutmeg graters, bonbonnières and vinaigrettes, and all manner of small silver cases for…

There is no other shopping experience quite like the one posed by antiques shops. Where else can you walk through a single room and, with each step, pass through decades or even centuries of design, discover the pinnacle of a certain period or an abundance of unique, carefully crafted objects touched by the hands of many different craftsmen and makers? The UK’s antiques and vintage shops are rich and varied. There are dealers who possess a wealth of knowledge, others who deftly display Eastern and Western treasures with inspiring aplomb and those you can build a relationship with as a collector who, once they know what you like, will offer a tailor-made sourcing service. Here we have focused on shops you can walk into without having to make an appointment,…

Last summer, David Macdonald of Sotheby’s took a collection of Fettercairn items with particular Scottish appeal to the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms to woo potential bidders over a four-day exhibition. It was the fine Scottish-made furniture that attracted dealer John Dixon of Georgian Antiques in Edinburgh. ‘What caught my eye were the pieces by William Trotter who was the biggest and best furniture maker in Scotland from 1780 to 1830, dominating the field.’ He also liked the look of a few early 19th-century antique pieces by Morison & Co of Ayr, and late 19th-century furniture by Whytock & Reid of Edinburgh. Other treasures that held a particular allure north of the border included a small selection of traditional skean dhus (daggers) and sporrans; Scottish silver tea wares and small boxes, such…

War and social changes have always gone hand in hand, but the huge impact World War I had on British society shouldn’t be underestimated – particularly when it comes to the female population. It was a period that saw more women going to work than ever before, amidst a growing feminist movement and calls for suffrage for women. This summer, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire is hosting a series of fascinating Empire at War-themed events (see box for details) some of which focus on these social changes, giving you the chance to learn, engage with and appreciate just how momentous they were. Whilst there, you’ll also have the opportunity to take part in traditional acts of remembrance commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele. Running from 31…

1 Shepton Mallet – Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair Antiques fair A quality West Country antiques fair. The perfect way to spend your weekend – shop where the interior stylists shop! Quality products in quantity. • Friday 30th June to Sunday 2nd July • Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN iacf.co.uk 01636 702326 2 B2B Events Antiques Fair B2B Events run the very best in antiques and collectors fairs, vintage, flea and retro fairs. • Sunday 23 July, followed by Holiday Monday 28 August 2017 – Malvern Flea & Collectors Fair Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW. Admission 7.30am–3.30pm – £5pp The largest flea fair in the UK with hundreds of exhibitors selling an eclectic mix of secondhand items…

Zero to hero I acquired this miniature around 30 years ago when an elderly friend of my mother died. I think it must be very old and I have always wondered whether the gentleman could be Lord Byron. It is painted on some semi-translucent material and the clothing appears to be more roughly painted. The picture is behind glass as it is framed in copper with green fabric backing. Can any of your experts please tell me anything about it? SUE CLARK, LONDON A loyal subscriber I simply love this magazine and every month I read it from cover to cover. The first thing I used to do was have a look at when the next issue was coming out, so after a year or so of reading Homes &…

THE WILD SIDE In the latest collaboration between hand-painted wallpaper company de Gournay and interior designer Ken Fulk, monkeys frolic among fruit-laden branches and zebras relax amid flourishing vegetation. Inspired by the animals at San Francisco Zoo, each panel in this extraordinary range takes up to 150 hours to paint and is based on the elaborate narrative wallcoverings seen in 19th-century Europe. Prices start from £1,614 per panel. * 020 7352 9988; degournay.com STYLE STEER ‘Buying antiques abroad is a great way of creating an eclectic mix in your home to reflect your character. Be aware of the shipping costs, as they may double your original spend. Buying from dealers with a network of shipping agents will be more cost effective’ Marc Weaver, co-owner of Guinevere WHAT TO BUY PALM…

KETTLE OF FISH Blue and white carp bowl. 020 7394 2100; lassco.co.uk £550 POTTER’S WHEEL Terracotta urn, c1900. 01666 505111; lorfordsantiques.com £650 (for a pair) BLUE-EYED Large ‘Alda’ plant pot in ‘Teal’. 020 8974 0110; oliverbonas.com £8 WELL LEAD 18th-century lead planter. 020 7229 2898; raymondhorneman.co.uk £2,250 STRIKE GOLD Large ‘Vaso’ pot. 0800 587 7645; amara.com £204…

EAST MEETS WEST Estimate: £200,000–£300,000 When seen one dimensionally on a page, it may be difficult to imagine that each of these vibrant Tibetan thangkas is over 1m tall. The sale of the Jongen-Schleiper collection of fine thangkas made over £2.1m at Bonhams earlier this month, with the set of three thangkas (pictured above) topping the bill and almost tripling their lower estimate. This set in particular includes three colourful paintings that depict the First, Fourth and Third Panchen Lamas, who had authority second only to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. These incredibly rare thangkas illustrating the Panchen lineage are all based on an 18th-century woodblock print that was produced at the holy Narthang Monastery in Central Tibet – the reason for the high estimate…

NEW ‘Coast’ table lamp, £85, House of Fraser. 0345 602 1073; houseoffraser.co.uk NEW Crater tealight holder, £18, The Contemporary Home. 0845 130 8229; tch.net OLD Set of five plates by Fornasetti, £3,000, Holly Johnson Antiques. 01260 253110; hollyjohnsonantiques.com OLD 1970s shell mirror, £1,750, Augustus Brandt. 01798 651002; augustusbrandt.co.uk NEW ‘Rope’ ceiling light, £67, Batela.batela-giftware.co.uk NEW Resin coral sponge ornament, £22, Kelly Hoppen. 020 3701 9333; kellyhoppen.com NEW Framed seaweed prints, £308 for set of four, Mia Fleur. 0116 298 6393; miafleur.com OLD Georgian silver shell butter dishes, £1,395 for a pair, AC Silver. 0191 240 2645; acsilver.co.uk NEW ‘Leia’ three-seater outdoor sofa, £550, John Lewis. 0345 604 9049; johnlewis.com OLD Mid-century ‘Iceberg’ bowl by Pertti Santalahti, £565, Xupes. 01279 461696; xupes.com OLD 1970s shell table, £7,680, A Modern Grand Tour.…

What makes this such an inviting room This is the dining end of a long kitchen-dining-living room in a large Tudor farmhouse, the earliest parts of which date from c1340. The owners are antiques dealers specialising in folk art, and apart from the furniture described on the right, the room is decorated with many examples of their trade. These range from naïve paintings to coopers’ hooped wine coolers, from carved decoy ducks to boat oars and from blacksmithed candlesticks to handstitched leather gauntlets. In all, it’s a well-considered and charming display of vernacular craftsmanship mostly indigenous to the British Isles. 1 RUSTIC BRICK AND STONE FLOOR Underpinning the furnishings is a brick floor, supplemented in places with stone slabs. Mostly original to the farmhouse (largely Tudor, with some 14th-century parts),…

Profile THE OWNERS Nina and Oliver de la Fargue run Chateau de Christin as a chambre d’hôte (chateaudechristin.fr). Their grown-up sons Stephane and Xavier, plus Xavier’s partner Sarah, also spend time there. Completing the family are Balthazar the Bullmastiff, Gaia the Bernese Mountain Dog, cats Saphie and Toby, Merlin the donkey, several geese and some deer. THE PROPERTY The chateau dates from the 13th century and was refurbished in the 18th century. It is in the Languedoc region of France, just north of Montpellier and near the Roman town of Sommières. On the ground floor there’s a hall with an office area, kitchen, drawing room, sitting room and dining room. Upstairs are five en suite bedrooms, while outside there is a barn, swimming pool, rose gardens and the chateau’s…

OUR EXPERT Lyndy Kessell has been a guide at Parham House (parhaminsussex.co.uk) for more than 30 years and she also manages the archives The Great Bed was acquired in 1923 when the contents of Wroxton Abbey, a Jacobean house near Banbury in Oxfordshire, were sold. It was bought by the 1st Viscountess Cowdray as a wedding present for her son Clive Pearson who had acquired Parham house in 1922. The frame of the bed is partly Tudor and is thought to have come from the court of Henry VIII. No one knows how the Great Bed had come to be at Wroxton, but since the abbey had many royal visitors, including James I and Charles I, it’s possible it may have provided a fitting resting place for a few royal…

SHAPING UP In many British homes, shaped tiles were once restricted to tessellated floors in Victorian hallways, but today a greater choice of tiles for all surfaces has opened up the possibilities for devising patterns. Square, rhomboid, diamond, hexagonal, pentagonal, brick and strip shapes allow for angular designs in regular or abstract formations. The simplest geometric shapes can look dramatic when viewed on a grand scale, while large-format square and rectangular tiles have a flowing, seamless look that creates a sense of space and calm. Tiles based on Moorish designs with curved arabesque and scallop shapes add an exotic touch. Used in a palette of toning shades, they create an illusion of rippling texture, while areas of single colour are defined with contrasting grout lines. Expert tip ‘For a Victorian…

AUCTION HOUSES • Watch out for regular dedicated silver sales (often teamed with vertu and jewellery) held at leading regional auction houses including: Sworders (01279 817778; sworder.co.uk), Woolley & Wallis (01722 424500; woolleyandwallis.co.uk), Lyon & Turnbull (0131 557 8844; lyonandturnbull.com), Lawrences Auctioneers (01460 73041; lawrences.co.uk), Duke’s (01305 265080; dukes-auctions.com dukes-auctions.com), Dreweatts (01635 553553; dnfa.com), Halls (01743 450700; hallsgb.com/fine-art) and Tennants (01969 623780; tennants.co.uk). • Sales at the big London auction houses Bonhams (020 7447 7447; bonhams.com), Christie’s (020 7930 6074; christies.com) and Sotheby’s (020 7293 5000; sothebys.com) are also a good place to hunt. DEALERS • AC Silver, 35b St George’s Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE2 2SU (0191 240 2645; acsilver.co.uk) • Henry Willis Antique Silver, 38 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3PX (01935 816828; henrywillis.co.uk)…

1 SPENCER HOUSE London’s most magnificent 18th-century private palace was built in 1756 for John Spencer, ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales. Join us for a guided tour of the State Rooms. Open to the public every Sunday (except August). Please call for group bookings. 27 St James’s Place, London, SW1A 1NR spencerhouse.co.uk  // 0207 514 1958 2 LEEDS CASTLE & GARDENS Known as “the loveliest castle in the world”, this 12th-century moated Castle in Kent is equally renowned for its beautiful formal and woodland gardens, rockery and extensive parkland. For more information on Leeds Castle please call or visit the website. leeds-castle.com  // 01622 765400 3 WOBURN ABBEY AND GARDENS Step inside the family home of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford and immerse yourself in 400…

Bordering Wales to the west and Worcestershire to the east, Herefordshire is a good old-fashioned English county. Agriculture is part of the fabric of the area, as it has been for centuries: Hereford cattle still dominate the landscape and the apple orchards that have supplied the cider industry for over 350 years enhance the sense you’re going back in time. For hundreds of years the cathedral city of Hereford has served as the hub for county life. There has been a place of worship on the site of Hereford Cathedral since 696, making this one of the oldest dioceses in England (herefordcathedral.org). Work began on the current church in the 12th century with additions made over successive centuries. Not overly large in scale, the pale pink sandstone cathedral is the…

NORTH & SCOTLAND 4th–6th The Decorative Home & Salvage Show, Cheshire Showground, Tabley, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0JE. 10am–5pm (12pm to 5pm Friday). £5 (£10 Friday). 01298 27493; asfairs.com 5th Antique, Vintage & Collectors Fair, Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, FK8 2QL. 01764 654555; 10am–4pm. £2. scotfairs.co.uk 5th AdVintageous Vintage Fair, Leeds City Market, 28–34 George Street, Leeds, LS2 7HY. 10am–4pm. Free. advintageous.co.uk 12th Rose & Brown Vintage Fair (part of Bradford Car Classic 2017), Banqueting Hall, City Hall, Centenary Square, Bradford, BD1 1HY. Free. 10am–4pm. 07985 181120; roseandbrownvintage.co.uk 12th–13th Crafty Vintage at Hoghton Tower, Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, nr Preston, PR5 0SH. 10am–6pm Saturday, 10am–5pm Sunday. £3. craftyvintage.com 12th–13th The Great Wetherby Racecourse Antiques Fair, Wetherby Racecourse, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 5EJ. 8am–5pm Saturday, 9am–4pm Sunday. £4 (£5 before 9am Sat).…

The decanter is an object of beauty, as well as function; a much prettier object than a vase. It’s anthropomorphic, with a head, shoulders and foot, just like a little person. I like the fun of that sort of thing. I enjoy the beauty of it on my table, and I haven’t drunk wine at home poured from a bottle in 25 years – I always decant wine. If your sister comes round, do you whack out the milk bottle from the fridge? No, you use a jug. Does this make it taste better? No. But does it make you feel better as a host? Yes. And the decanter is the same, only it does make the wine taste better. The simple action of pouring a bottle of wine into…