Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2016 i Homes & Antiques

February always seems like a good month for buying antiques. Following the excess of Christmas shopping and the heady search for bargains in the January sales, what follows is the desire for something built to last – pieces to invest in now and keep forever. So when it came to putting this issue together for you, we instantly thought of British country (or vernacular) furniture. What could be more appealing at this time of year than simple pieces made from oak, ash, elm and orchard fruitwoods that bear the patina of 200 years of use? Read about their history on page 46 and see them set against this season’s rich, deep tones. The houses in this issue have a similarly cosy quality. From mixing antiques with art (p56) to industrial…

ALISON SNOWDON Fieldings Auctioneers What a stylish piece! It is interesting to learn that this was purchased in Newlyn, as I think it started life 1,500 miles away, in Italy. This charming stylised goat dates to the 1950–60s and fits neatly under the umbrella of mid-century modern, with its stylised form and bright colours. Post-war Italian ceramics captured the style of the time, something your figure does well. Sadly, as this is unmarked (other than the painted ‘A’ which is probably the painter’s mark) I don’t know who made it, but it does look similar to pieces made at Tosca Ceramics. At auction I think it would command £40 to £60.…

TAKE BREAKFAST IN BED 18 Indulge your Valentine by treating them to breakfast in bed with an array of decadent French-style finds both old and new THREE CHIC BOOKS 25 Flipping through the pages of these fashionable new coffee table tomes will inspire action for the new year wardrobe clear out GO HUNTING IN SCOTLAND 28 Antiques hunting, that is. Scone Palace Fair is on this month and you can get 2-for-1 tickets with your copy of H&A RECLINE IN STYLE 37 Take your pick from our round up of the best chaises longues and put your feet up for a well-deserved rest SEE CONCRETE TRANSFORMED 38 George Winks mixes concrete with traditional materials to make furniture that is anything but rustic…

JEWELLERY SPECIALIST THOMAS JENNER-FUST Director, Auctioneer & Valuer Chorley’s, Gloucestershire BUY The market for natural pearls found in the open ocean waters has boomed over the last few years, but due to pollution and overfishing the supply of good quality natural pearls has almost disappeared. As such, the market relies on antique examples. This means they appear less often at auction and prices should, in the long term, keep rising. SELL Over the past three years prices for amber have rocketed. This boom has been driven by Chinese demand, so now amber is often included in the Asian rather than jewellery section of sales. The sudden rise in prices has brought a lot of amber onto the market, which may result in prices beginning to slide. I recommend selling before…

Luxury living is at the heart of Crucial Trading and with nearly 30 years of industry experience and over 75 designs available in wool, plant fibre or mixed fibres, consumers really are spoilt for choice. Whether it’s a luxurious wool or plant fibre floor covering such as sisal, jute, coir or seagrass, each range has been made to designs using the finest natural materials. Known for its innovative and trend-setting floor coverings, Crucial Trading makes it a priority to remain at the forefront of creative design. Customers can also design their own bespoke rug or runner using Crucial Trading’s Rug Builder tool. Use a floor covering of choice as a base and customise with borders and piping available in a large selection of colours and materials. crucial-trading.com ENTER NOW To…

Profile THE OWNER Patrick Cook lives in the house with his partner Imogen. Patrick is a sculptor and artist. The couple run The Bakelite Museum and cafe, located in the adjoining building (bakelitemuseum.co.uk). THE PROPERTY The couple live in this 1780s country house and former water mill in Somerset. It has three floors: the kitchen and dining room are on the ground floor; living room, study and bedroom are spread, open-plan, across the first; and there is another bedroom above. Next door, in the former watermill, is The Bakelite Museum and cafe. Four o’clock in the morning, for students these days, is often prime time for seeking out a kebab or perhaps a night bus home. Not so for Patrick Cook. When he was an art student at Goldsmiths in…

The flat has plenty of original features, high ceilings and what Alistair describes as a ‘real sense of space’ Profile THE OWNERS Husband and wife team Alistair and Deborah Burnside are co-owners of Attic, two adjoining industrial vintage furniture and homeware shops in Hampton Hill, south-west London (discoverattic.com). THE PROPERTY Their two-bedroom split-level flat is located in a Victorian house in East Molesey, Surrey. It has a living room and kitchen on the first floor, while upstairs there are two bedrooms and a bathroom. Alistair and Deborah Burnside’s love affair with industrial vintage began 18 years ago, when the term was yet to be coined. At that time, both had experience of working in the interiors world. Deborah had been employed as a display manager at Habitat for 10 years…

On the rare occasion that a piece wasn’t passed down through family, it was acquired with the house – as is the case with the still-working Godin cooker Profile THE OWNER Pierre Génin lives here with his wife Céline. Pierre owns Lum’art, an artisanal lighting company, while Céline is an artist. lumart.fr THE PROPERTY The chateau, in France’s Beuce region (between the Seine and Loire rivers) has a kitchen, two dining rooms, sitting room and billiard room plus several bedrooms. Outside is a windmill, a greenhouse and a studio in what was formerly a cider mill. ‘We are a family of keepers,’ says Pierre Génin of the handsome furnishings that fill the home he shares with his wife Céline. ‘I was born into a family with a taste for home…

About Judith JUDITH MILLER is a leading antiques expert. She is one of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow experts and has written more than 100 books covering antiques, collectables and interior design. Here, we ask her to choose her favourite room from the houses featured in the issue and explain what makes it so interesting. CARVED MARBLE MANTELPIECE The marble chimney piece in the library is an exact late 1980s replica of the original installed by Henry Holland (architect of Carlton House) when he partly remodelled Spencer House in the late 1780s. The original was transferred to the Spencer family’s country estate, Althorp, during the Blitz in 1942. Its overall form sits happily with the rectilinear aesthetic of the neoclassical style of the room, but the curvaceousness…

1 VERSATILE PATTERN Decorative designs have adorned floors for centuries. Nature, eastern influences and a modern take on classic design are themes currently enjoying a revival. ‘It not only adds an interesting depth to a room but also provides personality,’ says Emma Hopkins of Crucial Trading. Natalie Littlehales of Brintons also highlights the practicality of pattern for high-traffic areas. It can also pay to look to pattern when enhancing proportion and Lee Thornley of Bert & May advocates ‘stripes to elongate or widen a space and add depth’. 2 LOOK TO THE PAST For timeless appeal opt for historical designs, whether in carpets or hard floors. ‘A vintage rug will instantly inject authenticity of colour and design into a room,’ say the experts at London House Rugs. For permanence underfoot,…

NICKY HASLAM Nicky has been an interior designer since the 1960s and is renowned for his romantic style. He often uses antiques both in his design projects and in his own home, a Gothic-style folly that he showcases in his book Folly de Grandeur: Romance and Revival in an English Country House (Jacqui Small, 2013). nh-design.co.uk SOPHIE CONRAN Sophie Conran is a designer and cookery writer, daughter of Sir Terence Conran. She launched her online shop, stocking crockery, glassware, textiles and gardening products, in 2013. She regularly hunts for antiques for both her home and for design inspiration. sophieconran.com MARK HILL Antiques specialist Mark has presented numerous television programmes and appeared expert on Antiques Roadshow. He co-authored Miller’s Collectables Price Guides (latest edition due out this spring). His latest book…

1 THE MASTER MAKERS In the early Renaissance the technique for coating glass with a mercury-tin amalgam was perfected. The glass makers of Venice ran with the idea and by the 16th century the city led the world in mirror production. Mirror plates were difficult to make and were small, but they were highly prized and would be lavishly decorated, like this one from the Victoria and Albert Museum. Made between 1575 and 1600, it features fine Persian-inspired lacquerwork inlaid with mother of pearl. ‘Venice was a city of merchants bringing back goods from the East,’ says Lennox Cato, Antiques Roadshow expert and dealer at Edenbridge Galleries. ‘Everything came into Venice and was distributed to Europe from there and Venetians had money. Mirrors were made for these wealthy people to…

Les Deux Filles oil on canvas, painted in 1918, sold for £7,586,500 in February 2015 at Christie’s London Modigliani painted one of his lovers, a writer, many times. Beatrice Hastings, 1916, sold for just over $16m (£10.5m) at Christie’s in New York in May 2015 Femme Assise Devant une Cheminée (Beatrice Hastings), painted in 1915, sold at Christie’s in New York in 1995 for nearly $1.5m (about £980,000) Modigliani’s Paulette Jourdain, painted c1919, sold for almost $43m (£28.2m) in a sale at Sotheby’s New York in November 2015 The stone sculpture Tête (1911–12) was the most expensive work by Modigliani before the sale of Nu Couché, having sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $70.7m (£46.6m) in November 2014…

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My mother bought this sculpture in Miami in the 1970s. She found it in the back room of a gallery that was staging a show of my father Lynn Chadwick’s work. She said she had bought it for the children but I remember it being kept on a high shelf. It was too good for us, really. Sadly, I don’t know who created it. Nobody does. It’s a fantastically beautiful thing, especially with light coming through it. It’s on a windowsill in what we call the Star Chamber, a little room with a vaulted ceiling painted with stars where we keep my father’s most significant works. I call it ‘the blocks’. The pieces are separate and can be moved: sometimes I find the children have rearranged it into a tower…

COUNTRY FURNITURE Simple pieces made by travelling journeymen in the 18th and 19th centuries are much loved today p46 MIRROR, MIRROR Venice led the world’s mirror production in the 1500s, yet the production method was a closely guarded secret p130 MODIGLIANI The story behind the sale of the Italian artist’s Nu Couché , which sold at auction for £113m p136 VINTAGE SIGNS Using antique and vintage advertising signs in your home is an on-trend way to create impact p83 OPEN HOUSE The neoclassical interiors of Spencer House were created for an ancestor of Lady Diana in the 18th century p92 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…

Forgotten toy I recently came across a toy robot given to me in the late 1950s/early 1960s. The trademark says ‘Modern Toys, Japan’. My father, who was in the merchant navy, may have brought it back for me or he may have bought it in this country. It was battery operated but the control box for the robot was attacked by the battery acid and was removed. Could you advise if there is someone I could contact about buying a replacement control box? PAUL LYONS, CWMBRAN A tempting distraction As I returned from a lovely walk, the postman brought the January issue of H&A. It looks so pretty. A cup of coffee, a chair in a sunny spot and I was sucked into H&A all too easily. Dipping into the…

With spring around the corner and Valentine’s upon us, it’s surely time for a bouquet or two to brighten the house. One of our favourite stops is Nikki Tibble’s Wild At Heart flower shop amid the antiques dealers on Pimlico Road. It’s a sumptuous, old-fashioned florist where romantic blooms tumble from every nook. If you delve around you’ll also find interiors bits chosen by Nikki herself. This month H&A has teamed up with the Wild At Heart team to offer two readers the chance to each win a seasonal pink and lilac deluxe bouquet, worth £90, and a Nikki Tibbles scented candle, worth £38. To enter, send your name, address, phone number and email on a postcard marked ‘Nikki Tibbles’ to the address on page 161. 020 7229 1174; wildatheart.com…

Just as boho chic began enjoying its 1970s heyday, a new boutique popped up on the scene. Graham & Green, an interiors shop with an international flavour, opened in Notting Hill, founded by Antonia Graham and her part-time business partner Henrietta Green. As a young girl, Antonia spent many a holiday visiting her grandfather in Cairo and her great uncle in Morocco. Inspired by what she saw at the Moroccan souks, Antonia began to travel further afield in search of beautiful homewares and antiques. She sought out kilims in Istanbul, lanterns in Beijing and prints in India that she would then bring back and sell on her stall on Portobello Road and later at The Stock Design Company, London’s first lifestyle shop. In 1974, with Henrietta, Antonia opened the first…

Until her death in 2001, Lady Rosamund Holland-Martin lived at Bell’s Castle near Tewkesbury and covered the walls there with her collection of around 40 early to mid-19th-century watercolour portraits. This special cache is up for sale at Chorley’s Fine Art, Antiques & Collectables on 26th January, with estimates from £80 to £800. Here are a few highlights… Richard Smith’s wonderfully romantic watercolour of a serious-minded young man, Portrait of a Cleric (51 x 41.5cm), is signed by the artist, dated 1848 and estimated at £400 to £600. This early 19th-century pencil and watercolour portrait with costume typical of the Regency period, Mother and Two Children (35.5 x 26.5cm), is attributed to the artist Henry Eldridge and estimated to fetch £300 to £500. The artist George Edward Hicks painted Portrait…

• 2nd Impressionist & Modern Art, Christie’s King Street, St James’s, London. 020 7839 9060; christies.com • 2nd 20th Century Decorative Art & Design, Sworders, Cambridge Rd, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. 01279 817778; sworder.co.uk • 5th Books, Maps & Manuscripts, Lawrences, The Linen Yard, South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset. 01460 73041; lawrences.co.uk • 6th Fine Art, Antiques & Collectables, Fieldings, Stourbridge, West Midlands. 01384 444140; fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk • 6th Art & Antiques, Roseberys, 74-76 Knights Hill, West Norwood, London. 020 8761 2522; roseberys.co.uk • 9th Tribal Art & Antiquities, Woolley & Wallis, 51-61 Castle Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire. 01722 424500; woolleyandwallis.co.uk • 9th Lalique, Christie’s South Kensington, 85 Old Brompton Road, London SW7. 020 7930 6074; christies.com • 11th Antique & Modern Jewellery, Fellows, Augusta House, 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham. 0121 212 2131; fellows.co.uk…

CONSTABLE AT THE LIGHTBOX Our preoccupation with the weather is at the crux of The Lightbox in Woking’s Constable exhibition (13th February to 8th May), focusing on the painter’s fascination with the way it could change a landscape. 01483 737800; thelightbox.org.uk IMRAN QURESHI AT THE BARBICAN In his tiny paintings Imran Qureshi reinvigorates artistic traditions of the 16th century Mughal court. See his works at the Barbican from 18th February to 10th July. 020 7638 8891; barbican.org.uk LAURIE LEE AT THE WORKS ON PAPER FAIR The author best known for writing Cider for Rosie and other classics was also an artist with Bloomsbury-esque appeal. Alongside 50 dealers selling prints, watercolours and paintings, you’ll find a rarely seen selection of Lee’s drawings at the Works on Paper Fair from 11th to…

From his studio in the Wiltshire countryside, furniture designer George Winks turns out beautifully crafted desks, chairs, tables and stools made from local English hardwoods, but his furniture is anything but rustic. Instead George and his team at Temper Studio produce understated contemporary pieces that often incorporate that most modern of materials: concrete. Having come from an art background with no formal training in woodworking, George’s approach to making is as imaginative as his furniture. He has learnt much of what he knows from the internet and is evangelical about it as a teaching tool. ‘To learn a skill all you need is for someone to explain how to do it, then you practise. Anything you need to know is online, you just have to go and look it up.’…

The Windsor is an umbrella term for robust chair designs, with or without arms, made in the same way. They have turned rod or spindle legs inserted into holes in the underside of the seat, and a turned rod or spindle backrest and arms inserted into holes in the topside of the seat, plus a bentwood back rail. They date back to the early 1700s and continued to be made throughout the 1800s in huge numbers in the Thames Valley, thanks to the abundance of ash, elm and beech there. By the 19th century it is estimated that 4,500 Windsor chairs were made each day in the epicentre of production, High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire – still a centre of furniture production today. A typical 19th-century Windsor chair from this area…

Abingdon House Antiques, 236 High Street, Honiton, Devon. 01404 42108; abingdonhouseantiques.co.uk ‘This traditional centre has a good selection of furniture, taxidermy, Georgian prints and the odd rocking horse,’ says Patrick. Dekorative Kollective, 18 Market Street, Crewkerne, Somerset. 01460 75500 ‘The recently established Dekorative Kollective sells everything from Georgian furniture to steam punk items.’ Old Bank Antiques Centre, 16–17 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath. 01225 469282; oldbankantiquescentre.com ‘This Bath antiques centre includes a wonderful selection of decorative and curious items, all displayed in such a splendid setting.’ Taunton Antiques Market, 27–29 Silver Street, Taunton. 01823 289327 ‘This indoor market is a labyrinth of stalls and stock. It’s only open on Mondays.’…

ABC Carpet and Home, 888 & 881 Broadway, New York. +1 212 473 3000; abchome.com ‘It takes up pretty much a whole city block and it contains floor after floor of the best in interiors, antiques and design,’ says Alistair. Fishs Eddy, 889 Broadway at 19th Street, New York. +1 212 420 9020; fishseddy.com ‘This store is great for vintage ceramics, china and glassware. In fact, the whole Flat Iron district in New York City is so good for homewares. We love it.’ Lewes Flea Market, 14a Market St, Lewes. 01273 480328; flea-markets.co.uk ‘We always find some good vintage bargains here, everything from furniture to accessories and curios.’ Marché Aux Puces, Avenue de la Porte de Clignancourt, 18e, Paris. +33 1 40 12 32 58; marcheauxpucessaintouen.com marcheauxpucessaintouen.com ‘Inspiring! Particularly Quintessence,…

Antiquities Lassaussois, 17 rue des Changes, 28000, Chartres, France. +33 (0)237213774; antiquiteslassaussois.com ‘Hugues Lassaussois sells the best assortment of 18th-century antiques,’ says Pierre. Charles Burger, 4 rue du Mail, 75002, Paris, France +33 (0)142974619; charles-burger.fr ‘Quite a lot of fabrics in our home have been chosen from Burger, an old family company located in Paris with a huge range of fabrics – ranging from tartan to 18th-century Indiennes.’ Galerie de Chartres, 10 rue Claude Bernard, 28630, Le Coudray Chartres, France. +33 (0)237882828; ivoire-chartres.com ‘Maître Jean-Pierre Lelièvre manages one of the most important auction houses in France. The sales contain interesting pieces of furniture from the 19th century.’…

1 Fellows Auctioneers Fellows holds over 100 auctions each year. As specialists in a variety of fields and with an auction to cater for every need, its continually changing inventory makes Fellows a hub of excitement for lovers of watches, jewellery and antiques. Forthcoming sales: 4th February – Fortnightly auction of Jewellery 11th February – Antique & Modern Jewellery 15th February – Coins & Medals 23rd February – The Watch Sale Augusta House, 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham, B18 6JA fellows.co.uk 0121 222 7666; 020 7127 4198 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…

MID-CENTURY SNUG ‘Designer Dee Hardwick’s “Lattice” (£42.95 per sq m) is one of Harvey Maria’s latest luxury vinyl tiles. It harks back to intricate patterns popular in the 1940s. Inspired by scattered petals, the tiles are coloured in the organic red, blue and green of mid-century modern style,’ says Alice Dunbar, design consultant at Harvey Maria. Mid-century sewing box in teak veneer, £40, Raspberry Mash GEORGIAN MORNING ROOM ‘Inspired by grand Georgian houses and their patterned marble floors, our “Elite” modular mosaic marble (£392 per sq m) is produced using a hydrojet cutting technique. It’s ideal for covering expansive surfaces with impressive yet understated elegance,’ says Paola Ciarmatori Tanini, art director at Devon & Devon. Irish mahogany breakfast table, c1830, £2,900, Thakeham Furniture ART NOUVEAU STUDY ‘“Comillas” (£49.99 per sq…

Buying vintage and antique fashion and textiles at auction is becoming increasingly popular, and regional auction houses are starting to dip their toes in the water, emulating the success of the leading London auction house Kerry Taylor Auctions. The Bristol Auction Rooms is one such pioneer and three times a year it becomes a hotspot for hunters of clothes, accessories and textiles as it mounts its specialist sale. Sale regulars from around the country arrange an overnight trip to Bristol in order to bid on the 400 or so lots carrying pre-sale estimates of £80 to £1,500. Others book phone lines or bid doggedly online as the sale unfolds over five or six hours. Their quarry includes everything from 1920s leather shoes and cloche hats, to 1950s floral dresses by…

James Driscoll of Driscolls Antiques recommends three options for cleaning antique mirror glass. The first is to wipe with a lint free cloth, dampened with a drop of methylated spirit. The second is to add a few drops of ammonia to a bucket of water and use that, ensuring that the cloth is well wrung out first. The third is to use a bit of paraffin on your cloth. The most important thing, says James, is to ensure that no moisture gets behind the glass as this can lead to foxing (the fogging of the silver). While this can add to the charm of an antique piece, if it gets too bad you will no longer be able to see your reflection in the glass. So what can you do…

What is often overlooked amid all the headlines of record prices is that you can still buy at auction works by the great names of Impressionist and modern art for more affordable prices. Estimates start at a couple of thousand pounds for works on paper (in pencil, ink or paint), or for prints or ceramics (Picasso ceramics, for example).…

Artistic ReTreats Looking for some relaxation time with a difference? At Artistic ReTreats we offer a range of art-based workshops run from our purpose-built studio in rural Northamptonshire. Learn how to turn recycled textiles into beautiful sculpture, play with mixed media techniques and image transfer, or create a textured canvas – the choice is yours. artisticretreats.co.uk info@artisticretreats.co.uk Quirky Workshop, North Lakes Traditional longbow making, cob oven building, artisan cheesemaking, bread and scones, sculpture in stone, wood engraving/whittling, silver jewellery, glass, printing, willow and wire sculptures, blacksmithing, textiles, Emma Tennant rugs, felt, weave, spin, stitch. Lovely relaxed days of discovery and making. greystokecyclecafe.co.uk/workshops.htm 01768 483984 Pottery Summer School Create contemporary fine art pottery or design and make a pottery collection. Our five-day courses at Nottingham Trent University take you through the…

NORTH & SCOTLAND 14th The Vintage Village, Stockport Covered Market Hall, Market Place, Stockport SK1 1EU. 10am–4pm. Free. thevintagevillage.co.uk 11th–14th Chester Antiques Show, Chester Racecourse, Watergate Sq, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2LY. 10.30am–5.30pm (closes 5pm Sunday). £5. 01886 833091; penman–fairs.co.uk 19th–21st Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Stonyhurst College, Nr Clitheroe, Lancs, BB7 9PZ. 01423 522122; gallowayfairs.co.uk 26th–28th Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Scone Palace, Perth, PH2 6BD. 10.30am–5pm. £5. 01423 522122; gallowayfairs.co.uk 27th–28th Edinburgh Antiques & Collectors Fair, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB. 10am–4.30pm (closes 4pm Sunday). £4. 01636 676531; b2bevents.info WEST & WALES 6th Vintage & Retro Fair, St Peter’s Civic Hall, Carmarthen, SA31 1PG. 10am–5pm. £2. 01267 220260; derwenantiques.co.uk 7th Liberty Green Antiques and Collectables Fair, Beaufort Park Hotel, Flintshire, CH7 6RQ. 9am–4pm. £1. 07572…

Guys and Dolls at the Savoy Theatre Don’t miss the ‘scintillating revival’ (Financial Times) as the highly acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production of Guys and Dolls heads to the West End for a strictly limited run The sizzling New York tale of gamblers, gangsters and nightclub singers will leave you ‘exhilarated’ (The Guardian), with a glorious evening featuring some of Broadway’s greatest show-stopping tunes. A cast and orchestra of over 40 is led by Sophie Thompson as the long-suffering Miss Adelaide, David Haigh as Nathan, with Jamie Parker reprising his terrific Sky Masterson, and Siobhan Harrison as the pious Salvation Army sergeant Sarah Brown. H&A readers can purchase a Band A ticket to Guys and Dolls for £65 and will receive a complimentary glass of prosecco upon arrival…

Sally Denning A freelance interiors stylist, Sally works for numerous international clients and created the looks for our country furniture feature (p46). ‘I adore wood and being able to take beautiful antiques and style them in a contemporary setting was a joy,’ she says. ‘The best bit is that you know each piece has a story to tell.’ Katie Hallett This issue H&A’s houses editor Katie spoke to Patrick Cook, owner of the Bakelite Museum, whose home we feature on page 66. ‘We met in Bristol Museum, where Patrick’s 1930s Bakelite coffin is on display,’ she says. ‘Patrick had fascinating stories – even as a student he would spend all his grant money acquiring pieces.’ Judith Miller Each month leading antiques expert Judith Miller takes an in-depth look at a…

LISA LLOYD Miscellaneous expert for the Antiques Roadshow ‘Modern Toys’ is the trademark of Japanese company Masudaya, a leading manufacturer of battery-operated toys in the post-war period. Your robot dates from the 1950s, when space toys were hugely popular, particularly after the appearance of Robbie the Robot in the 1956 film Forbidden Planet . Masudaya made a variety of robots with different actions, some of which are extremely rare. The R-35 walked forwards and backwards, with swinging arms and flashing eyes. It is one of the more commonly found robots and in good condition achieves £100–£150 at auction. Incomplete it is likely to fetch £30–£40. Finding replacement parts is difficult but there are a number of toy collector’s websites, such as antiquemetaltoy.com, which may be able to assist.…

STORING IT Looking for somewhere to store all the things that appeared thanks to Christmas? Storage solutions don’t get much more glamorous than Atkin & Thyme’s brass inlaid ‘Amber’ sideboard (£479), inspired by art deco and handcrafted from mango wood. Get the year off to a golden (and tidy) start. * 0844 409 9834; atkinandthyme.co.uk STYLE STEER Carefully consider the colours you display antiques against. Give them the right shades and they will sing. Strong, authentic colours from nature, such as turquoise, can be wonderful. The earth pigments that I use have a tonality which really works with other natural materials including wood, stones, gilt and antique textiles. Edward Bulmer, designer and director, Edward Bulmer Pots of Paint A SALE OF NOTE A STORY OF SILVER ‘There’s nothing more exciting…

WHO Chris Holmes has an eye for the rare and exceptional, which he thinks he inherited from his mother. ‘At an early age I was dragged around everything from country houses to car boot sales,’ he says. WHAT Pieces only make it into his shop if there is something unique about them – whether that means the unusual colours of handblown Victorian bottles (£5 apiece) or a truly exceptional 1650s Spanish carving depicting St Michael with the devil, currently adorning the window and on sale for £10,000. WHERE Originally from North Yorkshire, Chris set up shop in Harrogate five years ago and describes himself as ‘an old-fashioned type of dealer’. Though he has been avoiding selling online, buyers from further afield will be glad to know that he has recently…

This new book takes a private tour of the most chic ateliers in Paris, from Jean Paul Gaultier to Maison Chanel, as well as a look inside Coco Chanel’s beautiful Parisian apartment. (Abrams, £33) It seems that the dandy is making a comeback. So take inspiration from Reigning Men, a gallery-like book that stitches together the history of men’s fashions from the early 18th-century to today’s Savile Row tailoring. (Prestel, £35) Fashion designer Wayne Hemingway (who picks his favourite shops on p115) charts the evolution of 20th-century fashion in his new book. One for vintage fans seeking retro inspiration (Hemingway Design, £20)…

AND SO TO BED Estimate: £1,000–£2,000 This is not just any chair. It’s an early version of a sofa bed. Made during the reign of George II, this Anglo-Dutch example looks like a double-width chair but unfolds to become a comfortable single bed with a canopy. The earliest references to day beds come from Henry VIII’s court. Examples like this one were often used by the military on campaign. Hammer: £2,200 * 01223 213343; cheffins.co.uk LIFE IN MINIATURE Estimate: £1,000–£2,000 These two sets of portrait miniatures were the top-selling lot in antiques expert and TV presenter Catherine Southon’s most successful sale since opening her auction house in November 2014. The rare sets show members of the Punjabi royal family in the 19th century and were bought by a collector of…

TO BE FRANK You don’t see many canvases as thickly layered with paint as those of Frank Auerbach. One of the UK’s most famed contemporary painters, he has lived and worked in the same part of London for 50 years, obsessively capturing its streets and people. Tate Britain’s exhibition is as much a testament to the place in which he lives as well as his work, which is often compared to that of Francis Bacon. * Until 13th March. Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. 020 7887 8888; tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain Snow wonder If you thought all snowdrops looked the same, think again. At Rode Hall a carpet of 70 varieties of snowdrops, the first planted by Sibella Wilbraham in 1833, surrounds the Grade II-listed house. As the flowers begin to emerge…

Of all the antiques fairs in London, The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair is my favourite. There are more expensive fairs and, arguably, some that are more prestigious but, if you’re into decorative antiques, it’s the best by a country mile. I love the friendly atmosphere. It’s like a fantastic five-day market with dealers who really go to town on their stands. The visitors, who include the best international dealers and interior decorators as well as celebrities, are low-key. The dealers are allowed to remove and replace any stock that sells immediately, so there is an intense atmosphere because if visitors buy something, they can take it away there and then. I’m now on the Standards Committee for the fair and I’ve had stands there for my business too. At…

HOME OF THE MONTH WE DELVE into the history of Spencer House – which was one of the first examples of neoclassical interiors in England. Today, it’s regarded as one of the last surviving great private palaces in London, thanks in part to an extensive restoration project. Judith Miller weighs in on its beautiful study (pictured, left).…

WHERE TO BUY • Adams Antiques, Churches Mansion, 150 Hospital Street, Nantwich, Cheshire. 01270 625643; adams-antiques.com • Bonhams holds three Oak Interior sales a year. 020 7447 7447; bonhams.com • Robert Hirschhorn, London, by appointment. 020 7703 7443; hirschhornantiques.com • Robert Young Antiques, 68 Battersea Bridge Road, London. 020 7228 7847; robertyoungantiques.com • Tim Bowen Antiques, Ivy House, Ferryside, Carmarthenshire. 01267 267122; timbowenantiques.co.uk • Find dealers: British Antique Dealers’ Association (bada.org); Lapada (lapada.org); sellingantiques.co.uk WHERE TO SEE • The Geffrye Museum, London, has the Cotton Collection of English Regional Chairs. See a selection online. 020 7739 9893; geffrye-museum.org.uk • Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore, Scotland, holds an important collection (reopens 24th March). 01540 673551; highlifehighland.com/ highlandfolkmuseum • The Lincolnshire Chair Museum has 150 historic chairs collected by William Sergeant. See a…

Invented in 1907, Bakelite – one of the first ‘plastics’ – revolutionised radio design. From being just wooden boxes, now radios could take various forms, from rockets to globes. Raymond Loewy, one of America’s most prolific industrial designers, featured a globe in his ‘New World Radio’ for the Colonial Radio Company in 1932 (above). ‘The design encapsulates the idea of communication around the world,’ says Patrick. ‘It was the first important piece of Bakelite I bought in the early 1980s. It was a luxurious piece in its time and it took me a while to save up for it!’ To buy a Bakelite radio, try On The Air (07778 767734; vintageradio.co.uk), – which sells examples from £95 – or 1stDibs (1stdibs.com).…

From advertising a tinsmith’s services to directing rail passengers to the ticket booth, signs were used everywhere and anywhere in the Victorian and Edwardian periods. There’s something about their colours, fonts, graphics and subject matter that tick the right boxes, making old signs highly popular collectors’ items that look particularly good hung on walls in the home. Street names, telephone kiosks, Colman’s Mustard – you name it, there’s a sign for every taste and interest. It’s an abundant collecting field and prices are good too; you can pick up a vintage sign for around £50 from flea markets and antiques shops. However, prices do leap up for older signs or those with an interesting provenance – remember the ladies’ loo sign from The Ivy (featured in Sale Story, in our…

Romance lies at the core of Spencer House. So too does political ambition and artistic patronage on a lavish scale. From the outset the opulent residence, built for one of England’s most powerful aristocrats, was hailed as London’s loveliest building. Today, it is recognised as the last great 18th-century private palace in London to survive intact, as well as a trailblazer of neoclassical architecture, the enduring style that through the 19th century and beyond became synonymous with refinement and good taste. ‘I know not in England a more beautiful piece of architecture,’ wrote 18th-century writer Arthur Young. Many have since echoed his view. Stripped out Being owned by one of England’s most influential families hasn’t protected Spencer House from a roller coaster history. In 1926, the Spencer family (Princess Diana’s…

FLOORING From subtle to statement, discover the latest way to use pattern in interiors with our guide to classic and on-trend styles PAGE 105 MIRRORS From polished copper in ancient times to public sculptures today, we reflect on the human love affair with mirrors PAGE 130 MODIGLIANI As one of his nudes sells for £113m, the second highest auction price for a work of art, we uncover this painter’s allure PAGE 136 TEXTILES Our preview of the hottest textile auction of the season, featuring fashion, accessories and samplers PAGE 124…

What’s hot The Horrockses label is the holy grail for lovers of the late 1940s and 50s ‘New Look’ style originally created by Christian Dior (flared skirts, waspy waists) and widely copied and reinterpreted by makers of ready-to-wear clothes. Horrockses’ cotton dresses sported bold patterns ranging from roses and spots to cakes, coronets and bananas, and were made in Manchester. The dresses were not cheap – they cost £4–£7 at the time, the equivalent of around £200 today – and were worn by celebrities and the royal family as well as women who saved up for something special. For more about the label, read Horrockses Fashions: Off-the-Peg Style in the 40s and 50s by Christine Boydell. Collectors also like 1950s pieces by quality Halifax label Harella, and early Frank Usher…

LILLE MÉTROPOLE MUSEUM A retrospective exhibition on the work of Modigliani, The Inner Eye, opens at the Lille Métropole Museum of Modern Art in February. The museum has several paintings and drawings by the artist in its collection and will present around 100 works by him. From 27th February to 5th June. 1 allée du Musée, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq, Lille, France. +33 (0)320 196868; musee-lam.fr ESTORICK COLLECTION OF MODERN ITALIAN ART 39a Canonbury Square, London, N1 2AN. 020 7704 9522; estorickcollection.com THE COURTAULD GALLERY The gallery’s collection includes one of Modigliani’s most famous masterpieces Female Nude c1916, one of a series of nudes that he painted. Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 0RN. 20 7848 2777; courtauld.ac.uk BOOKS Modigliani by Doris Krystof (Taschen, hardcover reprint, 2015) Modigliani: A…

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HISTORY TRAIL Newark’s International Antiques & Collectors Fair takes place every other month and is one of the biggest in Europe. The next event is on 4th and 5th February, a chance for hardy antiques hunters to brave the cold and snap up some gems while their fair-weather counterparts hide under a warm eiderdown. Apart from the fair, there are plenty more reasons to visit Nottinghamshire. The pretty market town of Newark is an attraction in its own right. Its 12th-century castle was a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War and withstood three sieges. If you’re in town on a Monday or Thursday, visit the antiques and collectables market in the cobbled central square. The whole county is packed with heritage sites and one of its finest is…

2-FOR-1 7th Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, London, SW3 5EE. 11am–5.30pm. £4. 020 7503 9171; frockmevintagefashion.com 2-FOR-1 14th Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair Valentine’s Special, The Urdang Academy, The Old Finsbury Town Hall, Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4RP. 11am–5pm. £4. clerkenwellvintagefashionfair.co.uk 2-FOR-1 28th Adams Antiques Fair, Lindley Hall, The Royal Horticultural Halls, Elverton Street, London, SW1P. 10am–4.30pm. £4. 020 7254 4054; adamsantiquesfairs.com 2-FOR-1 Present this page on entry to buy two tickets for the price of one VISIT homesandantiques.com for current fairs listings…

1 Hemswell Antiques Centre Antiques centre Visit the home of Europe’s largest range of antiques and collectables, with approximately 400 dealers in four large buildings. A wide range of stock is always on display, including period furniture, decorative antiques, vintage, retro, clocks, mirrors, books, lighting, linen, silver, glass, jewellery, ceramics, paintings, and leather and sporting goods. Nationwide delivery available. • Open seven days a week, 10am–5pm. Caenby Corner Estate, Hemswell Cliff, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 5TJ hemswell-antiques.com 01427 668389 2 The Old Flight House Antiques centre The Old Flight House is a refreshingly different antiques centre. It has a fantastic range, from quality traditional antiques to vintage and retro items and stunning painted furniture, all set out in beautiful light and spacious surroundings. A licensed cafe serves good coffee and freshly…

A Anglepoise 02392 224450; anglepoise.com Annie Wharton Designs 07901 555254; anniewharton.co.uk Anthropologie 00800 0026 8476; anthropologie.com Attic 020 8943 9626; discoverattic.com B Baileys Home 01989 561931; baileyshome.com Bathstore bathstore.com Briggs and Oliver 01484 686092; briggsandoliver.com Bronte by Moon brontebymoon.co.uk Brownrigg Interiors 01666 500850; brownrigg-interiors.co.uk C Chesney’s 020 7627 1410; chesneys.co.uk The Chelsea Gardener 020 7352 5656; chelseagardener.com Christy Towels 0845 758 5252; christy-towels.com Crucial Trading 020 7376 7100; crucial-trading.com Crystal Corner 07721 518815; crystal-corner.co.uk Cynthia Walmsley 0115 941 7061; c-walmsley.co.uk D David Shuttle 01494 677665; davidshuttle.com Dove St Pottery 07425 132291; dovestpottery.co.uk E Ebury Trading 020 7881 0881; eburytrading.com Elemental 020 7247 7588; elemental.uk.com F Farrow & Ball 01202 876141; farrow-ball.com Fermoie Fabrics 01672 513723; fermoie.com Fired Earth 01295 814396; firedearth.com The French Bed Company 01799 542847; thefrenchbedcompany.co.uk H Habitat…