Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 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 Writing this letter with a heavy frost outside, and plunging temperatures across the country, it's hard to imagine the end of winter. But looking over this month's issue has been a cheering reminder that spring is not far away. Our shopping section (p13) offers a lovely selection of contemporary tulipieres, inspired by the fabulous vases created for mass displays of once-priceless single stems. I love the fact that this historic design remains popular, even though tulips are no longer a rarified indulgence. Our decorating section (p16) focuses on cosy, tactile fabrics and textured wallpapers, bridging the gap between the seasons in their soothing neutral shades. And the Owletts Bench, featured in Object…

This month sees the 20th edition of Craft Festival Cheltenham. To celebrate, 100 designer-makers from across Britain have been invited to show their work. Visitors can expect live demonstrations, craft workshops for adults, plus a programme of free craft activities for children. ‘We're delighted to bring back Craft Festival Cheltenham for its sixth year in town’, says Sarah James MBE, director. ‘Celebrating the best in British contemporary craft, and creating a platform for makers to sell their work direct to the public is what Craft Festival is all about.’ Some of the makers selling at the festival will be Rachel Higgins from StratforduponAvon, who crafts charming animal sculptures; Betty Pepper from Yoxford, who uses damaged and discarded books for her creations; and Yen from London, who handcrafts beautiful jewellery. craftfestival.co.uk/cheltenham…

Back in the late 1990s, when wood-sculpting artists, and married couple, Malcolm Martin and Gaynor Dowling first started working together, they each brought specific and complementary skills to the table. Malcolm was fine-art trained and had made sculptures in various materials before finally settling on wood. Gaynor had trained in textiles and at the time was creating fine-art felting: surface pattern and texture were her thing. Having met a year or two earlier on the West Country exhibition circuit, theirs was a fortuitous encounter, both romantically and professionally. Their initial interest in each other's work developed into something more, as Gaynor joined forces with Malcolm in exploring surface decoration, which would provide the finish to his sculpted wooden vessels. ‘I was coming from more of a carving background and Gaynor…

History is woven into the ancient Cotswolds village of Broadway, where a settlement is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Later, the region's thriving wool and cloth industry brought great wealth to its merchants, who built their houses either side of the wide thoroughfare from which the village takes its name. Turn down a narrow alleyway leading from the main street, and you will find an unobtrusive little building that has borne witness to all of this and more over the centuries. ‘There was an ancient chapel on this site,’ explains Gareth Cooper-Prentice, who lives here with his husband, Crawford, ‘but the bones of the building date back to the 1700s, when a Methodist church was established here. Later, in 1846, it became a schoolhouse for a number of…

But prices can be surprisingly low. At auction you might find a serviceable set of 17th-century rush-seated oak chairs for around £300 – not much more than you'd pay for a single chair from a modern high-street retailer. Especially well-carved or unusual pieces with good patina and colour will command a premium. There's also another league entirely, of very rare pieces of outstanding quality that appeal to collectors, where prices reach into the tens of thousands of pounds. WHERE TO BUY Peter Bunting Antiques countryoak.co.uk Holt Antique Furniture holtantiquefurniture.com Wilkinson's Auctioneers wilkinsons-auctioneers.co.uk…

WHY I COLLECT Collecting Many years ago, we bought an 1890s house and decided to furnish it in accordance with the Aesthetic Movement principles of the late 19th century. We then transferred much of that approach to a house in the Cotswolds that has since become Yarn's headquarters. It is not just about rugs – blue and white china, pictures, fabrics and furniture from Morris & Co and others of the period all work together to create a harmonious whole. If you are a collector, or you live with one, you know the appetite for new items is never sated: there came a point when our Cotswolds house was completely full. Our daughter, Min, had the inspiration to start selling our rugs – with a focus on making beautiful, affordable rugs…

1. An Eminent Writer's Seat Estimate £10,000–£20,000 Sold £73,080 A sedan chair, used to transport a celebrated early 17th-century Chinese writer, sold for a top price at Woolley & Wallis. It is a perfect example of how a rare and somewhat quirky piece of furniture can quickly gain currency among rival bidders. As a mode of transport, the jianyu (sedan chair in Chinese parlance) was commonly used by emperors, princes and nobles to move between the great palaces. This 400-year-old antique is a rare survivor, as most were used outdoors and suffered damage from the elements. This particular type of sedan, known as a yajiao shi, which has a rattan seat and open-framed footrest, belonged to the well-born historian and writer Zhang Dai (1597–1624), who was active during the Ming…

The Crown Inn, Enstone, Oxfordshire Homemade salted-chocolate cookies, fluffy robes, and books penned by local authors await in The Crown Inn's five bedrooms. It's certainly not your usual ‘pub with rooms’ – as one glance around the Rapture & Wright-embellished interiors, accented with contemporary artworks, shows. The inn, nestled in a quiet Cotswold hamlet, was bought by husband-andwife duo Matt and Katie Beamish in 2022, and the couple undertook a sensitive restoration – bringing out the charm of the 16th-century pub and the dining rooms with deep paint shades, Turkish kilims, framed artwork, stacks of old books, and mismatched dining tables and chairs. Upstairs, the bedrooms have been updated with stylish touches and, come warmer months, there's also a pretty garden dotted with Indian parasols. Despite its facelift, the pub…

THE ANTIQUE Suffragette Jewellery With International Women's Day on 8th March, the subject of Suffragette jewellery is a timely one. The period for such pieces was short, with the majority made between 1908 and 1914, says Bonhams jewellery specialist Jennifer Tonkin. Pieces featured the symbolic colours of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) founded by Emmeline Pankhurst – purple/violet for dignity, white for purity, and green for hope, first seen on Suffragette banners and sashes. ‘Suffragette jewellery and badges were popular among women from all walks of life who wanted to show subtle support for the cause to win the vote for women,’ says Jennifer. There are certain makers’ names to look out for: jewellers Arthur and Georgie Gaskin made pin badges but also gem-set jewellery for more bohemian…

Until 26th May National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin A ‘tronie’ is a work depicting an exaggerated or intriguing facial expression, and was a common theme of Dutch Golden Age and Flemish Baroque paintings. Working in collaboration with the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, the National Gallery of Ireland will be taking you on a journey of discovery as you come face to face with a range of characters, who went about their daily lives in the 16th and 17th centuries. Works on show include Head Study of an Old Woman Seen from the Front by Rubens, The Laughing Man by Rembrandt, The Man with the Golden Helmet from the Circle of Rembrandt, and Vermeer's Girl with the Red Hat. nationalgallery.ie…

This Month COURSES Art appreciation is an innately personal thing – our reaction comes from within – yet with a little additional knowledge you can hone this sense further. The UK is awash with excellent, specialist-led courses, each providing exhilarating insights that will heighten a love of art, enhance gallery visits, or even pave the way for further study. For a rich, in-depth journey through the history of Western art, The Art Institute's Art Appreciation Course (from £849) is curated by Hilary Kay and consists of 12 modules, covering everything from the earliest civilisations to the contemporary art scene, and all the major art movements in between. This wide-ranging diploma course is delivered via online learning, so there are no time or location demands. As such, it represents a flexible –…

Fabric Wallpaper Material GAINS Inject character with furniture and accessories that demand to be stroked…

MID-CENTURY TYPE David Jury Why has mid 20th-century typography remained so influential? This is just one of the questions addressed by this wide-ranging and visually arresting book. Not only does it explore the work of innovative typographers of the time (and the genesis of their enduring fonts such as Helvetica, Franklin Gothic and Univers), it also dives into the world of mid-century advertising, with a host of iconic campaigns, and the impact of type design on each one. There's even a foray into transport, with anecdotes about the development of public transport and road signage, and a look at the role of typographic design in film and television, from promotional posters to title sequences. Jury is hugely knowledgeable and his enthusiasm for the subject matter is infectious, whether he's sharing…

‘We have only ever lived in old houses,’ says Ruth Taylor, explaining the move from National Trust property Hinton Ampner, which came with her husband James's job as an estate manager, to the Wiltshire cottage that is now their home. ‘While it was fun living in a grand house, we really needed a place of our own, and it was important to us to find somewhere with immense old age, character and style.’ This Grade II-listed, 18th-century thatched farmworker's cottage fitted the bill exactly. With much of its original character intact, the couple could embrace their naturally custodial attitude, while also having the freedom to put their own stamp on the place. They handled changes with a light touch, says Ruth, apart from the hall, where they felt they had…

IACF STONELEIGH The UK's largest fair organiser, IACF (International Antiques & Collectors Fairs) is set to get bigger this year with the launch of an exciting new event: Celebration of Antiques at Stoneleigh. The twice-yearly fair will open its doors this March (29th–30th) and again in October (25th–26th) and looks set to become a much-anticipated part of the annual UK fairs calendar. The organisers are promising a number of innovative changes to the conventional indoor/outdoor fair format to create an immersive atmosphere that mirrors the quality of the antiques on offer. Expect engaging and informative talks, live music and on-site entertainment. iacf.co.uk NAEC, Stoneleigh, 10am–4.30pm Fri, £7.50 & Sat 9am–4.30pm, £6 TICKET OFFER FOR H&A READERS: Use the QR code left to access a 25% discount on a 10am Friday…

Every piece of early oak furniture is different,’ says Sid Wilkinson, director of Wilkinson's Auctioneers, which holds several specialist oak sales each year. ‘It was all made by hand, bespoke for a specific customer, so no two pieces were exactly alike.’ The period 1500 to 1660 is sometimes referred to as the Age of Oak. At that time, the British Isles were heavily forested, and oak was used not just for furniture, but also for building houses and ships. Until the late 17th century, walnut trees – probably first introduced to the British Isles by the Romans – were valued for their nuts, rather than timber. Oak was the material of choice. Sid believes the story of early oak furniture provides a window into English history. Certain styles are associated…

Victoria and Albert Museum, London ‘The standout place in the UK is the V&A,’ says Sue. ‘They have a large collection of carpets and rugs from the 16th century onwards, including the iconic Ardabil Carpet, which is the world's oldest dated carpet.’ vam.ac.uk; @vamuseum WHERE TO BUY Keep an eye out at auction and also check out these businesses, which offer vintage and antique rugs at a variety of price points. James Cohen jamescohencarpets.com; @james_rugs Joshua Lumley joshualumley.com;@joshualumleyantiquerugs Rug Addiction rugaddiction.co.uk; @rugaddictionuk Yarn yarnhome.co.uk; @yarn.home…

MARKET OF THE MONTH Held on the quayside in Swansea's historic maritime quarter, the city's Vintage and Makers Market sees over 50 independent sellers set up shop in Wales’ National Waterfront Museum for the weekend. The market takes place four times a year, with the spring instalment from 9th–10th March, and visitors can expect a good mix of vintage ceramics, glassware, clothing, art, and ephemera as well as handcrafted jewellery, textiles and homeware, with an emphasis on using traditional skills and repurposing pre-loved items. On the second day of the fair, there's a Marina Market on the quayside square outside the building, which will offer local food, drink and crafts. National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Road, Maritime Quarter, Swansea, SA1 3RD.…

Coming from a family of vintage and antiques dealers, carpenters, and decorators, Samaya learned early the value of ‘old things’ and how a room or space can be changed by the use of objects and colour. She later developed a love of vintage textiles and fashion and, after many years as a dealer, her attention has been brought back to her first love – creating interiors using pre-loved treasures. What sparked your love of vintage and antiques? My mum had a vintage market stall when I was a child, and both her brothers were antiques dealers, initially specialising in pine dressers and tables from Ireland, later expanding to finer antiques. What do you love about fairs? Growing up, I went to lots of flea, antiques and vintage markets, as well…

Ancestor Gallery Tribal art specialist and former auctioneer Philip Keith runs this online art gallery that features sculpture and ethnographic objects from Africa, the Pacific, Australia, Indonesia and the Americas. Search the website according to world region to find beautiful carved spoons of wood and bone from South Africa, a boomerang from the Tanami Desert region of Australia, and small 18th-century bronze figures from India. Viewings at Ancestor Gallery HQ near Cardiff can be arranged by appointment. ancestorgallery.co.uk; @pip_keith_art Stothert & Trice A decorative 19th-century tortoiseshell Sumba comb from Indonesia, yam pudding knives from New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) in the South Pacific, and a South Indian painted festival mask are just some of the items to be found on the web store of London-based dealers Stothert & Trice. stothertandtrice.com; @stothertandtrice…

This Month EXHIBITIONS The abstract artist John Hoyland (1934–2011) is usually celebrated for his geometric paintings and vivid use of colour. Yet this new exhibition at Bristol's RWA trains the spotlight on a largely unknown area of his output – his ceramic sculptures. In 1994, Hoyland created an unruly group of 25 ceramic pieces, which he called ‘these mad little hybrids’. They were hard to categorise in a conventional sense and were never put on public display. That is, until now. The RWA is bringing 11 of Hoyland's ceramics together with sculptures by Caroline Achaintre, Eric Bainbridge, Phyllida Barlow, Olivia Bax, Hew Locke, Anna Reading, Jessi Reaves, Andrew Sabin, John Summers and Chiffon Thomas. ‘Despite being 30 years old, they looked as if they had just been made,’ says sculptor and…

Fine Threads Fans of antique Indian textiles rejoice! The collaboration between the V&A and Sofas & Stuff has proved so successful, a third collection – Threads of India – has been curated. Once again, the museum's archive has provided the designs. Shown here is Varanasi Wilderness, which draws influence from a 19th-century brocade. sofasandstuff.com/VAM…

The business was founded by our parents, Christopher and Ida Clarke, in 1961. We both worked for other dealers before we came together to take over the shop in 1998, and made the decision to specialise in campaign furniture and travel items after a successful exhibition in this field. As far as we know, we're the only shop worldwide with this specialism. The business's first premises was in the Square in Stow-on-the-Wold, but we've been at our current site on a busy crossroads on the other side of town since the early 1980s. Lots of people come in because they've seen the signage or windows and are interested in campaign furniture, or simply curious as to what exactly we sell. Our logo of a chair on the back of a…

Silk cloth has spelled luxury for centuries, and a golden age of weaving it in England was kickstarted in the 1680s, with the arrival of Protestant Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France. These skilled weavers, many from Lyon and Tours, were known for advanced styles that were admired, imported, but not then practised in England. Many Huguenots settled in Spitalfields, London's silkweaving district east of the city, that expanded to cover Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Whitechapel and Mile End. In the following years, it's estimated that 40,000 Huguenot émigrés settled in England, with two more sizeable silk centres established in Canterbury and Norwich. Spitalfields’ weavers produced silk for women's and men's clothing, but not for furnishings. Many skills were involved, beginning with reeling the imported raw silk thread. Throwsters then twisted…

Born in poverty in Scotland in 1600, by the time of his death in 1676, Ogilby had risen to the position of Royal Cosmographer. In his biography of Ogilby, author Alan Ereira reveals his astonishing life story. He lived in a turbulent and deadly century; a time when war and disease wiped out around a third of Europe's population. To survive, Ogilby reinvented himself again and again. He overcame injury, war, shipwreck, bankruptcy, fire and disease, to find success as a dancer, theatrical impresario, tutor, soldier, sailor, spy, translator, author, publisher and finally, in his seventies, ‘as the man who put new Britain on the map’. ‘Today, Ogilby's luxury book is regarded as a beautiful and innocent creation, its sinuous elegant strip maps seductive and charming,’ writes Ereira. Publicly, Ogilby…

Atkinsons Going strong since 1837, Atkinsons coffee roasters and tea merchants may now be open in four different locations across Lancaster – ranging from cafes to retail-only – but the one to head to for gifts is the original outlet on China Street. The business has moved firmly into the 21st century since it first opened, however the surroundings here remain gloriously aspicpreserved. Georgian tea and coffee canisters take pride of place behind a mahogany counter, while a terrazzo floor and vintage Uno coffee-roasting machine set a charmingly Wonka-ish scene. Buy a bag of delicious Lancaster Blend loose-leaf tea, or fruity Prototype espresso. thecoffeehopper.com Laings Founded by James Laing in 1840, when Glasgow's place as a centre of shipbuilding meant there was a commercial, as well as personal, demand for…

THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME What first sparked your interest in antiques? Antiques have always been a huge part of my life. My parents, Martin and Judith Miller, started Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide the year I was born, and in my early twenties I was an editorial assistant on the Miller's Guides. When my mother became a specialist on the Antiques Roadshow, it allowed her to further her passion for making antiques accessible to everyone. I'm probably biased, but I learned from one of the best! However, it wasn't until I started writing The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder that I realised just how much I had learned through osmosis, while growing up. My mother consulted on the murder mystery series, and our long conversations about which antiques…