Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2020 i Homes & Antiques

A warm welcome to the July issue of H&A , which is filled with our usual mix of antiques news, beautiful interiors and stylish accessories. This month’s houses epitomise all that we love about great interiors: filled with colour, character and charm, they reflect the personalities of their owners rather than passing trends. During the long weeks of lockdown, many of us have been spending more time in our kitchens and, with that in mind, we are excited to be launching a new food section – on page 114 you will find a selection of delicious Sardinian cakes and ices. We also reveal the bucolic charm of the cow creamer in a new collecting feature dedicated to kitchenalia (p118). Naturally enough, July brings with it thoughts of travel and sunshine…

A pot with a secret In the mid 1960s, my husband and I were young teachers working in East Africa. On a camping trip to the ‘Mountains of the Moon’ [the Rwenzori Mountains] in western Uganda, we bought this pot for a few shillings from a local man on a bicycle. It is made of polished clay with an etched pattern. During the six years we worked in East Africa, the pot sat on a high shelf next to a kerosene lamp. We lit this lamp every night, which attracted swarms of flying ants and mosquitoes, and the geckos in the roof came down to eat their fill. In due course we returned to the UK and, almost 50 years after its purchase, giving the pot a polish, I realised…

Prints charming Pippa Blacker’s fabric collection, built over the last three years, now comprises eight different designs, all of which feature simple, stylised motifs influenced by nature. We particularly love Walking in Heather, which comes in six colours: Aquamarine, Grass, Sunset, Sky, Hot Pink and Heather, as seen here on this pretty buttonback chair. Prices start from £65 per m and the pattern is also available as a wallpaper in Grass and Pink Cloud, £90 per roll. 07790 813191; pippablackerinteriors.co.uk Clock watching The sleek, curved edges and rounded form of Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Egg chair are the stuff of many design-lovers’ dreams. However, we don’t all have the space for such a statement piece, which is why we were drawn to these satisfyingly chunky table clocks. First designed by Jacobsen…

‘Regency pieces are desirable at present as they suit a wide range of interiors. The style is prized for its minimal adornment, often classical in nature, so the pieces don’t have the characteristic ‘fussiness’ that some people associate with antiques. Buyers should look for items that are well made, with original elements and no alterations. Good Regency design is harmonious and well balanced, so avoid any examples that feel a little clumsy! Do familiarise yourself with the style so you can spot an original over the many reproductions produced during the 20th century. Regency lighting is particularly gorgeous, often cast in bronze and gilt, and can easily be converted to electricity.’…

‘Offering great variety, these intimate mementos often perform strongly at auction. Examples by the top 18th and 19th-century miniature artists such as John Smart, George Engleheart and Richard Cosway are red hot, but later miniatures by lesser-known artists also appeal to collectors. We recently sold a good Edwardian example by AJ Harrison of Marjorie Erskine, daughter of the 14th Earl of Buchan, in an oval enamelled gold locket (far right) for £1,700, while a portrait of a young gentleman in the manner of Andrew Plimer (right), c1800, made £600. catherinesouthon.co.uk…

Time hangs in the air, with clocks ticking and striking the hours at the Georgian home of artists Elizabeth Harbour and Llewellyn Thomas. ‘Clocks are part of my family history,’ Llewellyn explains, ‘and everyone notices the ticking when they visit us for the first time. For us it’s part of the soundscape of this house and tells us we’re home.’ Long before the clocks came to live with them, the couple were both students at the Royal College of Art, studying illustration. The move from London to Kent in 2005 was brought about by their decision to find a family home with their two young children, and to get Llewellyn closer to Maidstone College of Art where he was then teaching. They purchased half of this Grade II-listed village rectory,…

• Press moulded body with defined modelling and a very small firing hole in the base. (Later versions are slip-cast and there will be a larger hole in the base). • Painted decoration: detailed with a face full of character and slight differences between the pair. The back may be painted. • Soft gilding showing evidence of age. • Signs of crazing, or firing flaws on the base. • No maker’s mark.…

Matthew Fagg Barlow Tyrie ‘Never jet wash your teak furniture – the natural oils sit just below the surface, protecting the core of the wood. Jet washing blasts the oils away, making it more liable to split over time. Instead, a very gentle soapy solution, brush, and plenty of elbow grease will clean your teak while keeping it in tip-top condition.’ Simon Burvill Gaze Burvill ‘One thing to consider when choosing a material like oak is that it will react to its environment and, over time, develop a beautiful silver-grey patina. As long as the furniture is not placed directly on grass (we can provide feet to keep it off the ground) with care, well-made oak furniture should last a generation.’…

ALFRED JEWEL This wondrous piece of Anglo-Saxon goldsmithing is thought to be a handle for a pointer stick and can be seen at the Ashmolean Museum. ROYAL GOLD CUP Lavishly decorated with enamel and pearls, this was made for the French royal family in the 14th century and is now in The British Museum. XUANDE-PERIOD BOX This very rare early Ming dynasty cloisonné enamel circular box and cover dates from 1426-35 and sold for £140,000 at Christie’s. FABERGÉ ROTHSCHILD EGG Every hour, a diamond-set cockerel pops up from the top of the egg, flaps its wings four times, then nods his head thrice and crows.…

From a distance, you could mistake a Lloyd Loom chair for a piece of wicker furniture. Look closer and you’ll be able to distinguish the woven material from wood – it’s actually lengths of twisted kraft paper, wrapped around steel wire, woven into sheets, then tacked onto a bentwood frame, the join covered by braid. Lightweight and durable, this new material quickly gained popularity. However, it took a big advertising campaign in the late 1920s to convince British people that the furniture was fit for indoor as well as outdoor use. That’s when production really took off, with everything from planters to musical children’s chairs created. Today, many of us remember Lloyd Loom fondly in the homes of our parents and grandparents, but it also conjures glamorous images of pre-war…

Picture this This painting of mine has the signature of George Inness on the lower right-hand side, and the style looks very much like his. However, it’s been done on cardboard, which is unusual for this artist, I believe. I would appreciate any insight on its authenticity. Yuliya Taveira, via email This is not, sadly, a work by the famous 19th-century American painter George Inness. It was, in fact, painted in the mid-to-late 20th century, probably in China. The signature actually reads ‘C. INNESS’, which appears to be a pseudonym used by a group of artists who worked in one of the large Chinese painting factories, specialising in decorative pictures for the mass export market. This type of painting often shows a generic landscape scene and is painted in artificially…

How well do you know the market? Try your hand at gauging the sale prices of these lots. (Answers on p137) GIRL’S WORK A late 18th-century darning sampler in a decorative mid 19th-century gilded frame celebrates the nimble fingers of one Judith Rist. Estimate £400-£600 TAKE A VIEW A late 18th-century mahogany window seat in serpentine shape would suit a bedroom or a living room. This one last changed hands in 1981. Estimate £500-£800 RARE WOOD Elmwood is often found in practical or country-style antique furniture, such as this early 18th-century box masquerading as a mini chest of drawers. Estimate £150-£250…

I’ve always collected things, starting with regimental buttons. At the University of St Andrews I studied Art History and the history of furniture. My inspirational teacher, David Jones, was a protégé of Christopher Gilbert, who wrote the monograph on Thomas Chippendale. Afterwards, I cast around for work experience with BADA antiques dealers and joined John Butterworth at Reindeer Antiques in 1999. He taught me how to develop a network of trusted dealers and how to help clients build up a collection of furniture over a period that may span 10 years or more. When John retired in spring 2015 I took on the business. My focus is furniture from the 18th century. The growth of Empire meant that cabinetmakers had access to exotic new woods such as mahogany, rosewood and…

Lawrence Hendra gives his advice in ‘Ask an Expert’ page 106 Lawrence is an art historian and Director of Philip Mould & Company in London. He is also a specialist in Paintings and Prints on BBC1’s Antiques Roadshow. ‘The thing I’ve missed the most in lockdown is being in our gallery space on Pall Mall. The most enjoyable part of my job is being able to handle paintings and study them first-hand – something which working remotely does not allow!’ Selina Lake wrote ‘Natural Beauty’ page 38 Selina is a successful stylist, author and columnist.›Her work has been exhibited at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. ‘I’ve missed botanical hubs with lovely gardens, a shop and cafe all in one place. Top of my list…

the COLLECTION 1 NORDIC & NICE You can always bank on the Scandinavians to be one step ahead when it comes to design. And the latest collection from Nordic House, with its gentle colour palette and plenty of soft, rustic textiles, has relaxed summer living at its core. We’re particularly enchanted by this curved rattan bench (£399), which would make a lovely additional perch in a hallway or garden room. 01872 223220; nordichouse.co.uk the EXHIBITIONS 2 A REMARKABLE OLD MASTER & EARLY ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHS Online exhibitions are making it easier than ever to get a cultural fix from home. For an up-close view of Rembrandt’s seminal work The Night Watch, head to the website of the Rijksmuseum, where you can view an ultra HD image of the painting (and even…

From curtains and bedding, to slip covers and lampshades, this book offers crafting tips for beginners and those confident with a needle and thread. (£19.99, Ryland Peters & Small) Self-taught textile designer Molly Mahon talks you through the ancient art of block-printing, and shows you how to transform items in your own home. (£16.99, Pavilion Books) When it comes to paint, Farrow & Ball knows its onions. And this book showcases extraordinary homes in which colour takes centre stage. (£30, Ryland Peters & Small)…

Elizabeth Harbour’s life as a working artist began as soon as she graduated from The Royal College of Art in 1992. ‘For several years I illustrated children’s books, book covers and magazines, which often led to commercial commissions,’ she says. Then she made a bold decision to change direction and create her own pieces to sell. ‘I’ve always been inspired by different image-making processes, mediums and techniques,’ she explains. ‘I love printmaking; it is exciting because you don’t always know what the final outcome will be. At first I had to find ways to print at home without investing in a large printing press or expensive equipment. I was able to make mono prints and relief prints, but screen-printing was my favourite.’ ‘Printmaking is exciting, because you don’t always know…

‘Choosing the right material for your garden furniture may not be at the top of your wishlist when buying a new dining set. Instead, you are most probably looking for a particular style, level of comfort and perhaps longevity. But it is worth weighing up the pros and cons of different materials, and wood, specifically grade A teak, should be a high consideration. In a world where we are becoming more aware of how our purchases impact the environment, it may be surprising to learn that farmed teak is one of the most environmentally friendly materials you can buy. ‘Teak from managed forests in Indonesia, such as the wood that we use, is legally farmed, often FLEGTcertified or holds an FSC certificate. This means that when trees are cut down…

Vitreous enamel is a decorative technique in which powdered glass is layered onto a variety of background surfaces – usually metal, but also ceramics, glass, stone and others – at high temperatures. The powdered glass melts, flows and then hardens on the background surface, creating a brilliantly coloured decorative effect. Techniques include cloisonné, in which thin strips of metal are bent and curved to follow the outline of a decorative pattern; they are then attached, usually soldered, to the surface of the object, forming miniature walls. Within these walls the powdered enamel is laid and fused. Another popular technique is champlevé where, instead of building on the surface of the metal object, the surface is gouged away, creating channels separated by thin ridges of metal that form the outline of…

1917 A manufacturer of lightweight baby carriages, Lloyd developed his ‘woven fibre’ to speed up the production process. 1921 Lloyd adapted his loom in order to weave flat furniture. Frank Lusty travels from the UK to learn the manufacturing process in detail. 1933 Lusty progressed into chairs with steel legs, developing this cantilever model, before moving to ‘chrome-plated tubular steel’. 1940s Post-war austerity meant a pared-down range was produced. Rarer models are marked with the Controlled Commodity stamp. 2020 S All Lloyd Loom manufacturing now takes place in the Far East. UK retailers import copies of old models, as well as new designs.…

Classical Carvings I recently bought two large wooden comportes at auction. I loved the colour of the wood, the classical design and the quality of the carving, but I have no idea what they are for. Please could you shed some light on the intended purpose of these items and perhaps suggest what I could do with them in my own home? Tamsin Nicholson, via email I would describe these as tazzas – shallow bowls on raised feet used for displaying sweetmeats or fruit. They look as if they date from the 19th century and seem to be made from fruitwood. From what I can see, they have been turned on a lathe and finished with decorative flutes and ribs. They fall into a category known as treen – small…

Pattern clash A riot of colourful florals is essential for summer styling, and this vintage-inspired place setting from Liberty makes a real statement. Including a tablecloth, placemat, napkin, two plates and forks, the set is £326. libertylondon.com Dr Annie Gray: my favourite culinary antique ‘Mine is a 19th-century pestle and mortar. I’m of the view that culinary antiques are a bit pointless if they aren’t used, so this is my regular pestle and mortar and lives in my kitchen. I bought it in a small antiques shop in Stowmarket. I’d used a similar one while working in costume as a Victorian maid and knew how much better they were than modern ones. It is heavy, deep and brutally effective. Everything a cook wants!’ Dr Annie Gray is a food historian.…

We’ve been doing lots to support members. There has been plenty going on and members are being proactive, especially online. We’ve been helping dealers who need to sell stock and get cash flowing so we’ve accelerated the plans we had for online. We’ve held live webinars (which we’ve also shared with the whole trade) and improved our sales portal. We’ve given advice on marketing, PR, social media and even HR and fraud protection. We’ve also looked at what dealers required in order to reopen their shops with social distancing measures. Antiques shopping can be done in a way that is reassuring to the public. Anyone who feels vulnerable visiting shops can arrange a one-to-one appointment with a dealer. Live events need more thought. At least 50 per cent of our…

If you think you know this month’s home you could be in with a chance of winning this Red Gingham Blooming Good Tea half-pint mug, worth £19.95, from queen of ceramics Emma Bridgewater. Based in the heart of the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, Emma’s factory has been making your everyday cup of tea just that little bit more special since 1985. To see the full range, visit emmabridgewater.co.uk Whose house was this?  A. Claude Monet B. Paul Cézanne C. Alfred Sisley ENTER ONLINE homesandantiques.com/competitions ENTER BY POST Send your answer, name and phone number to: Homes & Antiques, Issue 335, Room with a Clue comp, PO Box 501, Leicester, LE94 0AA Closing date: 28th July 2020 at 11.59pm*…

KEY: OLD / NEW…

Tell us a bit about your background I grew up sewing with my mum and went on to study Wood, Metals and Plastics at the University of Wolverhampton. Between 1993 and 2006 I designed and made luxury, sculptural handbags for my own label, some of which are displayed in the V&A museum, the Crafts Council Collections and The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. I started to make my current hand-stitched works around 10 years ago. Describe your designs I make hand-stitched portraits and still lifes with a delicate, pared-back and graphic quality. I make work for exhibitions and to commission. I first discovered hand-stitched portraits when my children were young, after a hiatus in my making career. I started to create portraits of my boys as a creative outlet.…

A world away from the bustle of the city, yet just a short distance from Stockholm, Villa Stenkulla stands by the waterside, 10 minutes from Vaxholm, the historic island capital of Stockholm’s archipelago. ‘It’s wonderfully tranquil here. There are no cars on the island, just a single road in a figure of eight, 3km long, which is perfect for walking, running and cycling,’ says management consultant Johan Nordquist. Johan always dreamed of owning a house by the sea and, having grown up in an 18th-century house, he has felt drawn to old buildings. He bought the property 18 years ago and, after spending the time since restoring it, he now spends weekends, Christmas and the summer months here, with his girlfriend, an interior architect, and their six children. Occasionally he…

Fashions ebb and flow but, as man’s best friend, dogs have always had a special place in our homes and hearts. Perhaps that’s why soulful spaniels, elegant greyhounds and various other endearing canines made in the 19th century potteries of Staffordshire are still the treasured guardians of many people’s hearths and mantelpieces. ‘Although no one knows who made the first Staffordshire dog, the starting point was certainly a dog celebrity: Dash, Queen Victoria’s closest childhood companion, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, painted by Landseer and appearing in many prints,’ says specialist Paul Atterbury. By the 1840s, dozens of small potteries in Staffordshire were making spaniels in a variety of sizes, ranging from around 5cm in height to over 30cm. ‘They were made and sold as facing pairs. The earliest were…

Classic or contemporary. find the ideal wooden dining set for your space... NOW FOR THE FINISHING TOUCHES These old and new accessories will ensure your garden feels as homely as the rest of the house…

Thanks to the volume of pieces produced, nowadays vintage items aren’t difficult to find. Charity shops, eBay and Gumtree are good starting points, where you’ll be able to pick up 1950s and 60s items from as little as £45. Although, the better condition the higher the price. Andy Towle, owner of Eras of Style in Hurst Green, Kent, has been trading Lloyd Loom furniture for 38 years. He believes that, because the items were made so well, you’re just as well shopping for a vintage piece as buying a new one. ‘If you think about it,’ he says, ‘a new Lloyd Loom sets you back about £300, but you can pick up a fabulous 1930s or 1950s one for about £95 to £150. ‘If you’re after something with value, look…

Ciambellone in Tre Modi Also known simply as ‘yoghurt cake’, almost every nonna in Italy will make a version of this recipe, which must be the easiest and most versatile cake in history. There is something nostalgic and comforting about a very simple, soft and springy sponge cake, with its golden crust and butter-yellow crumb. The English have Victoria sponge; the Italians have ciambellone. Usually baked in a bundt or ring tin, the method involves using a small yoghurt pot of 125ml or 150ml (4¼fl oz or 5fl oz) to measure every ingredient into the mixing bowl, starting with the yoghurt itself. It is ideal for breakfast, its uncomplicated sweetness balancing a coffee perfectly. MAKES 26CM (10IN) RING TIN CAKE Melted butter, for greasing 3 ‘pots’ plain (all-purpose) flour, plus…

When the country went into lockdown, we witnessed incredible camaraderie within the antiques and vintage trade. Fair and market organisers, along with dealers who take stands at these events and those who had to temporarily shut their shops, put their heads together and came up with novel ways to boost their online presence. This wonderful community continued the affable and sociable atmosphere we all expect and love from shops and markets, only this time it was all online. There were shout-outs between fellow dealers, numerous virtual selling events, digital initiatives and much more as the trade adapted quickly to working differently and doing things it had never done before. All of these efforts meant that despite fairs, auctions and markets not going ahead in the real world, business for some…