Indholdsfortegnelse for April 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 Welcome to the April issue of H&A, which is filled with fresh and inspiring features, from new fields of collecting to brilliant ideas for redecorating your home. Long seen as the heralds of spring, daffodils are a popular decorative motif on antiques, and we consider their enduring appeal on page 6. Continuing the floral theme, turn to page 24 for our pick of the latest crop of pretty sprigged fabrics and wallpapers. And in our regular ‘Heirlooms of the Future’ feature (p32), we shine a light on artist Sarah Battle’s intricate paper quilt collages, many of which feature blossom-covered boughs and floral bouquets. The arrival of spring always sees me casting a…

Two of Grayson Perry’s emblematic large-scale tapestries will go on display for the first time in Winchester. They tell the story of fictional character, Julie Cope, in two parts, and were created in 2015 for A House for Essex – a dwelling designed by Perry for the Living Architecture project. The first edition of the work hangs in the house, while this second set was commissioned by the Crafts Council to be appreciated more widely. A Perfect Match illustrates the key events in Julie Cope’s life, from birth to marriage, while In Its Familiarity, Golden details her later years, second marriage, and a tragic accident that leads to her demise. While seemingly happy, the first tapestry provides clues to the impending doom in the second. Choosing a 1970s palette and…

THE REOPENING From 28th March, the formerly ticketed Kitchen Garden at Chiswick House & Gardens will be open free of charge. Visitors this spring can expect to be greeted by a ravishing display of sweetly scented narcissus and nodding tulips. ‘Our dedicated gardening team and volunteers pour incredible effort into cultivating this bountiful space, yet the majority of visitors to the grounds have yet to explore this hidden gem,’ says Rosie Fyles, head of gardens at Chiswick House & Gardens Trust. ‘For over 300 years this walled garden has offered visitors beauty, pleasure and connection, and it’s been a personal aim to share this unique space more widely. It’s really exciting to enable more people to visit it regularly.’ Everyone who enters the garden is invited to pause from the…

Restful laurel 1838 Wallcoverings has launched its second collection in collaboration with the V&A. The Laurel Leaf design shown here is a reproduction of a block-print design from 1911 by Walter Crane. Crane was the first president of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society and an influential figure in the movement. V&A Laurel Leaf wallpaper in Verde Green, £84 per 10m roll. 1838wallcoverings.com…

Statement piece Made up of 12 glass pentagons, the Secessionist-inspired Vienna lantern is available in three sizes and various finishes. The small lantern is shown here in elegant Antique Brass. £864, Hector Finch Timeless treat The clean lines of the Mott Globe reflect the aesthetic of the industrial age, and a pleasing aged finish completes the look, making for a classic design that will elevate any entrance hall. £2,200 +VAT, Jamb…

Fabric Wallpaper Spring FLING Welcome the new season with a joyful palette of fresh, pastel shades…

THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO MURDER C L Miller Combining her love of antiques with the ever-popular cosy crime genre, author C L Miller brings us the tale of Freya Lockwood, who returns to the village of her childhood following the death of her estranged mentor. The mysterious circumstances of his demise soon see her drawn into an unexpected investigation, enthusiastically accompanied by her eccentric aunt, Carole. Miller’s background in the world of antiques shines through (she is the daughter of Judith Miller of the iconic Miller’s Guides), and the novel is peppered with nuggets of detail about myriad makers, pieces and movements, as Freya and Carole navigate their way through the underbelly of the antiques world. The concept – ‘what antique would you kill for?’ – is an interesting…

Running a business from home means the line between work and family life can begin to blur. This was certainly the case for Rebecca and Simon Walker, whose rented farmhouse in West Berkshire has been the nerve centre for their landscaping and tree surgery business for 15 years, and they were beginning to feel the strain: ‘With little separation between our personal and work lives, we were keen to buy a country retreat to escape to,’ says Rebecca. They focused their property search on the South Hams area of Devon, where they’d spent many happy holidays over the years, but finding the right place proved frustrating. After months of searching and numerous unsuccessful viewings they’d almost given up hope, when a newly renovated 17th-century cottage came on the market in…

Alchemy of Design: The Collection of Count Manfredi della Gherardesca 24th April, Dreweatts Art and interior design consultant Count Manfredi della Gherardesca was a high flyer. Born into a noble Italian family, whose seat is Castagneto Carducci in the Maremma area of Tuscany, he began his art world career in New York as director of L’Antiquaire & The Connoisseur gallery. In 2000, he came to London to found MDG Fine Arts in St James’s, bringing collectors together with galleries, institutions and auction houses. Following the Count’s unexpected death in 2022, an array of antiques and art from his homes in London and Italy have been consigned to auction by his wife, Princess Dora Loewenstein and their children, Aliotto and Margherita. The sale promises to be a feast of art, antiques…

The Antique Dispensary theantiquedispensary.co.uk Robert Young Antiques robertyoungantiques.com Tim Bowen Antiques timbowenantiques.co.uk DISCOVER CONTEMPORARY SPATTERWARE montesandclark.com for Italian spatterware handmade in a pottery studio that dates back 18 generations. lusophile.co.uk for Portuguese terracotta spatterware inspired by traditional pieces, like the Casa Cubista jug below. marchsf.com for chic blue-and-white ‘splatterware’ (sic) from the Puglia region of Italy.…

Design-led A profusion of new ideas, like Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts, adapted for middle-class tastes, alongside revivals of furniture from the Georgian and earlier periods. Elegance Sinuous lines, dainty detailing, slim legs, and more compact sizes for smaller middle-class homes. Inlaid wood The decorative addition of contrasting wood, and sometimes other materials like metal or mother-ofpearl, set into recesses cut into the surface of the furniture.…

● The porcelain body itself – is it bone china (generally post-1800) or earlier? White or greyish? Blemished or perfect? ● Look at the shape – playful rococo, stark neoclassical, opulent Regency, or capricious Rococo Revival? ● The decorations – each factory had its own defined style that is preserved in pattern books and/or described in literature. You might need that shelf full of books! ● Michael Berthoud compiled guides to the exact shapes of cups, teapots, and jugs; various decorative wares were detailed in compendiums by others (Coalport, H&R Daniel) ● Some factories had their pattern books preserved, so in those cases the pattern numbers written on the underside can help us identify pieces ● Never believe any one single source… many experts disagree, and even the best get…

H&A Review Hôtel Rochechouart, Paris Ah, April in Paris… could there be a better time of year to visit the City of Light? And the charming Hôtel Rochechouart, in the heart of Montmartre, with its gorgeous Art Deco façade and recently revamped rooms, makes the ideal base from which to explore. Book a room on one of the upper floors at the front of the hotel for a picture-postcard view of the SacréCœur and the city’s rooftops (it’s worth noting that the wonderfully old-fashioned lift is a pretty tight squeeze, but staff are happy to help with suitcases). Alternatively, pop up to the Bar Sur Le Toi, open April to October, from noon until midnight. With its smart, striped awnings and lush potted plants, this terrace bar offers a spectacular…

The Lord Crewe Arms In the Northumberland village of Blanchland, right on the border with County Durham, The Lord Crewe Arms has been serving hungry travellers since its earliest days as an abbots’ lodging in the 12th century. Becoming an inn 400 years later, it’s still going strong today, surrounded by scenic North Pennines walks (guests staying overnight in its bedrooms can make use of its supply of maps, and energy-boosting homemade fudge), warmed by log fires and filled with antique furniture. Kick off with a pint of Lord Crewe Brew, then move onto salt-beef croquettes with triple-mustard mayo, roast loin of local pork, and apricot and almond tart. lordcrewearmsblanchland.co.uk Whitelock's Ale House A Leeds institution, this traditional inn yard (where inn and cottages are sandwiched between other buildings) is…

BROCANTE OF THE MONTH The bucolic brocantes organised by Lucy Haywood are always a joy to behold – think homemade lemonade, faded florals, antique lace and a large dollop of nostalgic country living on top. This spring, Lucy and her team return to The Grange at Northington for The Country Brocante Spring Fair from 26th–27th April. In pretty marquees in the stunning Hampshire parkland, as well as in the 19th-century country house, you’ll find a beautifully curated selection of decorative antiques and interiors, artisan makers, and emerging brands. There will also be demonstrations and talks from leading creatives. The Grange, Grange Park, Northington, Hampshire, SO24 9TG. thecountrybrocante.co.uk…

Growing up in a close-knit Welsh Valleys community, John Rees, a fluent Welsh-language speaker, developed an early love of collecting vintage and antiques and following an old-fashioned, more sustainable style of living. Largely influenced by his Welsh grandmother and Estonian grandfather, and their very traditional home, he spent much of his free time scouring local jumble sales and junk shops. Influenced by his burgeoning collections, he formed Cow & Ghost Vintage (@cowandghostvintage) with his partner Kevin Dunster in 2013, later launching Mischievous Cow Events (@mischievous_cow_events) in 2018 in a four-way partnership. Fourteen annual Vintage, Antique and Makers Markets now take place in four of Wales’s beautiful market towns. Tell us a bit about yourself I studied Art and Literature at university and then was a teacher for 24 years. Now,…

English Salvage Ever the source of interesting and unusual pieces, English Salvage has a huge amount of industrial antiques on offer. The website lists old dials and gauges, the cockpit of an Indian tuk-tuk, branding irons and metal doors. Of course, if you really want a treat, pay a real-life visit to this gem of a salvage yard in Herefordshire, open daily. englishsalvage.co.uk; @englishsalvage Original House As well as an appointment-only showroom in the Cotswolds near Cirencester, Original House also has a website and Insta account displaying the company’s selection of vintage industrial furniture and lighting, as well as decorative antiques. The current inventory includes several sets of factory lights, clocks and an early 20th-century industrial cupboard from the Alsace region of France. original-house.co.uk; @originalhouseinteriors Ottos's Antiques and Interiors There’s…

THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME What first sparked your interest in antiques, and how did it grow from there? I’ve always loved the look of polished wood – I enjoyed sliding on highly polished wooden floors at home in my socks when I was a little girl – and I grew up with the sound of a ticking grandfather clock and the smell of furniture polish. There’s a certain stillness to the rooms of an old house that is so evocative, hinting at the history and all the untold stories… Can you tell us about the first antique you acquired, where you found it and why you were drawn to it? My very first job was working for an auctioneer called Shone & Co in Southampton. I worked behind the…

THE ANTIQUES Daffodil Decoration Daffodils lift our hearts at this time of year, splashing cheery shades of yellow across our homes and gardens, from cut flowers arranged in vases to sturdy bulbs (they can live for over 100 years) pushing up through pots, flowerbeds and grassy banks. Throughout the centuries, artists, poets and writers have been inspired by the vibrancy of the daffodil or narcissus, a flower thought to have been introduced to Britain by the Romans who planted them in memory of loved ones. In his famous poem, ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’, Wordsworth describes coming upon ‘A crowd, a host, of golden daffodils… fluttering and dancing in the breeze’, while he walked along the shores of Ullswater in the Lake District. And before the wars, daffodils were…

The most famous dolls’ house in the world – Queen Mary’s dolls’ house at Windsor Castle – was built between 1921 and 1924 as a gift from the nation after the First World War. It was designed by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, a friend of Princess Marie Louise (cousin of King George V, Mary’s husband), and together they created a committee to decide on the style of the house and ensure its contents were of the highest possible quality. Two hundred and fifty craftspeople and manufacturers, 60 artist-decorators, 700 artists, 600 writers and 500 donors were instrumental in the house’s exquisite interior design. The house has electricity, running water and working lifts, and even has a fully stocked wine cellar… This year marks 100 years since the perfectly scaled…

What to Buy Now There are few decorative objects as recognisable as Delft tiles. These Dutch Golden Age favourites have brightened homes for 400 years with blue-and-white depictions of landscapes, people, animals and flowers, as well as nautical scenes and mythical creatures. We view them as quintessentially Netherlandish, but their origins lie in 17th-century China, when the East India Company imported goods and skills to Europe. One of the most popular imports was porcelain, admired by Europeans for its pure colour and glaze. However, this craft took many years to be mastered on the continent and, instead, Dutch potters sought to imitate Chinese porcelain through tin-glaze earthenware made in the city of Delft. Picture tiles soon became popular in homes, liked for their colours, amusing pictures and ease of cleaning.…

1 WORK WITH WHAT YOU OWN Save money and the environment by giving the things you own a new look, rather than buying more. Annie Sloan CBE is an enthusiastic proponent of the concept: ‘There’s definitely a trend towards thrifting, with sustainability at its core,’ she says. ‘Rather than buying something new, I urge people to “shop their homes”; paint something you already have, and it will feel new.’ The benefits are more than simply aesthetic: ‘The process of painting itself is meditative, gives a huge boost of confidence and satisfaction, and your finished work will bring you joy long after the brushes are washed up,’ says Annie. ‘I think this reflects a mood for slow-living, self-care and doing things yourself – for the fun of it!’ 2 INTELLIGENT COLOUR DRENCHING Colour…

From 15th to 18th May, be sure to head down to London’s Soho to pick up fabulous from a pop-up supermarket created by Merchant & Found. Original supermarket fixtures and signage adorn the space but, rather than groceries, this unique shop will serve up quality vintage products and curated crafts. Make a day of it – there’s a cafe onsite for hungry shoppers. Find the pop-up at: The Vintage Supermarket, The Vinyl Factory, 18 Marshall Street, London, W1F 7BE. merchantandfound.com…

I once came back from Paris with the head of an African cow from the 1920s and a ceramic parrot from the 1950s,’ says Laura Padovani. ‘I picked them up in the famous Saint-Ouen flea market, knowing they’d look great in my living room, but they were quite a talking point on the Eurostar home too!’ Although raised in Argentina by Italian parents, Laura’s home for the past seven years has been a double-fronted 1890s townhouse in south-east London, which she has filled with vintage finds. Some, like the cow’s head, were gathered on travels abroad, other pieces were found much closer to home. A 1950s-style fringed chair left in the street outside turned out to be perfect for Laura’s living room, and a friend’s gift of a Staffordshire figure…

A tale of two cities links a fabric that now accounts for worldwide sales of three billion garments a year. The fabric is denim, and the garment, jeans. Denim’s name comes from serge de Nîmes, a twill weave woven since the 16th century in the textile manufacturing city of Nîmes in southern France. Well known by the 17th century, this was a blend of wool and silk, also a wool blend worn by shepherds in the nearby Cévennes mountains. Nîmes fabric was traded locally and abroad, including to England. The link is with the port of Genoa where, during the 16th century, a cotton-blend twill was woven. Initially dyed brown, the colour was changed to indigo with the dye and the cotton imported from India. Bleu de Gênes went on…

Buyer’s Guide Edwardian furniture gets a bad rap,’ says Oliver Miller, director of the auction house Bishop & Miller. ‘It all gets lumped together, and is then dismissed as mass-produced, low quality, and lacking in any coherent style.’ An unfair and rather narrow assessment of a period in which interior design and manufacturing flourished. Although Edward VII only reigned from 1901 to 1910, these days we tend to think of the Edwardian period ending at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. The start of the 20th century was a time of relative peace and growing prosperity, described more romantically as the ‘Belle Époque’ in France, or the ‘Gilded Age’ in America. Ambrose Heal reimagined the Arts and Crafts aesthetic for his middle-class customer base While lacking a…

I came from a family who loved culture, but my interest in art really started when I went to university at St Andrews to read French and Philosophy. I had to do an additional subject in my first year and chose History of Art. I loved it so much that at the end of my second year I gave up French and Philosophy to pursue a History of Art degree and I’ve never once regretted it. I discovered the auction world during the summer of 1985 when I spent nine weeks working for the Sotheby’s valuation office in Bournemouth. I didn’t even know how auction rooms worked, but within 48 hours I was certain that this was what I wanted to do. In the mid-1980s, the art market was beginning…

This Month COURSES We all have our own ideas about what makes a great interior, whether our style tends towards a clean, pared-back minimalism or a joyful clash of bold colours and maximalist patterns. However, there’s a reason people pay interior designers, and if you’d like to learn some of the experts’ rules and secrets to help you plan a room that you’ll love – or even if you’d like to take your learning further – there’s a course out there for you. Create Academy has a raft of online courses that provide a good starting point. These expert-led programmes range from the comprehensive and all-encompassing, like Rita Konig’s 36-lesson Ultimate Guide to Interior Design (£147), to the more specific, such as 24 lessons from Amanda Lindroth on Designing Interiors for…

Outside, the natural world is waking from its winter slumber and signs of life are starting to appear. It’s such a joyful feeling, it’s little wonder that the colours of nature are finding their way into our homes, with many paint experts predicting these shades will continue in their appeal. ‘Bringing nature inside is really important,’ says Patrick Folkes, founder of Graphenstone UK. ‘And nature is always an inspiration for us. New blue shade Serpentine is an ode to the trend for wild swimming; it works with Chateaux and Sienna beautifully – natural colours of the earth that are also bright and uplifting.’ Tash Bradley, colour psychologist and director of interior design at Lick, is another fan of nature as inspiration for our homes: ‘Nature is – and will continue…

What to Sell Now Two private collections of treen were a significant feature of our January Furniture, Works of Art & Clocks sale, including several linden wood dogs, bears and other animals from the Black Forest. These carvings were first made in Brienz in Switzerland during the 19th century and were believed to have been a way of generating revenue following a famine. The carvings, which depict local scenes and animals, became highly prized by Grand Tourists and visitors to the area, and were brought home as souvenirs in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, they retain a charm for collectors who are prepared to pay high prices for special items, especially those that are intricately carved and rarer. Recently, a dog group of a mother and three puppies sold…

Collecting Spatterware is thought to have emerged in Scotland in the early 1830s, initially produced by a few independent potteries. Cheap and cheerful, these simple ceramics, with their distinctive speckled designs, proved so popular that they were quickly copied in vast quantities by larger, more commercial Scottish potteries and, later, by firms across England, Wales and Ireland. The term ‘spatterware’, which refers to the very specific ways in which the speckled effect is achieved, is often used incorrectly to refer to other types of spongeware, particularly in America. It is also frequently misspelt as ‘splatterware’, which causes further confusion for unwary collectors. ‘The raw difference between spatterware and spongeware is very clear,’ explains the refreshingly succinct Robert Young, of Robert Young Antiques. ‘Spongeware is pottery that has been decorated with…

It would be easy to find a well-made piece of Edwardian furniture at auction for under £100. John Mackie explains why some furniture made in this period can occasionally achieve stratospheric prices: ‘The work of internationally renowned polymath Charles Rennie Mackintosh is in a different league. He subscribed to the notion of the room or a scheme as a total work of art, and only ever made bespoke furniture for specific projects. It’s very rare that it comes up for sale, hence its exceptional appeal. Slightly further down the scale, but still possibly achieving thousands of pounds, might be the work of the artist and furniture designer EA Taylor, husband of the artist Jessie M King. At the turn of the century, the Glasgow department store Wylie & Lochhead had…