Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Homes & Antiques

Tell us what inspires you in this issue of H&A. Tag @homes_antiques on Instagram or use the email address, right Welcome to the March issue of H&A, packed with beautiful antiques and informative features, such as Celia Rufey’s guide to selecting the right textiles for antique furniture (p72), and Emma Longstaff's journey into the curious and affecting world of Victorian calling cards (p84). Janet Gleeson marks International Women’s Day with a celebration of four forgotten designers (p30) and, on page 78, Caroline Wheater surveys this year’s specialist sales. Dedicated to narrow and sometimes niche specialisms, these auctions are guaranteed to draw serious collectors; they are also perfect hunting grounds for anyone newly excited by a specific field, such as military medals, Cornish art or Picasso ceramics. Our houses, from page 38, are…

Talking Shop My interest in antiques began with a Saturday job. My employer wanted to start dealing in 20th-century furniture, but somehow I became the buyer! This led to me co-founding Sigmar in 2005, which had a particular focus on interior design and antiques. Aelfred is a place that shows the love for making and designing, sharing the stories that objects carry. Most of our stock is Nordic in design and everything we sell has been designed and made with thought and consideration. I am noticing a growing demand for naive antique furniture and objects - another name for honest homemade pieces of folk art. We mix unique homemade Scandinavian accessories with wellknown designers. Many famous industrial designs originate from the ‘essential’ shapes found in the plain items people made…

Names such as Chippendale, Sheraton, de Lamerie, Wedgwood, Spode, William Morris and Ambrose Heal trip off the tongue without much thought – but how many businesswomen within the spectrum of the applied arts can you rustle up? Probably not many. Maybe, you think, this is because women entrepreneurs were almost unheard of in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. But the truth is rather more complex. ‘In the 18th century it was completely accepted that married women might have a business as well as men. The restriction was that they had to do it through their husband’s company or guild,’ says Dr Amy Erickson, Professor of Feminist History at Cambridge University. How do we know? Amy’s research into 18th-century trade cards reveals many bearing female names. ‘In the City…

Layering pattern and colour has always been an integral part of my approach to design. I am very drawn to the classical English style of decorating, in particular that celebration of mixing together different influences from a broad spectrum and adding an unexpected twist. I love a sense of timelessness - layered style that grows and evolves as you live your life and continue to add to it. For me, a welcoming and delightful space is one that offers different elements, which in turn reveal different stories as you move through the room. It’s not about being slavish to a particular trend or 'look’, it’s an approach that is much more organic. For example, instead of replacing furniture you reupholster pieces that have become a little tired or worn -…

As a child, I spent most holidays visiting National Trust properties and museums. My favourite room was always the kitchen (which is ironic, because as an adult I'm no cook!). I really liked all the old implements, tins and boxes. I vividly remember going to Robert Opie's Museum of Brands in London and being completely enchanted. I loved seeing how packaging had evolved since brands were first created. The graphics and typography Were so stylish. I was 15 or 16 when my mum and I bought a tin at auction - my mum wanted the old buttons and I wanted the tin. Many years later, I now find myself (almost obsessively) collecting chocolate, toffee, biscuit and sweet advertising and packaging, mainly dating from before the Second World War. As an…

1. Sleeping Beauty Estimate £30,000-£50,000 Sold £151,200 This impressive-looking four-poster, hung with silk fringing and inlaid with foliage and anthemia, looks as though it could have been made yesterday, but dates to around 1770. The glamorous piece, comprising sycamore, holly and amaranth wood, was part of the collection amassed by Lord and Lady Weinstock at their 18th-century home Bowden Park in Wiltshire, which was sold at Christie’s last autumn. The bed was attributed to the renowned London cabinetmaker John Linnell, who, from his Berkeley Square workshop, made furniture for Kedleston Hall, Castle Howard, Syon Park and Osterley Park, to name a few of his well-heeled clients. Linnell was the son of London furniture maker William Linnell, and by 1749 was helping his father run the business. Christie’s specialist Amelia Walker…

HOW TO Strong, beautiful and versatile, it's little wonder that wood has been among the most popular materials used in furniture-making for centuries; thanks to its durability, many of us are lucky to own antique wooden furniture that has been around for generations. Although wood is undoubtedly robust, there are steps we can take to keep these pieces looking their best for many more years to come. Regular dusting is an easy way to start: use a very soft, dry cloth or brush to gently remove dust from the surfaces - this helps to protect the wood and will encourage a healthy patina (see facing page). The good news is that most antique woods require no more care than this on a weekly basis - if they're well looked after,…

FAIRS AROUND THE UK North & Scotland 3rd-5th Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Scone Palace, Perth, PH2 6BD. gallowayfairs.co.uk 5th Vintage Home Show Leeds, Pudsey Civic Hall, Leeds, LS28 5TA. vintagehomeshow.co.uk 12th Vintage Home Show Manchester, Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0FE. vintagehomeshow.co.uk 18th Antiques & Salvage Market, Cheshire Showground, Clay House Farm, Flittogate Ln, Tabley, Knutsford, WA16 0HJ. asfairs.com; @asfairs 18th The Rustic & Country Lifestyle Spring Fair, The Shire Hall, 11 Market Place, Howden, East Yorkshire, DN14 7BJ. littleenglishhouse.co.uk 19th Glasgow Antique, Vintage & Collectors Fair, Bellahouston Leisure Centre, 31 Bellahouston Drive, Glasgow, G52 1HH. glasgowantiquefair.com 25th-26th Saltaire Vintage Home & Fashion Fair, Victoria Hall, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, BD18 3JS. roseandbrownvintage.co.uk 25th–26th The Great Wetherby Racecourse Antiques and Collectors Fair, Wetherby Racecourse, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22…

THE ANTIQUE Poole Pottery vases With Mother's Day on 19th March, a little vase for placing posies in is the season's best gift or treat to yourself. The field to choose from is vast, but the pretty ceramic vases made by Poole Pottery in Dorset in the 1920s and '30s are uplifting, affordable and collectable. Many of the colourful designs are attributed to Truda Carter, who trained at the Royal College of Art before joining the Pottery in 1921. Her patterns depicting leaves, flowers, bluebirds and deer have an abstract, Art Deco feel, very much in tune with the times. Ironically, they were referred to as the 'traditional' range by Poole Pottery to distinguish them from later series such as post-war 'free-form' ceramics with their Scandi-style organic shapes. The paintresses…

THE FAIRS The 36th edition of The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) opens this month, promising amazing artworks from over 275 prestigious dealers. Visitors will be able to browse and buy Old Masters, antiques and classical antiquities, as well as modern and contemporary art, jewellery, 20thcentury design and works on paper. TEFAF prides itself on its rigorous vetting process - a committee consisting of academics, curators, conservators, conservation scientists and independent scholars carefully assesses every piece on display to check for authenticity, condition and attribution. tefaf.com…

I’ve been English Heritage’s curatorial director for just over 10 years. I am a medievalist by training. I studied English at Bristol, which sparked my interest in the Middle Ages after I discovered a love of 14th-century poetry; particularly that of Gawain. My own expertise is in medieval stained glass. My job is to ensure that we understand the significance and interest of the sites and collections that we care for at English Heritage – and that we find compelling ways of presenting them to more than 10 million annual visitors. For example, when I started in the role in 2012, we were embarking on the creation of a new visitor centre and museum at Stonehenge. It was an extraordinary opportunity to tell the story of one of the best-known…

‘I thought that most people are creative, and that Chalk Paint was a power they could have - not like painting by numbers,' Annie Sloan says, explaining the inspiration behind the game-changingly versatile paint she invented more than three decades ago. Her self-appointed mission seemed impossible - a quest for a substance that could be mixed easily, would stick to almost any surface without preparation, and absorb wax so that it could be polished to a lustrous sheen. Miraculously, after many tweaks and trials, the eponymous Annie Sloan Chalk Paint was formulated, not only fulfilling her ambition, but establishing her as the creator of a deservedly celebrated international brand. Perhaps Annie’s intrepid approach was linked to an unusually nomadic childhood. The first decade of her life was spent living in…

Hester Bateman 1709-1794 Hester took over the family gold and silver business in 1761 after her husband died. Her designs were simple yet elegant. Eleanor Coade 1733-1821 Eleanor invented a hardwearing, high-quality stone which was used to make ornamental statues and architectural features. Betty Joel 1896-1985 Innovative furniture designer who was also a marketing genius - turning her factory into a one-stop-shop for all manner of interior goods. Susie Cooper 1902-1995 After seven years as a designer at Gray's, Susie set up her own ceramics company producing innovative designs.…

A Thornes Toffee tin, Huntley & Palmers biscuit tin or a Cadbury Bournville Cocoa tin from the 1930s can be found for less than £20. Rowntree's novelty tins tend to be between £60 and £150. Rarer tins in excellent condition often sell for hundreds, even thousands. WHERE TO BUY Alison sets up notifications using keywords on online platforms. At auction, she looks for confectionery advertising in collectables sales. eBay ebay.co.uk The Saleroom the-saleroom.com Easy Live Auction easyliveauction.com WHERE TO SEE Museum of Brands museumofbrands.com…

‘It is a most revolutionary movement', wrote Charles Dickens in June 1863. 'From the cartes de visite, we learn the astounding fact that kings and queens are in dress and features precisely like other people. Marvellous, preternatural, as this may seem, it is true.' In the mid 19th century, cartes de visite democratised photography. For the first time ordinary people could easily acquire images of not only themselves, but also celebrities of the day celebrated authors and artists, music hall artistes, or the crowned heads of Europe. Families posed for their own cartes de visite, and swapped copies with friends. Stationers sold celebrities’ cartes, and the albums in which to collect them all. How fascinating to be able to pore over all those faces in private, even the faces of…

Puzzling Picture This one's a bit of a departure for the experts I think. I bought this etching not long ago for about £15. I didn’t know anything about it, I just liked the image. I now know it's The Mock Mayor by Robert William Buss, but I have no idea what the Newcastle-under-Lyme Corporation was or why the publisher needed permission. It doesn’t look like it's been touched since it was framed, but could that be an auction lot number on the back? Paul Mawdsley This print depicts the curious folk tradition of electing a ‘mock mayor’ principally to lampoon the pomposity and self-aggrandisement of a genuinely elected mayor. Buss’s oil painting – rumbustious and Hogarthian in spirit – was painted in 1844 and is now in The Brampton…

Antiques lovers know that patina is a desirable look on treasured old items, but how can you tell the difference between this and plain old dirt that needs to cleaned? 'Patina is really just the accumulation of dirt, dust and similar, which has built up over many years and created an effect that's impossible to recreate. Wood with a good patina glows with a deeper colour,' explains Robbie Timms. Many hardwoods used for antique furniture build up a darker patina over decades or centuries - this often helps to highlight or emphasise the richness of the wood and adds value to a piece. Gentle cleaning over the years can help emphasise patina (and wipes off actual dirt), but always avoid stripping or using chemicals, as this can destroy the patina…

Years ago, Sue Ede found herself standing in for a friend who wasn’t able to be there to run a Sunday fair, and she hasn’t looked back since. Cooper Events, which she co-runs with husband Peter Hodder and daughter Katie Ede, stages The Cotswolds Decorative Antiques & Art Fair, The Pavilions of Harrogate Decorative Antiques & Art Fair, The Chester Decorative Antiques & Art Fair, and the Annual Buxton Antiques Fair. Sue also runs The Giant Shepton Flea Market and Bath Decorative Antiques Fair. What changes have you seen in fairs over the years? It was once commonplace for people to wear formal dress to the opening preview of one of our fairs. With a changing audience, who don’t just appreciate good craftsmanship but who buy into the ethical and…

Celebrate everything that's wonderful about craft, as makers, writers and QEST Scholars gather for another fantastic weekend of demonstrations and workshops. The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) supports excellence in British craftsmanship, and is joining Craft Festival Cheltenham for the first time. 'QEST offers funding of up to £18,000 for training and education for talented and aspiring craftspeople. We look forward to meeting new friends and inviting inspiring makers from the Cotswolds and beyond to apply,’ says Deborah Pocock, CEO. As well as perusing the stalls and meeting the makers, you’ll find a cafe serving tea, coffee, cakes and sandwiches. A live podcast will feature chats with master potter Keith Brymer Jones, fashion historian Dr Kate Strasdin, and ceramicist Sue Pryke. Meanwhile, Aardman Animations Ambassador and clay model maker, Jim…

Ready to Roll Gabby Deeming’s brand Daydress offers pretty and practical 18th-century-inspired womenswear made from hand-blockprinted chintz-decorated fabrics. Such is the success of the designs that she has launched her second collection of wallpapers with Dado Atelier. The Wiggle Stripe wallpaper in Ruby, £123 per roll, has a charmingly vintage yet contemporary quality. dadoatelier.com…

Fabric Wallpaper Lovers' Toile wallpaper in Puck, £102 per roll; ceiling painted in Puck, £54.50 for 2.5 litres of Absolute Matt Emulsion; woodwork and dado painted in Puck, £83.50 for 2.5 litres of Intelligent Satinwood, all Little Greene.…

We’ve got another fantastic offer this month - save 30% on the shop price when you subscribe to Homes & Antiques, plus receive a copy of Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2022-2023. As a subscriber, you’ll get each issue delivered free to your door, packed with fabulous features and beautiful homes. Great reasons to subscribe today! PS Subs copies are now posted in easy-to-recycle paper - no more plastic wrap! SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS ontheshopprice Pay byDirectDebit Receive -worth42! ofyourfavouritemagazine filled with beautiful ways to mix old and new in your home…

For millennia, women have been a constant presence in the fine and applied arts. Paintings and sculptures by women feature in major museum collections and many of their designs for ceramics, textiles and furniture remain in use. Yet how many female artists and designers of historic significance can you name? This was the question that sparked Katy Hessel to start @thegreatwomenartists, her Instagram account which later spawned an award-winning book, The Story of Art Without Men, in which she eloquently demonstrates how female artists have been sidelined in art and design history. Thankfully, the tide is turning, and many institutes are reappraising works by women in their collections. Women such as: Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the greatest artists of the 17th century; Mary Delany, 18th-century botanical artist; May Morris, artist…

When designer Richard Smith and his partner Andrew Blackman were exploring the East Sussex coast, nearly two decades ago, a derelict farmhouse caught their attention. Built of local sandstone, it stood on high ground, partly boarded up and clearly neglected, but in a breathtaking pastoral setting with coastal views that captivated them. The main house dated from the early 17th century, with extensions and a porch added in the early 19th century. ‘There was a concrete roof, and the garden had nothing apart from a few very beautiful old trees, but it just felt a happy place and very magical,’ recalls Richard. Over the following months their walks often took them past the house and sometimes they ventured onto the overgrown lawn for a picnic. From enquiries they learned the…

Owners of antique upholstered furniture who hope to re-cover a sofa or chair in fabric to match its age and status will find, perhaps unexpectedly, that they’re spoiled for choice. Many suitable weave types have been in production since the 17th century: silks and damasks, smooth, patterned and embossed velvets, linens, horsehair weaves, stripes and checks. Antiques dealers and well-informed upholsterers are people who can help refine the choice for a special piece. Not everyone is a purist though and, particularly with replica sofas and chairs, the question is whether to stay with tradition or choose a contemporary textile as counterpoint to the fascinating variety of shapes in period upholstery. ‘Most of the seating I buy is 18th-century,’ says antiques dealer and interior designer Max Rollitt. ‘So when it comes…

Specialist Sales All around the country, auction houses are gearing up for a new season of specialist sales, whether the focus is furniture, paintings, silver, ceramics, jewellery, medals, or a whole lot more. While general sales can of course be the source of great finds, the specialist sales are where you’ll discover the greatest breadth of choice across a single category. As Philip Belcher, clocks specialist at Bellmans, says: ‘We include clocks in our auctions all year round, but keep the best for our specialist Fine Clocks auctions, which tend to have a wide and interesting range and are an ideal forum to attract specialist collectors.' Depending on their subject matter, specialist sales also have a flexible range of estimates, from around £100 upwards, so there's something for every budget…

How are they dated? Occasionally a date is handwritten on the reverse, or the dates a photographer worked at a particular address are known, but they can be difficult to date precisely. Fashionable clothing can give clues. What to pay GOOD - a woman with interesting hair and costume, photographed with a cute dog (£10). BETTER - carte of a well-known figure like Isambard Kingdom Brunel (£100 plus). BEST - a rare image with historical importance, for example a Black abolitionist (£1,000 plus). FIND OUT MORE The Ephemera Society ephemera-society.org.uk WHERE TO BUY Postcard and collectables fairs and auctions, plus sites like eBay. Cuttlestones cuttlestones.co.uk Bloomsbury Ephemera Fair etcfairs.com/ephemera-fairs Toovey's tooveys.com…

Hybrid kitchen Kitchen and interior design studio Brandt Design created an 'ultimate' kitchen-living space for a family home in Hertfordshire, fulfilling a brief that required the following: an elegant place to cook, beautifully organised food storage and a separate area for laundry. This hybrid space comprises a generous kitchen with units from the Brandt Heritage Collection, and a versatile area for home-working and day-to-day dining as well as larger gatherings. A pantry and walk-in larder offer additional storage, while a well-equipped utility provides a laundry hub, and a boot room bridges the gap between this welcoming indoor space and the outside. brandtdesign.co.uk IT'S SHOWTIME Whether you're about to embark on a new renovation or you're midway through a project, the Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the NEC is an ideal…

Bell Rock The world’s oldest working sea-washed lighthouse, Angus’ Bell Rock lighthouse was opened in 1811 and took its name from the story of a long-lost bell, placed on the same rock by monks in the 1300s, to warn sailors of approaching danger. Like so many Scottish lighthouses, its engineer was one of Robert Louis Stevenson’s ancestors (this time Robert Stevenson). While it’s not possible to visit the lighthouse itself, the free Signal Tower Museum in Arbroath deserves a detour. A collection of grand Regency buildings, they once served as the shore station and family living quarters for the lighthouse. angusalive.scot Kinnaird Head Now home to the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, Fraserburgh’s Kinnaird Head was the first lighthouse to be built on mainland Scotland, in 1787. A great place to…

As a child, I much preferred playing with Wade Whimsies to plastic farm animals. There was an aesthetic taste and appreciation in me that started very early. Graduating from the University of Sussex with a Masters in British Art History and Critical Theory, I had everything I needed to work in exhibitions, but after a year of trying, joining an auction house seemed like a good compromise. I fired off my CV to four, including Bonhams, who sent back an immediate reply, and I started there in June 1996. I realise now that I need the pace of an auction house; I love being hands-on with the objects as well as having the academic research, the clientfacing aspect and the commercial side in an ever-changing market. I’m very grateful for…

Fairs & Auctions 18th Virtual Vintage Market 9am-4pm @thewealdenbazaar HOW TO SHOP Visit the Wealden Bazaar Instagram account at 9am and browse the vintage traders who will be announced in lists in several posts the day before the market. Each list includes the trader’s Instagram name, which you can click on to reach their account. The organisers also use a hashtag so you can see sellers’ stock in one place. 25th The Virtual Vintage Bazaar 10am–5pm @thevintagebazaarevents; thevintagebazaar.co.uk HOW TO SHOP When the event opens at 10am on the Instagram account @thevintagebazaarevents, the dealers will be introduced one post at a time. All shoppers need to do is click through to the dealer and browse the stock they will have posted on their own account. Message the dealer to buy…

Georgian Antiques This marvellous Scottish antiques business has huge collections of furniture amassed in its five-storey warehouse in Edinburgh, and clocks are plentiful too. Those available include Victorian fusee wall clocks, ornate French mantel clocks, barometers, grandfather clocks and many more. georgianantiques.net; @georgianantiques It's About Time A popular store based in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, with a website and Instagram account. There’s a wonderful selection of clocks for all budgets, including a rare 1830–1850 Paul Garnier mantel clock (£1,450) and a rather special longcase clock by maker John Ebsworth, c1680, with fine marquetry and barley-twist columns (£28,000). theclockandwatchshop.co.uk; @theclockandwatchshop London Timepiece Russell Ackermann-Callow handrenovates and sells vintage British and European clocks, especially industrial pieces from factories, schools, railways, and the Post Office. Peruse his website and also keep an eye on his…

PORTRAIT OF AN ANTIQUE “ I always feel antiques add a certain gravitas to an interior, bringing depth and character. Having already endured for hundreds of years, there is no better testament to the quality of these pieces. For this reason I make a point of incorporating them into all of our interiors, including our Cotswold studio, featured here. I bought a number of pieces from Lorfords in Tetbury for our studio refresh, including this 19th-century Dutch chest made of oak for the sitting room. As soon as I saw it I could visualise this piece in our studio. The chest was paired with a dark-framed English bird print from the same era. The black frame sits in contrast to the lighter tones on the Walls and woodwork, making the…