Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 i Homes & Antiques

I have a confession… We love Christmas at H&A and have been planning this special December issue for you since July (when admittedly it felt very unseasonal). It may therefore not come as a surprise to read that preparing for Christmas is perhaps our favourite part of the season. It’s about the feeling we get from finding a loved one the most perfect present, and that moment when we step back to admire our handiwork on the tree, all of which adds to the magical anticipation of the big day, when we can relax and enjoy the revelry. This year, we pooled our knowledge to bring you an inspiring and advice-laden issue to make this happen for you too. We have tips from top industry experts on how to create…

Viennese treasure I was given this trinket box by an elderly relative. After some research, the hallmarks suggest that it may be one of Hermann Ratzersdorfer’s pieces in Viennese silver gilt. As you can see, it looks like it was once covered in coloured enamel. Although it is rather worn, I still like it. Is it of any value in this sorry state? KAREN FERRIE, VIA EMAIL Twice is better than once Jessica Barrah’s letter published in the September issue of Homes & Antiques reminded me of the time when my son asked if I would like my subscription to the magazine renewing. He stared at me in disbelief when I told him, ‘Definitely, as I read it from cover to cover… including the adverts!’ I then admitted to him…

Warm pinpricks of light glow from every inch of the walls of Hector Finch’s lighting shop on Wandsworth Bridge Road in London. The bulbs are all electric now but the Finch family’s history in the lighting business stretches back to candles. In 1882 Hector’s grandfather set up Hayes & Finch, which became the country’s largest ecclesiastical candle maker. His father, Mark, opened up his own antiques shop. When Hector came to the business, he combined the two family business interests in his own antique light dealership. Realising that there was a demand for new lighting to fit into period homes, he opened his first lighting shop in Chiswick, London in the 1980s. It was there he met his wife Emma, who came in to buy a light and has never…

HISTORY WITH HOCKNEY Taking the form of a conversation between British artist David Hockney and his friend, the art critic Martin Gayford, this book sets out to investigate the history of pictures. With all sorts of two-dimensional forms accounted for, the pictures aren’t Hockney’s, but illustrative examples that he has picked out from cave paintings to stills of Casablanca. * A History of Pictures (Thames and Hudson, £29.95) AFFAIR OF THE ART It’s one thing seeing art from afar, it’s quite another getting up close to oily brushstrokes and minute details on the canvas. Of course that’s not always possible, which is what makes this book such a pleasure. In it, art historian Susie Hodge maximises the benefits of high resolution photography to present the most interesting and least noticed…

Sloping off Even if you’re not heading to the slopes this season, AntikBar’s exhibition of original winter sports advertising posters has glorious golden age of travel appeal. Originally produced to entice holidaymakers to the Alps, not many have survived, making them worthy winter investments. * Until 10th December. 404 King’s Road, London, SW10 0LJ. 020 7352 9309; antikbar.co.uk CURTAIN CALL Regency-era theatre could be really quite exciting: live cannons on stage, water tanks lled with boats… All this and more is celebrated in the Bodleian Library’s exhibition, Staging History, which looks at the Georgian fascination with enacting historical events. Early maps, scores and tiny maquette models of stages from the Bodleian’s archive are all fascinating vignettes of a theatrical age. * Until 8th Jan. Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG. 01865…

GOLFING FOR GOLD Estimate: £20,000–£30,000 The auction at Christie’s of this gold medal from the 1904 St Louis Olympics was a particularly timely one. It was awarded the last time that golf was played at the Olympics, 112 years before its reintroduction at the 2016 Rio games. The 1904 winner was American amateur golfer Robert E Hunter, a 17-year-old from Chicago, who achieved it as part of a dominant American team; no doubt a little home ground support helped. The St Louis Olympics (only the third of the modern era) was one of many firsts – it was the earliest to be held in a majority English-speaking nation and the first to be hosted outside Europe. It was also the first Olympics to award gold, silver and bronze medals. That…

Picture the Christmas table – glimmering candles, shining glasses, buffed-up silver, sprigs of holly… And, amid it all, the roast. Stuffed, trussed, basted and heaped with potatoes, more often than not your joint of choice sits atop a much-loved celebration platter, brought out especially for the occasion. Platters have been in production ever since we began to sit and share food. The earliest surviving British example is a wooden dish dating to the first century AD. Turkey, our number one Christmas roast, is a newer addition, thought to have been brought back from America in 1526 by Yorkshireman William Strickland. Thankfully, we haven’t as far to go for our festive joint these days. Just make sure your serving dish is sizeable enough for the feast!…

HOME OF THE MONTH THOSE AVERSE to opulence and drama should look away now. Rachel Bates’s home is a lesson in decorating with colour, pattern and elegance. Antiques are teamed with new textiles and even used as inspiration for Rachel’s own designs. This is a home where pieces from the past are taken very seriously indeed. PAGE 72…

WHERE TO SEE • Arts & Crafts Museum at The Wilson, Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3JT. 01242 237431; artsandcraftsmuseum.org.uk • Blackwell The Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3JT. 01539 446139; blackwell.org.uk • Geffrye Museum, 136 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8EA. 020 7739 9893; geffrye-museum.org.uk • Red House, Red House Lane, Bexleyheath, DA6 8JF. 020 8303 6359; nationaltrust.org.uk/red-house • V&A, Cromwell Road, London, SW7, 2RL. 020 7942 2000; vam.ac.uk • The William Morris Society, Kelmscott House, 26 Upper Mall, London, W6 9TA. williammorrissociety.org WHAT TO READ • Arts and Crafts Furniture by John Andrews (£45, Antique Collectors’ Club) • The Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain by Mary Greensted (£14.99, Shire Publications) • Miller’s Arts & Crafts: Living with the Arts & Crafts Style by Judith Miller (£30, Mitchell…

1 CIRCULAR DINING TABLE The pedestal dining table beyond the double doors, and centred under one of a pair of splendid 19th-century Venetian crystal chandeliers, is Victorian in origin. Its circular mahogany top and carved, scrolling acanthus leaf base has been updated by Rachel in collaboration with specialist decorator Stuart Fox. In addition to gilding, other techniques employed include ‘floating’ a polychrome-painted hydrangea pattern under a selectively sand-blasted glass top and highlighting the perimeter apron with baguette-cut crystals. 2 DINING CHAIRS Designed by Rachel, the ‘Horatio’ chairs are 21st-century, but their distinctive arched top, waisted back, sloping sided, subtly sabre leg forms were inspired by her favourite chairs elsewhere in the drawing room. The vibrantly coloured upholstery fabrics employed are ‘Rajam’ and ‘Pasadena’ from the Italian fashion house, Missoni. 3…

RED The history of this potent shade stretches from festive adverts to fairy tales, by way of Rothko and Marilyn’s lipstick ENTERTAINING Keep the party season stress free with our guide, which takes you from personal touches to easy prep CERAMICS Porcelain that celebrates the season is highly collectable. Discover the most sought-after festive examples SECRET SHOPS Stuck for shopping inspiration? Look no further than our round-up of little-known boutiques and delightful emporia…

If you’re fortunate enough to own a piece by master designer Andrew Grima, you’ll be sitting on a nice little nest egg, as his work is becoming increasingly sought after. Grima was born in Rome in 1921 and trained as an engineer, but in 1946, after the end of the Second World War, he joined his future father-in-law’s jewellery business in London. His ingenious and artistic mind soon came up with abstract jewellery designs inspired by a suitcase full of rough-cut semi-precious stones from Brazil that he’d persuaded the company to buy. During the 1960s, Grima became the toast of high society for his colourful, bold designs set into textured gold. His focus was always semi-precious stones – he used traditional diamonds as an accent, not the main element. This…

In 1938, Harold Holdway had never seen a Christmas tree in the flesh. Yet still he managed to design one of the ceramic industry’s most iconic – and bestselling – Christmas patterns: Spode’s ‘Christmas Tree’. With rumours of war in Europe on the horizon, Spode had decided to create a Christmas range, both to keep the industry going and to sate the American market’s appetite for new patterns. ‘The tree and the mistletoe were the American way of Christmas,’ says Harold’s son, Paul Holdway. ‘My father always said it was unnatural to put a triangular tree onto a circular plate, and he also didn’t know that there should be a star at the top instead of a Father Christmas. He lived all his childhood with a widowed mother in a…

WHAT TO READ • Christmas Collectables by Tracy Martin (Pen and Sword) • A Comprehensive Guide to Royal Copenhagen Porcelain by Nick Pope (Schiffer Publishing) • Harold Holdway: 20th Century Ceramic Designer by Ruth Holdway (Landmark Publishing) WHERE TO BUY New ceramics are best bought direct from the manufacturers: • Lladró 0808 234 3240; lladro.com • Portmeirion 01782 744721; portmeirion.co.uk • Royal Copenhagen +45 3814 4848; royalcopenhagen.com • Royal Crown Derby 01332 712800; royalcrownderby.co.uk • Royal Doulton 01782 282652; royaldoulton.co.uk • Spode 01782 743427; spode.co.uk • Wedgwood 01782 282651; wedgwood.co.uk For antique plates, try the following: • ChinaSearch 01926 512402; chinasearch.co.uk • Empire Gifts and Antiques +1 720 428 8491; empiregiftsandantiques.com • Etsy etsy.com • The Saleroom 020 3725 5555; the-saleroom.com Also keep an eye on your local auction house…

NORTH & SCOTLAND 3rd Saltaire Vintage Home & Fashion Fair, Victoria Hall, Victoria Road, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, BD18 3JS. 9.30am–4pm. £3. 07985 181120; roseandbrownvintage.co.uk 4th Fancy That? Vintage Bazaar, Inglis Hall, Edzell, Angus, DD9 7TF. 11am–4pm. Free. 01356 648732; wefancythat.co.uk 11th The Vintage Village, Stockport Covered Market Hall, Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EU. 10am–4pm. Free. thevintagevillage.co.uk 17th Shef eld Antiques Quarter Pop-Up Vintage Market, Moor Market, 77 The Moor, Sheffield, S1 4PF. 8am–5.30pm. Free. 07939 565587; sheffieldantiquesquarter.co.uk WEST & WALES 3rd Original Vintage & Handmade Christmas Fair, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, BS37 6AD. 10am–4pm. £1. vintageand handmade.co.uk 4th Shepton Giant Flea and Collectors Market, The Royal Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN. 9.30am–4pm. £4.50. 01278 784912; sheptonflea.com 4th The Frome Independent – More…

1 Sunbury Antiques Antiques fair Attracting over 700 inside and outside stallholders, appealing not only to those in the antiques trade, but also to collectors, prop buyers and interior designers. Established since 1979, we have gradually evolved into the largest and longest-running twice-monthly market in the country and we are immensely proud to now be recognised as one of Europe’s premier antiques markets. • Second and last Tuesday of every month, 6.30am–2pm, 8th November, 29th November, 13th December. Kempton Park Racecourse, TW16 5AQ. Free admission and parking. sunburyantiques.com 01932 230946 2 B2B Events Antiques fair B2B Events run the very best in antiques and collectors fairs, vintage, flea and retro fairs. • Sunday 6th November, Malvern Antiques & Collectors Fair, Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcs, WR13 6NW. Admission – Early Entry 8.30am,…

When I left school in the 1970s, I started working at an antique jewellery shop in Bloomsbury called Cameo Corner – I took to working with gemstones like a duck to water and it really has been a wonderful career. The diamond jewellery from the mid 18th century to the end of George IV’s reign (1830) is just beautiful, and the era is significant for collectors, too. Georgian diamond pieces have a style that can be very modern looking. A typical necklace might be a collet rivière – a line of graduated diamonds, mounted in silver, as gold was rarely used until the 1830s. The style is very simple, and that makes it easy to wear. The diamonds themselves often hail from dried-up riverbeds in India or Brazil – 20-carat…

AUCTION FOCUS How to buy desirable antique pieces from just £200 with our tips for buying jewellery at auction ARTS & CRAFTS The story behind the 19th-century movement, the names to collect and ideas to use in your home today FESTIVE PORCELAIN In 1938 Harold Holdway designed this bestselling Spode design, having never seen a real Christmas tree THE HISTORY OF RED We dismiss the popular legend that Father Christmas was given his red coat and hat by Coca-Cola AFTER THE AUCTION Why this Olympic medal, dated 1904, made a sale of £206,500 at Christie’s, 10 times over its estimate Follow us... FOLLOW THE H&A TEAM… … on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for regular updates and to nd out which fairs we’ll be visiting…

FRANCES ROBINSON, Chorley’s This Austrian silver gem-set box is dated 1854 and bears the worn maker’s mark of an eagle and initials beginning with an ‘H’ that may suggest it was by the ne silversmith, Hermann Ratzersdorfer (active between 1845–1894). The box would have been highlighted in green enamelling and likely to have been gilded all over. It does unfortunately have a few stones missing, which will affect the value, and I would need to see the piece in person to assess the overall quality and mark, but having said this I think it could make between £200–£300 at auction. WILL HOBBS, Head of Tribal Art & Antiquities at Woolley & Wallis This basket and cover is from the Lozi/Barotse people of Zambia and has been intricately woven from the…

Mons BROCANTE AND ANTIQUES MARKET When: Every Sunday morning; 8am to 2pm. Where: Place du Béguinage and Place Simonet, Mons Liège BROCANTE DE SAINT-PHOLIEN When: Every Friday from 6am-12pm Where: Boulevard de la Constitution, Liège Namur and surrounds ANTICA When: 11th-20th November 2016 Where: Namur Expo Centre TEMPLOUX MARKET When: 19th-20th August 2017 Where: Temploux, Namur Province Tournai FOIRE DES ANTIQUAIRES ET DE LA BELLE BROCANTE When: 11th-12th February 2017; 10am-7pm Where: Tournai Expo SALON DES BELLES ANTIQUITES DE TOURNAI When: 12th-13th August 2017; 10am-7pm Where: Tournai Expo Waterloo and surrounds WATERLOO ANTIQUES MARKET When: Every Sunday; 7am-1pm Where: Carrefour de Waterloo, Chaussée de Charleroi, Waterloo…

JEWEL IN THE CROWN ‘Jewel’ bauble by Kurt Adler. 020 7734 1234; libertylondon.com £15.95 IN THE RED Vintage 1980s glass bauble. etsy.com/uk/shop/ TheRetroscope £24.12 (approx) PRETTY IN PAINT Wooden Bluebird nesting bauble. 020 3222 0034; lunaandcurious.com £8.50 OPERA BALL Halcyon Days ‘Glyndebourne Architectural’ bauble.glyndebourneshop.com £40 IN A NUTSHELL 1950s glass ‘Walnut’ bauble. etsy.com/uk/shop/ OldTimeGoods £14 (approx) THE GOOD LEAF Four hand-painted Kashmiri baubles. 0845 474 1747; decoratorsnotebook.co.uk £17.95 A DELFT HAND Vintage Delft Christmas bauble. etsy.com/uk/shop/ SukiandPolly £10 FESTIVE FRIEND Christmas mouse in a bauble. +44 2080 973015; steiff.com £125…

This time of year is all about handwritten notes, thank you letters and, of course, Christmas cards. To see and buy rare, unusual and historic paper items from centuries past, the Ephemera Society Fair in Bloomsbury is the place to head for. The society is devoted to the collection, conservation, study and educational uses of handwritten and printed ephemera, including postcards, tickets and leaflets. We particularly love the Victorian paper scraps, especially those depicting Father Christmas – perfect for a nostalgic decoration. Prices range from £2 to over £2,000 . * Ephemera Society Fair is on 4th Dec at Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury, Coram St, London, WC1N 1HT. 11am–4pm. £3. ephemera-society.org.uk…

When I was young, one of the highlights of Christmas in Conwy – the small Welsh town I grew up in – was going to the local pub on Christmas Day wearing the clothes you’d received as gifts, all at once. Some of us would be standing at the bar in bath robes, eight pairs of socks, pyjamas or full football strips, and I remember once wearing a brown jumper my nan had knitted with one sleeve much longer than the other. It never failed to be hilariously funny and often highlighted some quite poor gift choices! If you’re stuck for ideas, an antique makes a brilliant gift for Christmas. Generally, you’re buying something of which there’s only one in the world and what could be better than something that…

ANTIQUARIAN From cameos to Roman busts, bestow a gift fit for an emperor with this collection of classic finds Bronze sundial, £550, Appley Hoare Antiques. Stack of marble dishes, from £25, Ines Cole. Pro le of a classical gure by Peter Hone, £15.50, Pentreath & Hall. Boxes in ‘Stone Lattice’ wrapping paper, £3 per sheet, Pentreath & Hall. Svend Bayer pitcher, £75, Maud & Mabel. Porcelain fruit stand, £195, John Julian. In fruit stand : small earthenware jug dish by John Derian, £45, Pentreath & Hall. Clam and mussel shell salt and pepper dishes, £58 for the pair, The Shop Floor Project. Julius Caesar bust, £195, Rockett St George. Antique African beaded necklace, £250, Appley Hoare Antiques. French crock pot, £125, The Old Cinema. Marble lens box, £59, The Design…

Picture the Christmassy scene at a typical, late 19th-century, Arts and Crafts cottage in the Cotswolds. A fire crackles in the parlour grate, and ceramic vases of holly, ivy and mistletoe are arranged with an air of artlessness on windowsills and simple wooden furniture. A noble fir tree stands in the corner, decorated with flags, bonbons and puffs of cotton wool, in common with Victorian homes everywhere. ‘To an Arts and Crafts household, bringing nature into the house would have been particularly important, along with drawing on old-fashioned traditions,’ comments Kirsty Hartsiotis, curator of Arts and Crafts furniture at The Wilson museum in Cheltenham. ‘It would have been less about the presents and the decorations, and more about gathering people together in a spirit of friendship – watching a mummers’…

Imagine a department store that exclusively sold antique and vintage pieces. Where prices were reasonable and the quality was high and everything was laid out in an orderly, contemporary, pleasing way. Just such an emporium is what Jim and Chloe Read dream about creating – that is, if they weren’t in the clocks and watches business. In 1991 the couple founded Newgate Clocks – the company synonymous with vintage-inspired, often industrial and oversized clocks and, more recently, watches. But, with both of their parents working in the antiques business while they were growing up, Jim and Chloe have a joint affinity with the world of antiques. ‘We both remember coming home to discover chests that hadn’t been unlocked for decades, filled with treasures inside,’ says Jim. ‘Chloe’s parents were dealers…

1 FOCUS ON FEASTING Effortless dining starts in the kitchen, and dishes made in advance will lighten the load on Christmas Day. While warmed lidded serveware can help retain heat, stocking up on china, cutlery and stemware reduces time at the sink. An abundance of flickering flames will entice diners to the table but, ‘do be aware of heights, as too many tall candles can block guests’ views,’ advises floral designer Laura Lee of Kenneth Turner. Houseology’s Kate Mooney also advocates ‘crisp, white linens, delicate crystal and fine crockery for a luxurious finish that is both elegant and timeless; or rich organic materials and chunky stoneware for more laid-back sophistication.’ Interweaving inherited tableware can instil a sense of tradition ‘and small decorations at each setting add a stylish personal touch,’…

‘Essentially, looking after china that you eat off is very simple,’ says Eric Knowles. ‘Wash it yourself and never put it in the dishwasher. That’s particularly important if it has any form of metallic gilt on it. Use a mild detergent and dry your plates straight after washing rather than letting them drip dry.’ Storage is also important. ‘Smart Victorian and Edwardian households would have used pieces of green baize to store their best china. You could still do that today but a thick piece of kitchen roll between each plate should do.’ When buying, be wary of Victorian pieces made in the 1860s to 1880s. Eric advises: ‘The colours can be unstable – usually the puce and green shades – so can rub off through use. The other thing…

2–FOR–1 1st–4th Antiques for Everyone Winter, Hall 5, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. 11am–6pm (11am–5pm Sun). £12. 0844 581 0827; antiquesforeveryone.co.uk 2–FOR–1 10th Wanstead Vintage Fashion & Brocante, United Reformed Church, Nightingale Lane, E11 2HD. 11am–5pm. £2.50. 07860 214009; lovevintage.co.uk 2–FOR–1 11th Adams Antiques Fair, Lindley Hall, The Royal Horticultural Halls, Elverton St, London, SW1P 2QW. 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…

Antiques Roadshow expert Paul Atterbury tells us all about 18th-century creamware centrepieces on page 109 Discover the sparkling world of Georgian diamonds with Antiques Roadshow regular John Benjamin on page 162 Get your best ceramics ready for Christmas with author and antiques specialist Eric Knowles on page 136 Collectables expert and Flog It! presenter Tracy Martin delves into the history of seasonal china on page 133 Chrissie Masters Co-founder of The Design Gallery (p62) Birdie Fortescue Interior designer and antiques dealer (p113) Will Hobbs Head of Tribal Art & Antiquities at Woolley & Wallis (p10) Judith Miller Co-founder, Miller’s Antiques Guides (p80) Keith Penton Director of Jewellery at Christie’s (p122) Drew Pritchard Antiques dealer and television presenter (p35) Patch Rogers Specialist Arts and Crafts dealer (p62)…

‘This is one of the most exciting worlds you could dive into, so enjoy yourself’ As an enthusiastic shopper at Antiques for Everyone, Antiques Roadshow expert Will Farmer is the ideal guest speaker at the fair this winter (1-4 December). His love of antiques started early, having attended his first auction at just four months old. By the time he was 12, he was the proud owner of a stall at his local antiques fair. So it should come as no surprise he’s now a seasoned auctioneer with his own auction house. Here he gives some insight into why the Antiques for Everyone fair is so important for collectors. What do you love about visiting Antiques for Everyone? It’s unique in that it offers a vetted fair with a huge…

FOR OLD TIMES If Christmas is a time to go back to ancient traditions, this is the fireplace you need. British furniture designer Tim Gosling has taken inspiration from Rome and Pompeii to create two new surrounds for Chesney’s. Both are hewn from Italian statuary marble, with grates cast from antique brass in a small foundry in Scotland. All you need to add is a roaring fire. ‘The Rome’ chimneypiece, £4,750 (plus VAT). * 020 7627 1410; chesneys.co.uk STYLE STEER To me, there is nothing more special at Christmas than the smell of a real pine tree floating throughout my home. It instantly evokes that lovely feeling of familiarity and excitement, ahead of anticipated celebrations with family and friends. Jo Malone MBE, Perfumer and founder of Jo Loves DECORATING ONE…

BUY Mid-Victorian archaeological revival jewellery like ear pendants, necklaces, hinged bangles and brooches were sought after in the 1980s and early 1990s, but have since dropped in demand. Prices range from around £1,500 for an unsigned bangle or a pair of simple ear pendants, to £5,000 to £15,000 for a good quality jewel by John Brogden or Robert Phillips. SELL Bulgari jewels from the 1960s and 1970s are fetching top prices. Aspirational in their day and limited in production – typical mid 1960s Bulgari jewels might include an exotic necklace set with turquoise, sapphires and diamonds; while in the 1970s, long sautoir necklaces were fashionable. Auction estimates from £15,000 to £400,000-plus.…

1st Antiques & Furnishings, Bristol Auction Rooms, Baynton Rd, Ashton, Bristol, BS3 2EB. 0117 953 1603; bristolauctionrooms.co.uk 2nd Fine Wine, Port & Champagne, Dreweatts & Bloomsbury, 24 Maddox Street, London, W1S 1PP. 020 7495 9494; dnfa.com 3rd The Christmas Sale – Silver & Jewellery, Fieldings, Mill Race Lane, Stourbridge, DY8 1JN. 01384 444140; eldingsauctioneers.co.uk 5th Vintage Jewellery & Accessories, Fellows, Augusta House, 19 Augusta St, Birmingham, B18 6JA. 0121 212 2131; fellows.co.uk 6th Winter Country House Sale, Sworders, Cambridge Rd, Stansted Mount tchet, Essex, CM24 8GE. 01279 817778; sworder.co.uk 6th, 7th & 8th Fine Art including Pictures & Prints, Silver & Furniture, Anderson & Garland, Crispin Court, Newbiggin Lane, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 1BF. 0191 430 3000; andersonandgarland.com 6th & 7th Antiques, Fine Art & Whisky, Lindsay Burns &…

BLENHEIM PALACE After dark, take a spiced cider and chestnut-fuelled walk through Blenheim’s Capability Brown parkland, which will be lled with lights for a wonderland-style trail. 01993 810530; blenheimpalace.com As well as wandering Brighton’s Open Houses festival, make sure you visit the Pavilion to see it transformed with roaring res and grand banqueting settings. 03000 290900; brightonmuseums.org.uk BRIGHTON PAVILION WADDESDON MANOR Don’t just visit for the light displays, there will be an entire gingerbread model of the manor on show this year, made by the Biscuiteers. 01296 653226; waddesdon.org.uk…

• A common mistake I see people doing is buying with their heart. In other words, they buy what they like rather than considering what the recipient might like. Think carefully whether that person will love it. • Always make sure you get a detailed receipt so the item can be returned if it’s not right. • Look for antique Christmas presents all year round. If you see something and it seems perfect for someone, buy it. Don’t wait. It might be the only one… • If you’re buying for someone who loves a particular style or period that you know nothing about, take pictures in their house of the things they love and show them to a dealer who specialises in the objects or era that they collect. •…

Learning the techniques is fairly easy to start with. What takes time is honing the skill properly. Some of our glassmakers have been with us for 25 years Think of the delicacy of an 18th-century chandelier. It takes a special pair of hands to polish, mend and restore 250-year-old crystal droplets and long-tarnished metalwork to sparkling former splendour. Not only is historical accuracy paramount, the colouring of the glass and the cutting techniques used must all be considered. This is where third-generation family business Wilkinson’s come in. The company restores old chandeliers and makes new. In fact, so precise is its work that customers have been known to mistake the antique replicas for Georgian originals. We meet current managing director and glass restorer to the Queen, David Wilkinson, to learn…

• CHARLES VARLEY joined CR Ashbee’s Guild of Handicraft in the 1890s and stayed until the guild was dissolved. He was a talented landscape artist and enamelling specialist who worked in silver and pewter. Look out for his boxes, which he made for both the Guild and, later, Liberty, and which have that sought-after, hand-wrought quality. They can still be bought for under £1,000 at auction. • THE RUSKIN POTTERY was founded in 1898 and run by William Howson Taylor to make one-off studio pottery in the Arts and Crafts style. The pottery specialised in oriental glazes that come in a wide variety of colours, although the most famous are the Ruskin ox blood (or sang de boeuf) and flambé glazes. Look out for early 20th-century vases, bottles and jars…

Painted in flamboyant jewel colours, with spindly and oh-so-fragile stems, crystal glasses stand witness to many a dinner party: the gossip, the scandals, the romance. These elegant drinking vessels are one of Rachel Bates’s passions and, like most of the things she loves in life, could be described as opulent, refined and bursting with character. A glance at her drawing room will tell you that Rachel isn’t one for subtlety, or for playing things safe. Textiles are heavily patterned – and certainly not matching – countless colours come into play, while gilding, carving and detail are everywhere. ‘When it comes to interiors, I do tend to veer towards the more daring side of things. I love the feel of stately homes and Italian palazzos,’ she says. Her own home, although…

Susan and Sture Cedgård were running a little late for a viewing of their farmhouse in the western Swedish province of Halland; others were ahead of them, young families, drawn to the area to kite surf in the Kattegat Sea. ‘I am a gardener,’ says Susan, ‘so while we waited, I looked at the garden and the trees, flowers and bushes around it. I asked the old oak: “Is this the place for us?” “Yes,” said the tree.’ She is laughing as she recounts the story, but in her mind there was no doubt that her instinct was telling her that the years searching for her dream home were over. ‘I grew up in the countryside in the middle of Sweden,’ she says, ‘with a woodburning stove and an open…

Don’t miss these exciting sales taking place at auction houses around the country 1 Roseberys London Roseberys is a privately owned auction house operating at the heart of the fine art market for more than 25 years. Specialist sales include Asian and Islamic Arts, Modern and Contemporary Art and Design, Decorative Art, Fine Silver and Jewellery, Ceramics and much more. Roseberys’ team of world-renowned specialists also provide a wide range of art market services to clients, including valuations for insurance and probate. Forthcoming sales: 19th November – Modern & Contemporary Prints 6th & 7th December – Fine Art feat. Fine European Ceramics, Modern Sculpture 7th December – Asian Arts 70–76 Knights Hill, London, SE27 0JD roseberys.co.uk 020 8761 2522 2 Tennants Auctioneers With over 40 specialist sales a year, three…

STOCKISTS • Agraria agrariahome.com • And So To Bed 0808 144 4343; andsotobed.co.uk • Annabel James 0345 548 0210; annabeljames.co.uk • Birdie Fortescue birdiefortescue.co.uk • Debenhams debenhams.com • Denby 01773 740899; denby.co.uk • Espressocrazy.com espressocrazy.com • Forestry Commission forestry.gov.uk/christmas • Graham & Green grahamandgreen.co.uk • Guinevere Antiques 020 7736 2917; guinevere.co.uk • House of Fraser 0345 602 1073; houseoffraser.co.uk • Houseology 0141 280 2047; houseology.com • Joanna Wood joannawood.co.uk • John Lewis 0345 604 9049; johnlewis.com • Jo Malone London jomalone.co.uk • Jones Clocks jonesclocks.com • Kelly Hoppen kellyhoppen.com • Kenneth Turner kennethturner.com • Laura Lee lauralee owers.co.uk • Lexington Company lexingtoncompany.com/en/ • Liberty libertylondon.com • Marks & Spencer 0333 014 8000; marksandspencer.com • Murmur 0333 200 7331; bedeckhome.com • Neptune 01793 427300; neptune.com • Nina Campbell ninacampbell.com • Oka…

• ROYAL COPENHAGEN Always in royal blue, there’s a new Royal Copenhagen and a new Bing & Grøndahl plate issued each year. It also produces gurines and a cup and saucer version of the year’s design. • WEDGWOOD Wedgwood started producing Christmas plates in its trademark ‘Jasperware’ in 1969 and now issues a range of decorations and ornaments including, this year, an 83cm long advent house in a limited edition of three (£12,500). • ROYAL DOULTON Royal Doulton’s gurines of Raymond Briggs’ Snowman (from the illustrated children’s book) are eternally popular and can make anything up to £150 for the ‘Skiing Snowman’. • LLADRÓ Lladró produces annual Christmas decorations and gures and is particularly known for its nativity sets, which can make in the region of £500. • VILLEROY &…

1. THE ART OF BEAUTIFUL LIVING Looking for Christmas gifts that are beautiful and useful? Arts & Crafts Living sells elegant home interiors and gifts inspired by the style of the Arts & Crafts era (c.1860–1930). We have a wide range of homewares and gifts in designs by William Morris, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, CFA Voysey and Frank Lloyd Wright. artsandcraftsliving.co.uk  // 01799 531233 2. JANE BECK WELSH BLANKETS Choose from over 1,000 traditional Welsh blankets: new, vintage and antique. Pure wool double cloth tapestry from £269, cushions, throws, quilts and gifts. welshblankets.co.uk  // 01570 493241 3. EXQUISITE COROMANDEL CREWELS Whether for your cottage or your castle, Coromandel’s stunning hand-embroidered fabric provides the ultimate present this Christmas and one that will become a family heirloom. As supplied to the National Trust,…

A Al es Antique Market 020 7723 6066; al esantiques.com Amy Kent 07979 594651; amykent.co.uk And So To Bed 0808 144 4343; andsotobed.co.uk Anglepoise 02392 224450; anglepoise.com Annelies Design anneliesdesign.se Anthropologie 00800 0026 8476; anthropologie.com Appley Hoare Antiques 020 7351 5206; appleyhoare.com Attic 020 8943 9626; discoverattic.com B Balsam Hill 020 3368 6726; balsamhill.co.uk Benjamin Moore 01753 575756; benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk Berisfords 01260 274011; berisfords-ribbons.co.uk Branksome China 020 7351 2130; branksomechina.com British Library 020 7412 7735; shop.bl.uk C Chase & Sorensen 020 8533 5523; chaseandsorensen.com Chisel & Mouse 01273 251335; chiselandmouse.com Cole & Son 020 8442 8844; cole-and-son.com Connie Speight 020 7724 9295; al esantiques.com The Conran Shop 0844 848 4000; conranshop.co.uk Couverture & The Garbstore 020 7229 2178; couvertureandthegarbstore.com D Decorative Antiques 01580 860317; decorativeantiquesuk.com The Design…