Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2017 i Homes & Antiques

The most covetable homes I’ve visited haven’t always been the grandest. What they lacked in scale they made up for many times over in ideas. These are homes that you wouldn’t perhaps imagine yourself living in, but which speak volumes about the creativity and passion of the owners. Homes full of personality and unique finds that work brilliantly for the people who inhabit them and make use of every inch of space. When putting together this issue, we decided that, whatever your home’s size, there is inspiration to be taken from those who have come up with creative solutions for small spaces. Not least as many pieces of furniture made well before the fashion for open-plan living lend themselves well to more diminutive proportions, and are both environmentally friendly and…

CHINA SPREE ‘Fusion Oriental Pagoda’ lantern. 0345 604 9049; johnlewis.com £60 OLD BLIGHTY ‘Great Britain’ vintage storm lantern. 01244 784187; pedlars.co.uk £29 IN THE DETAIL Large ornate Belgian lantern, c1900. 020 7736 2917; guinevere.co.uk £6,400 CHIMNEY PIECE Large ‘Chimney’ lantern. 020 3758 9222; thewhitecompany.com £25 VERY MOORISH Large ‘Tantallon’ lantern. 00800 0026 8476; anthropologie.com £88…

The return of June This may be one of just a few chances to see Flaming June, the pre-Raphaelite painting hailed as Frederic, Lord Leighton’s masterpiece, in the flesh. After a mysterious disappearance in the early 1900s, the painting re-emerged in the 1960s and now lives in Puerto Rico. In a show at Leighton’s Kensington home, it is currently being shown amid the works with which it was first exhibited in 1895. * Until 2nd April. 12 Holland Park Road, London, W14 8LZ. 020 7602 3316; leightonhouse.co.uk HOCKNEY’S WORLD Hot on the heels of his small but intriguing show of portraits at the Royal Academy in 2016, comes David Hockney’s biggest retrospective. The show will feature drawings, paintings (including the LA swimming pool series), prints, film and photography, and charts…

A FOOT IN THE DOOR Estimate: £300–£500 This piece is extraordinary for many reasons, not least its arresting appearance. It is an 18th-century Sino-Tibetan depiction of the god Mahakala, a deity unusual in itself for being common to Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. More surprising was the vendor’s use for it – a doorstop for a Gloucestershire cottage. The bronze had been inherited from the seller’s father and, having been sitting by a door for many years, had only suffered fly marks and dust. In a market riddled with fakes, finding an authentic piece isn’t easy. The reason for Mallams’ low estimate was that the statuette was missing its original base, having had a new one put on in order to fulfil its doorstop duties. Certainly Mahakala is a good deity…

Could rugs be the most underrated of art forms? As we stroll over them, the visual feasts below our feet are all too often literally overlooked. But they have a far-reaching history. The oldest ever discovered – preserved in ice on the Siberian Plateau – is the Pazyryk rug. Thought to be 2,000 years old, its stylised woven motifs don’t look dissimilar to those of its descendants pictured here (pay a visit to The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg to see it). Its discovery shows that people have been decorating their floors for two millennia – or possibly longer. Now that rugs are available in as many designs as they have been around in years, you’ve no excuse not to start 2017 from the ground up. NEW ‘Fairisle’ rug, £75…

WHERE TO BUY NEW & OLD • Amara 0800 587 7645; amara.com • August Interiors 020 8304 0582; augustinteriors.co.uk • Cole & Son 020 8442 8844; cole-and-son.com • Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors, 1 Cross House, Waterloo Square, Alfriston, East Sussex, BN26 5UD. 01323 870595; emmettandwhite.com • Holly Johnson Antiques & Design (by appointment only), The Woodwork Shop, Lyme Green Settlement, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0LD. 01260 253110; hollyjohnsonantiques.com • Liberty London, Regent Street, London, W1B 5AH. 020 7734 1234; libertylondon.com • Milk Concept Boutique, The Clerk’s House, 118 1/2 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JN. 020 7729 9880; milkconceptboutique.co.uk • Themes & Variations, 231 Westbourne Grove, London, W11 2SE. 020 7727 5531; themesandvariations.com • 1st Dibs 1stdibs.com WHAT TO READ • Fornasetti by Barnaba Fornasetti and Philippe Starck (Assouline,…

Gaetano Besana has known Villa Besana all his life. His great-grandfather inherited the house in 1896, and since then it has been passed down through the generations – to Gaetano’s grandfather, his father and finally to him and his three brothers. When Gaetano was a young boy, he visited his grandmother here every summer and spent hours outside in the gardens, climbing trees and fishing in a tiny boat on the pond. The villa dates from 1700 and is painted in a typically Italian shade of pink, punctuated with painted wooden shutters. Despite its beauty, it’s the surrounding countryside that enchants Gaetano. Nestled in the hills of the village of Sirtori in the picturesque Montevecchia Regional Park and Curone Valley, it’s an undeniably idyllic spot. ‘Living in the country means…

This mahogany rent table stands in the centre of the Octagon at A la Ronde and serves as the central hub in the room. Although we cannot be sure it belonged to Jane and Mary Parminter, we know it was made c1780. Inside one of the drawers is a lever that operates a flap in the centre of the table, popping open to reveal a well. Although never used for its original purpose, the table has in the past been put to practical use. When Ursula Tudor Perkins (the last family descendant to live here), opened A la Ronde for guided tours, she would invite visitors to put their entrance fee in the table’s well. VALUES Scarcity and high quality combine to attract the attention of serious collectors, and whenever…

1 INJECT CHARACTER Antiques and collectables lend individuality to kitchens of any size, and they needn’t take up much space. ‘Buy genuine antiques,’ advises Mikki Towler of The Antique Kitchen. ‘The colour and patina they gain over the years can never be replicated and will give your kitchen instant warmth.’ Look for things that won’t take up room on the worktop. ‘Vintage advertising items like enamel signs or a wall clock advertising a food product sit well in a period or contemporary setting,’ says Towler. An antique equivalent of an essential piece of kitchen furniture or equipment, such as an old cupboard, plate rack or vintage containers, makes a practical addition, as well as boosting your kitchen’s period style. 2 DEVISE DISTINCT ZONES Designing multifunctional rooms so they look elegant…

GEN UP Do your research before you buy – get your eye in by looking at as many examples as you can online and in person at antiques centres and fairs. Request extra photos and condition reports if necessary, and look at realised prices to set your budget. BUY WISELY If something looks too good to be true price-wise, it probably is. To be sure of buying authentic antiques and 20th-century design, buy via reputable online dealer and auction platforms (see box on page 113), where members follow a code of practice to protect consumers. NEGOTIATE NICELY If buying direct from a dealer, negotiate. Most dealers have wriggle room and may offer up to a 10 per cent discount. But remember you’re also paying for their expertise and the time…

REBECCA DAVIES CEO of LAPADA Lapada.org • ‘Buying via an online platform can nurture the dealer-client relationship, allowing buyers to communicate directly with dealers and establish a good relationship with them.’ • ‘Shopping online opens you up to finding special and unexpected finds that it might take years to come across otherwise. Jewellery in particular is a collecting field where buyers like to find things that are more whimsical and individual. The same goes for unusual decorative antiques used as statement pieces.’ • ‘The best online platforms open up a world of expertise to tap into. Many of LAPADA’s antiques dealers have an amazing eye for displaying their items in a stylish and inspiring way, often captured in photography available to see on their websites.’ BEST ONLINE BUY…

Antiques are often perfectly proportioned to nestle into tight corners and tiny rooms, and will inject plenty of personality As the world’s population grows our houses are getting smaller, but this isn’t necessarily something to lament. Small spaces, and indeed the quirky room shapes of larger period homes, demand a certain level of ingenuity when it comes to furnishing. As such, effective and original results in modest spots are all the more rewarding. This is where antiques can take centre stage, as they are often perfectly proportioned to nestle into tight corners and tiny rooms, and will inject plenty of personality into the space. Furniture of old promises another boon for those limited on space: it is infinitely adaptable. Susie Atkinson, an interior designer who works with hotels and private…

‘If you have a small room to furnish, look out for antique bedroom furniture. Petite Georgian sofas and seats are perfect, and Victorian chairs were so well made. Many antique French seats have rounded backs, which is very unusual against modern square furniture and they do sit well in a modest space. Look out for quality Howard & Sons chairs – even the small ones have a comfortable rake, meaning they are deep seated. ‘I think there is going to be a real revival of so-called brown furniture. We’ve had 20 years of painted furniture and, some time over the next decade, brown will come back. For that reason, now is a really good time to buy because prices are reasonable, but are set to rise. ‘An old gilded mirror…

If you ask William how he came to amass his vast collection of antique keys – the majority of which date from between the middle ages and the end of Queen Victoria’s reign – he will chuckle ruefully. ‘With great difficulty,’ he says. The problem is that, although they are widely available in almost every antiques shop, few books on the subject exist, and there is a paucity of knowledge about them, even among antiques dealers. But for all its challenges, William feels it is a worthwhile pursuit. ‘Keys can have a lot of merit, a lot of design, and a lot of history within them,’ he says. Their mystery is part of their appeal too. Although now regarded as rather unromantic, functional items – mass-produced and re-cut whenever they…

Since there have been architects to design buildings, models have been made to represent what the finished project could look like. ‘I suppose they go back to ancient times,’ says Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum. ‘Certainly great architects like Christopher Wren and John Soane made them. They had to sell the project to the client and along with drawings, producing a scale model was a great way to impress.’ Antique models range hugely in price. Older ones from the 18th and early 19th centuries, usually made from cork and often representing classical buildings from the Grand Tour, can cost tens of thousands of pounds, but later Victorian models, sometimes made by hobbyists, can be found for a fraction of that price.…

NORTH & SCOTLAND 12th The Vintage Village, Stockport Covered Market Hall, Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EU. 10am–4pm. Free. thevintagevillage.co.uk 17th–19th Galloway Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, BB7 9PZ. 10.30am–5pm (closes 4.30pm Sunday). £5. 01423 522122; gallowayfairs.co.uk 24th–26th The Antiques & Fine Art Fair at The Mere, The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Chester Road, Mere, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6LJ. Opening times vary. £5. 01797 252030; merefair.com 25th–26th Edinburgh Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair, The Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB. 10am–4.30pm (closes 4pm Sunday). £4. 01636 676531; b2bevents.info WEST & WALES 5th Liberty Green Antiques & Collectables Fair, Beaufort Park Hotel, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 6RQ. 9am–4pm. £1. 07572 109520; libertygreenantiques.co.uk 5th & 26th Bath Vintage & Antiques Market, Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath, BA1…

THE DOORSTOP How the family using this object as a doorstop discovered it was worth £85,000 FORNASETTI From the 1940s to the 1980s Fornasetti created 13,000 designs, including 350 celebrating his muse THE LOCK & KEY This phrase dates back to at least 1300. Unlock the myths, legends and ceremonies surrounding it SMALL SPACES Tips from three industry experts on how to use antiques to maximise the illusion of space THE TITANIC Artefacts from the doomed ship still have huge appeal, including this Steiff bear that fetched £91,750 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…

ALISON SNOWDON Fieldings Auctioneers Robert Allen began working at the Nile Street, Pinder Bourne factory in Burslem in 1870 as an apprentice painter. (The Pinder Bourne factory was bought by Henry Doulton in 1877/8 and became Doulton & Co in 1882). Allen and his team of craftsmen were responsible for producing some of the finest and most expensive pieces, most of which would have been displayed at various exhibitions towards the end of the 19th century. Under the instruction of the then artistic director, John Slater, Robert Allen flourished and when Slater died in 1914, Allen rose to head of department himself. Between 1914 and 1929 (when he retired), he is noted as designing thousands of tableware patterns. His designs are often marked with his initials alongside a pattern number…

LOTS TO LOVE MADE IN BRITAIN This rare, early 20th-century Huntley & Palmer biscuit tin is for sale at Cheffins on 5th Jan. It’s in very good condition, so is expected to reach over £300. * 01223 213343; cheffins.co.uk This oil painting is by Victorian sporting artist John Frederick Herring Jr. Dating from 1849, it is to be sold at Chorley’s on 31st January, est £1,500–£2,000. * 01452 344499; chorleys.com This c1790 lot from Woolley & Wallis’s Silver & Vertu sale (24th & 25th Jan) is an argyle, or gravy-warmer. Est £100–£150. * 01722 424500; woolleyandwallis.co.uk…

The interiors love affair du jour, Danish hygge is as much a way of thinking cosily as of decorating. The author travelled all over the country to discover how to hygge from the Danes themselves (Penguin, £12.99) This new edition of Mary Randolph Carter’s For The Love of Old celebrates all that’s wonderful about warm colours, much-loved textiles, memory-jogging finds and rich, dark woods (Rizzoli, £19.95) If there’s a place on earth that best succeeds at making homes suited to winter, it must be Scandinavia. This book showcases both sleek and simple Nordic design and moody interiors set for the colder months (Gestalten, £35)…

ALL IN BLOOM Sworders Modern British Art sale, 14th February Sworders’ second Modern British Art sale will offer around 250 lots, with estimates from £200 to £8,000. ‘We’ll be focusing on mid-century art onwards, with an emphasis on original paintings and sculptures,’ says auctioneer Amy Scanlon. Our pick? Fred Yates’ Still Life: Flowers on a Stool, estimate £1,000–£1,500. * 01279 817778; sworder.co.uk…

THE ANTIQUES & FINE ART FAIR AT THE MERE For those who enjoy a little indulgence, head to The Antiques & Fine Art Fair at The Mere, hosted at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa near Knutsford this month. The boutique antiques fair with its 30-odd dealers took a backseat last year due to venue bookings but returns with great gusto from 24th–26th February. Dealers offer everything from paintings to antiquarian artefacts. A highlight is Patrick Caulfield’s Crying to the Walls: My God! My God! Will she relent? on sale for £33,800, while at the more affordable end is a Victorian child’s painted wheelbarrow for £380. * The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Chester Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6LJ. Opening times vary. £5. 01797 252030; merefair.com…

My love of industrial design goes back a long way. The first time I fell for it I was about 17 and I was working for a stained glass window restorer. The guys there made industrial metal windows for the glass and they worked away on fantastic welding stools. I thought they were cool; I loved their honesty and functionality and longed for one. That was the first time I got into great industrial design. What I like most about good industrial design today is the clean simplicity of the pieces. Their pure, solid design, made to do one job really well without any additional ornamentation or frills. These were pieces made by hand, in tough environments, with a real understanding of the job they needed to do for 10…

Piero’s son Barnaba still produces designs in the style of his father. The elder Fornasetti asked Barnaba to work with him when the company was struggling in the early 1980s. ‘He was more accommodating and open to my suggestions,’ says Barnaba, who was constantly inspired by his father, especially as a child. One of his fondest memories, Barnaba says, was when he was three. ‘I brought my father a hydrangea leaf and I put a daisy flower on it as a present. He made a tray with the leaf and the flower, and put it in production.’ Since his father’s death in 1988, Barnaba has reshaped and rebuilt the Fornasetti legacy, creating high-end, limited-edition pieces as well as a range of more accessible home accessories, sold in stores such as…

Luke Edward Hall is sitting on his sofa, flicking through the recently published tome, Cecil Beaton at Home . ‘So beautiful,’ he sighs. ‘If I could climb into a time machine, I’d definitely head back to the 1920s and 1930s. What an era.’ With its jewel shades and the air of an aesthete’s retreat, the one-bedroom London flat Luke shares with his partner Duncan is, in many ways, a tribute to that more romantic era. ‘I’ve always been a bit obsessed with those decades. It must have been a magical time in London, a charmed period between the wars,’ he says. ‘Yes, it’s probably romanticised a little in retrospect, but I think there was definitely a burgeoning of creativity, music, art, photography, all in the spirit of making the most…

1 BOTANICAL PRINTS In homage to the villa’s hillside gardens, the walls are hung with exquisite botanical engravings, some within ornate, scrolled fretwork frames. They are taken from the monumental, early 17th-century codex Hortus Eystettensis, by the eminent Nuremberg apothecary and botanist Basilius Besler (1561–1629) and are a record of the plantings in the extensive gardens in Eichstätt, Bavaria, which Besler curated for Prince Bishop Johann Konrad von Gemmingen. 2 BLUE SOFA The large sofa with arched back, out-splayed arms, and pleated apron was designed by the house owner, Gaetano Besana, and is covered in a tessuto material by Rubelli, a prestigious fabric manufacturer founded in Venice in the 19th century. Tessuto is a silk damask and features a classic, stylised, floral-foliate pattern of a type that has remained almost…

Fagins Antiques & Reclamation Yard, The Old White Ways Cider Factory, Hele, nr Exeter, EX5 4PW. 01392 882062; faginsantiques.com ‘This place is huge and full of shop fittings, dressers, fireplaces and architectural salvage. I can easily spend a couple of hours here. Some pieces are restored and some you can buy as they come,’ says Hannah. J Glinert, 71 Wilton Way, London, E8 1BG. 020 7249 6815; jglinert.com ‘Tom, the owner, sources simple homewares from around the world, plus stationery and books, all perfectly wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. This is my go-to quirky present shop.’ Sunbury Antiques Market, Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 5AQ. 01932 230946; sunburyantiques.com ‘A lot of dealers go to this fortnightly market so you have to make quick decisions. In winter, people…

1 Halls Fine Art Established in 1845, Halls are the leading auction house in Shropshire. Offering a full programme of fine and specialist auctions, alongside their fortnightly interiors sales, there is always something of interest. Halls also hold weekly valuation days at their modern salerooms on Mondays, with their dedicated team of specialists, between 10am and 1pm, where they will provide free auction estimates and advice. Home visits available, by appointment. Forthcoming sales: 22nd March – Fine Art, Silver and Jewellery 26th April – Country House Auction 21st June – Fine Art, Silver and Jewellery 19th July – Country House Auction Halls Holdings House, Bowmen Way, Battlefield, Shrewsbury, SY4 3DR hallsgb.com/fine-art   01743 450700 2 Midland Furniture Auctions Midland Furniture Auctions holds one of the UK’s biggest weekly…

1 Original cast metal drawer handles, £16 a pair, WMC Antiques 2 Hammered D handle in natural cast iron, from £12.34, Period Ironmonger 3 ‘Suri’ ceramic knob in four colours, 4.5cm in diameter, £4.95, Nkuku 4 ‘Beehive’ cupboard knob in nickel, from £11.80, Jane Knapp 5 ‘Erith’ pull handle in matt black, 6.3cm in diameter, £7.90, Jim Lawrence 6 Large curved hooded pull handle in polished nickel, £42.50, Willow & Stone 7 Smooth glass knobs in six colours and four sizes from £26, Holloways of Ludlow 8 Ceramic number knobs, 3.5cm in diameter, £3.95, Graham & Green 9 ‘Hendon’ pewter pull handle 45mm long, £5.98, Finesse Design 10 ‘Lourdais’ folded leather door pull (choice of colours and screw covers), £13, Hidesmith 6 FOCUS ON THE DETAIL Worktops, handles, taps and…

WILL THOMAS Managing director of Love Antiques Loveantiques.com • ‘Anyone can sell antiques, but do they know how to date something and verify whether it’s genuine? Buying via a vetted online platform gives buyers confidence and clarity in their transactions and, if there are complaints, dealers can be removed from the site.’ • Websites offer a good range of fresh products: ‘At Love Antiques, stock is always being refreshed because of the high turnover. Some of the bigger dealers upload 15 new items a day, while the smaller dealers put on six new pieces every week.’ BEST ONLINE BUY ‘A Victorian school coat stand on wheels. It is made of oak, with oak pegs. It’s about 3m long and we keep it in the utility room for all…

TRADE UMBRELLAS Fine art, antiques and design dealers listed on these sites will have been vetted by an expert committee before being admitted as members and must follow a code of practice that includes providing accurate information about provenance, restoration or alteration and pricing, plus the right to a refund. • Lapada.org Represents 585 UK and European dealers; database of 12,000 items for sale. • Bada.org Represents 350 leading British dealers; database of 10,000 items for sale. DEALER ONLINE PLATFORMS Here, selected and vetted fine art, antiques and design dealers upload items to sell. You can create ‘favourites’ lists, request call-backs and share details. Most sales are made via direct contact with the dealer. • Sellingantiques.co.uk Represents over 400 British dealers, with 100–200 antiques and vintage items added every day.…

ANTHONY BARZILAY FREUND Director of fine art at 1st Dibs 1stdibs.com • ‘If you are new to antiques buying, visiting an antiques centre or fair is a wonderful way to train your eye and appreciate the subtler details of pieces you’re interested in. Examine patina, consider scale and proportions, and see how much of the maker’s hand you can discern.’ • ‘Comparing like for like offerings from dealers online allows you to shop strategically, and you can message the dealer for extra photographs and details such as measurements and provenance.’ • ‘Online shopping allows for the same element of surprise that you would find at a flea market: you never know what treasure you’ll encounter on the next page view.’ RIGHT Bronze sculpture, c1907, by Johannes Benk from…

‘In small spaces, beauty is as important as ever, but you need to be practical. Just because you have inherited a giant sideboard, you don’t have to keep it if it is too large for the space. Sell it, and invest the money in a piece that’s more relevant to how you live. ‘The key to little rooms is not to overfill them. You can absolutely use a large piece, but make sure that it doesn’t overwhelm. Keep it clean and simple – that is why Georgian pieces work so well, as do designs from the 1950s. Early Georgian and modernist sit very well together – their simplicity and lack of ornament are a good backdrop to most rooms. This can then allow for a bit more embellishment in the…

1 BE PREPARED Have your measurements with you at all times when shopping – both the ideal size you would like, and also the smallest and largest that would work in the space. Antiques weren’t made to standard sizes, and you will need to be flexible if you fall in love with a piece while out and about. You should also keep the room dimensions handy, in case you need to rethink the layout in a hurry, suggests Elizabeth Fell. 2 PLAY WITH SCALE Better to have a couple of things that are slightly too large (and keep the rest of the room minimal) than a number of small pieces that will make a little space feel cluttered. 3 LOOK OUT FOR ITEMS THAT CAN MULTITASK Items that can be…

The bit The business end of a key, which operates the lock. Usually flat or wedge-shaped, it occasionally has images or letters cut into it. The bow Often the most decorative part, the bow is the section that is held between thumb and finger when opening the lock. The stem Either solid or hollow, depending on the type of lock, the stem connects the bit and the bow. Test piece A particularly ornate, decorative lock and key used by an exceptionally skilled workman to prove their readiness to become a Master in a craftsmen’s guild. Trefoil & quatrefoil Two different types of bow. The trefoil has three ‘lobes’; the quatrefoil has four and was a popular choice for key-making in medieval times. Passe-partout A key with more than one bit,…

The most valuable item of Titanic memorabilia ever sold at auction was the violin played by Wallace Hartley as the ship sank. After a lengthy process to prove its origin, Henry Aldridge & Son sold it for £1.1m in 2013. An extremely rare lunch menu from the day of the ship’s sinking sold for £76,000 by Henry Aldridge & Son in 2012. It had been kept by prominent San Francisco banker Washington Dodge, and made its way off the ship in his wife’s purse. An exceptionally rare cork and canvas life jacket, worn by Titanic survivor Miss Laura Mabel Francatelli, was sold for £60,000 by Christie’s South Kensington auction house in its 2007 Maritime sale. A Spillers & Bakers ‘Pilot’ cracker, part of a lifeboat survival kit, was saved by…

Cocoon Home Learn the craft of traditional hand-stitched lampshades with Cocoon Home. Over two days, and in a maximum class size of three, you will learn how to make a balloon-lined bowed empire shade using high-end techniques. This course is suitable for both the experienced sewer and anyone looking to learn a new skill. cocoonhome.co.uk 0203 290 2295 Quirky Workshops, North Lakes Artisan cheese and bread, willow, raku, life sculpture in clay, Gaynor Goffe calligraphy, silver jewellery, glass, print, cyanotype, mosaics, rag rugs, felt spin, stitch, weave, whittle, Peter Brown wood engraving, longbow, cob pizza ovens, bike days, leather and more. Lovely relaxed days of discovery and making. greystokecyclecafe.co.uk/workshops.htm 01768 483984 Lilac Barn Lilac Barn is a studio located in the heart of the Somerset levels. It offers…

2-FOR-FREE 9th–12th Chester Antiques Show, County Grandstand, Chester Racecourse, Watergate Square, Chester, CH1 2LY. 10.30am–5pm. £5. 01886 833091; penman-fairs.co.uk 2-FOR-FREE 3rd–5th Petersfield Antiques Fair, The Festival Hall, Heath Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4EA. 10.30am–5pm. £3.50. 01886 833091; penman-fairs.co.uk 2–FOR–1 5th Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5EE. 11am–5.30pm. £4. 020 7503 9171; frockmevintagefashion.com 2–FOR–1 26th Adams Antiques Fair, Lindley Hall, The Royal Horticultural Halls, Elverton Street, 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 2–FOR–FREE Present this page on entry to receive two tickets for free…

A Amara 0800 587 7645; amara.com Andshine 07765 530607; andshine.co.uk Anthropologie 00800 0026 8476; anthropologie.com Antikbar 020 7352 9309; antikbar.co.uk Atelier Fornasetti +39 02 84 16 13 74; fornasetti.com Atomic Antiques 020 7739 5923; atomica.me.uk August Interiors 020 8304 0582; augustinteriors.co.uk B Barker & Stonehouse 0333 355 9392; barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Branching Out Antiques 01227 721792; branchingoutwingham.co.uk C Campbell-Rey campbell-rey.com Castle Gibson 020 8211 8690; castlegibson.com Circus Antiques 020 8968 8244; circusantiques.co.uk Cole & Son 020 8442 8844; cole-and-son.com The Conran Shop 0844 848 4000; conranshop.co.uk The Consortium 01962 867734; theconsortiumonline.co.uk The Cotswold Company 0333 200 1725; cotswoldco.com Cubbit Antiques 07967 954625; cubbitantiques.co.uk D The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair 020 7616 9327; decorativefair.com Drew Pritchard 01492 580890; drewpritchard.co.uk E eBay ebay.com Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors 01323 870595; emmettandwhite.com…

In 1994, I curated a Pugin exhibition at the V&A. As I came to understand this largely forgotten man, I realised that he was one of the key designers of the 19th century. He is the father of modern gothic and, today, much of Britain – whether you are looking at St Pancras station or the Palace of Westminster – reflects his vision. Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was a great architect, designer, decorator and writer. In 16 or 17 years of activity, from his first architectural project in 1835 to his swansong project before his death in 1852 – the Medieval Court at the Great Exhibition – he designed and oversaw the building of six cathedrals, 40 churches, a number of seminaries and houses and, most famously, the decoration of…

Antiques Roadshow expert Paul Atterbury talks us through the life and works of AWN Pugin (p162) Rebecca Davies, CEO of LAPADA, shares her insight into the world of online antiques shopping on page 110 Leading antiques expert Judith Miller examines the pieces in an 18th-century Italian villa on page 70 Co-founder of Retrouvius Maria Speake tells us how to use antiques to make a big impact in small properties (p116) Andrew Aldridge Auctioneer at Henry Aldridge & Son (p130) Matthew Denney Antique furniture specialist at Duke’s Auctioneers (p97) Holly Johnson Co-owner of Holly Johnson Antiques & Design (p44) Drew Pritchard Antiques dealer and television presenter (p29) Lisa Lloyd Owner of Hand of Glory Antiques (p12) Paul Rennie 20th-century design expert and owner of Rennies Seaside Modern (p61) William Wallace Antique…

AFFAIRS OF ART The clever collaborators at Surface View transform the artworks in some our most fabulous galleries into designs that you can revel in at home. The latest collection, ‘Fusion’, has taken Chinoiserie from the V&A archives and ancient drawings from Oxford’s Ashmolean and made them into striking panels. Art for the new year? Yes please. Canvas from £180. * 0118 922 1327; surfaceview.co.uk STYLE STEER In with the old, along with the new! I believe the most timeless interior schemes put antique pieces alongside stunning modern furniture. Don’t be afraid to mix – it usually creates an interesting, colourful and rich environment, full of character and charm. Rachel Bates, interior and product designer SEASON’S PICK TOP BRASS Since its inception 12 years ago, Amara has been the go-to…

WHO Kiel Shaw and Stuart Atkinson had been, respectively, an accountant and a chef before they started to sell antiques 20 years ago. These days, Fontaine, the business that their cottage industry grew into, provides antiques hunters, decorators and a number of famous names with decorative supplies. WHAT ‘Fontaine grew out of a stand we had at Battersea Decorative Fair,’ says Kiel, who calls while antiques hunting in France. ‘Fontaine was the name of an old house we had in Normandy.’ Last summer, with the help of History of Art graduate Sam, Stuart and Kiel opened their first permanent Fontaine shop. FIND Kiel describes their look as ‘relaxed and informal. Not really country house as there’s a quirk to it. It’s just how we live at home.’ You certainly feel…

What did our chilly feet do in the days before tufted carpets? Of course, there were rugs, but nothing feels quite like sinking your toes into a soft pile floor when you get up in the morning. The Cormack family certainly understands this – their company, Cormar Carpets, has been producing some of the UK’s finest carpets for over 60 years. Cormar grew out of textiles accessories business, Greenwood & Coope, that was founded in 1924. However, in 1956, Neville Cormack realised that better money could be made from manufacturing tufted carpets, and just three years after the switch he found demand was so high that he had to move his embryonic business to a larger factory. In 1966, success was such that Her Majesty came calling when she visited…

• 1st Travel & Exploration, Bonhams, Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London, SW7 1HH. 020 7393 3900; bonhams.com • 1st Silver, Books & Toys, Chorleys, Prinknash Abbey Park, Near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL4 8EU. 01452 344499; chorleys.com • 3rd Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photography, Lawrences, The Linen Yard, South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 8AB. 01460 73041; lawrences.co.uk • 4th Art & Antiques, Roseberys, 70–76 Knights Hill, West Norwood, London, SE27 0JD. 020 8761 2522; roseberys.co.uk • 4th Fine Art, Antiques & Collectables, Fieldings, Mill Race Lane, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 1JN. 01384 444140; fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk • 7th & 8th Fine Arts & Antiques, Canterbury Auction Galleries, 40 Station Road West, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8AN. 01227 763337; thecanterburyauctiongalleries.com • 7th Antiques & Interiors, Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood, Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU. 01392 413100; bhandl.co.uk…

Events to make an extra-special trip to see FRANK BRANGWYN An exhibition of the personal collection of artist and William Morris Gallery founder, Frank Brangwyn RA, reveals an obsession with Japanese art and includes work by Hokusai and Hiroshige. Until 14th May. 020 8496 4390; wmgallery.org.uk PALLANT HOUSE WALLPAPERS Argentinian artist Pablo Bronstein’s latest venture is a set of dramatic panoramic wallpapers in the 18th-century Pallant House Gallery. Until 19th February. 01243 774557; pallant.org.uk BLENHEIM FASHION Three centuries of clothes worn by those who have graced Blenheim Palace go on show this month. Until 12th March. blenheim palace.com…

OLD 1920s French leather club chair, £790, Spencer Swaffer Antiques. 01903 882132; spencerswaffer.co.uk NEW ‘Celestial’ rug (CES02) in ‘Seaglass’ by Nourison, £99 for 119cm x 180cm, The Rug Seller. 0161 876 4566; therugseller.co.uk OLD 19th-century oil painting of an English gentleman, £580, Puckhaber Decorative Antiques. 020 3304 7327; puckhaberdecorativeantiques.com NEW ‘Dungarvan’ decanter set, £235, Waterford. 01782 282650; waterford.co.uk NEW Mahogany revolving bookcase, £4,856, Titchmarsh & Goodwin. 01473 252158; titchmarshgoodwin.co.uk titchmarshgoodwin.co.uk NEW ‘Marble’ cushions, £26 each, both Oliver Bonas. 020 8974 0110; oliverbonas.com OLD 19th-century pollard oak library desk, £9,200, Shacklady’s at 1st Dibs. 01255 411244; 1stdibs.com OLD French leather book hide, £785, The Decorator Source. 01666 505358; thedecoratorsource.co.uk NEW ‘Boxing Hare’ bookends, £37.90, The Farthing. 0844 567 2400; thefarthing.co.uk NEW ‘Jaipur Plain’ wallpaper, £63 per roll, Zoffany. 0844 543 4600;…

HOME OF THE MONTH FLORAL 19››-CENTURY plates climb the mural-painted walls of Gaetano Besana’s Italian apartment. It is housed in his great-grandfather’s 18th-century villa and themes of nature are repeated throughout the interior. The result is a highly unusual feast for the eyes – and one which has a yearning for warmer climes. PAGE 62…

The happy marriage between art and commercial advertising arrived on Europe's shores during the late 19th century, when French artist Jules Chéret first mastered the innovative technique of lithograph colour poster printing. ‘At this time it was natural for printers, transport advertising and holiday agencies to come together to work on a single artefact,’ explains Paul Rennie, 20th-century design expert and owner of Rennies Seaside Modern in Folkestone, Kent. Posters were used to advertise everything from theatre productions to biscuits and tobacco, but the increase in leisure time and popularisation of railway transport gave rise to a surge in advertising from tourist boards and travel companies. Although these colourful and vibrant travel posters were often mass-produced, they were also printed on highly acidic paper and in relatively small print-runs too.…

Not many people could say that, on moving into a new home, they could bring with them and incorporate a 19th-century fireplace surround, exterior door complete with stained glass panelling from the same period, and a set of old French bathroom tiles. And it’s even less likely that, once in situ, these items would fit and also look as if they had always belonged. But Otto Martin, who bought these pieces years before moving into his 1900s home in Bristol, felt certain that they would come in handy one day. ‘I’m always buying second-hand pieces. My rule is, if you like something, and it’s a good price – buy it.’ These aren’t Otto’s only criteria for buying though. Over the years he’s discovered what he likes, and what he doesn’t;…

KITCHENS From layering and lighting to shelving and storage, pick up easy ways to make the most of every inch of space in a small kitchen PARIS There’s plenty for the antiques hunter in the French capital, not least the world-famous Marché aux Puces TITANIC As a locker key from the doomed Titanic sells for £85,000, take a look at some of the other intriguing artefacts HERITAGE Timothy Richards keeps alive a long tradition with his exquisite models of the world’s most important buildings…

‘Consumers are looking for convenience above everything,’ says a recent report by Barnebys, the leading online auction search service for fine art and antiques. So, while we still set aside time to visit our favourite antiques fairs and shops, sourcing antiques online is growing apace as we buy and bid from our mobiles and laptops. The options have never been more varied, and the top sellers include furniture, silver, jewellery and collectable toys. Efficiency is the key, confirms Anthony Barzilay Freund of 1st Dibs. The online dealer platform began in 2001 with a handful of stallholders from Paris’s Marché aux Puces and now has dealers in 19 countries selling over $150m-worth of products a year. ‘Going online means you can shop globally from the comfort of your home. And ever-refined…

• FURNITURE Antique furniture is great value for money compared with new high street equivalents and the huge range of furniture available to view online makes this an increasingly popular way to buy. Practical furniture such as dining and kitchen tables, desks, bookcases, sofas, and occasional chairs are most sought after. • SILVER AND SILVER PLATE PIECES Small silver antiques add heirloom style to your home and make lovely presents too. Look out for coffee pots and teapots, ice buckets, candlesticks, spoons, wine coasters, Edwardian photo frames, and jewellery boxes. Reputable dealers and auction houses will provide information on date and makers found via hallmarks. • DECORATIVE ANTIQUES Hunt for splashy, one-off items that are hard to find or require a great deal of travelling to source. We’re talking 19th-century…

PONTUS SILFVERSTOLPE Co-founder of Barnebys Barnebys.co.uk • ‘Check the dimensions of the item you are buying – paintings, mirrors and furniture can all be larger and heavier than they look. Use height, length and depth measurements to ensure that the piece you are buying will be a good fit in your home and will get through the doors.’ • ‘One of the main concerns for people about buying branded pieces through online auction sites is authenticity. For your peace of mind, auction houses draw up condition reports, which include proof of authenticity. This means that customers can have the confidence to buy, even if they haven’t actually seen the piece in person in an auction room.’ BEST ONLINE BUY ‘A few years ago, when antique Chinese ceramics were…

If you’re buying from an antiques dealer who is a member of trade bodies LAPADA and/ or BADA – which run their own strict codes or practice, is represented on a vetted online platform, or is part of one of the many reputable auction houses, you can purchase with confidence. If you’re concerned about any aspect of your purchase, request a condition report. The pitfalls come when you buy from an unregulated individual who may not divulge details of damage or restoration, who does not have expertise in their field and gives out incorrect information about an item, even, at worst, offering a fake. Serious collectors build up good relationships with trusted dealers and auction houses, online or in person, or both.…

‘Do get away from the idea of blasting small rooms with light – it can be so exhausting. Task lighting can provide the spirit that the oil-lit Georgian homes achieved. Candlelight is a good option as well; the flicker and dance is lovely. ‘Enjoy the richness of colour – our dark and cold climate is ideal for rich ochres and muddy greens. Those earthy hues look beautiful alongside both modern and period furniture. ‘Choose pieces you really like and group them by colour and texture rather than sticking to particular periods or styles. Old pieces of cabinetry – tallboys, chests of drawers, and so on – are undervalued, as they can often be superior in quality to their modern counterparts. And don’t forget that free-standing furniture can be ideal for…

What fascinates people are the social aspects of the Titanic phenomenon… You have over 2,200 stories, from Lord Astor to third-class passengers Sidney Sedunary was 25 years old when he signed up to work as a steward on the Titanic. Life hadn’t been easy: his father had died when he was 13, leaving his mother with seven children to provide for and, by the age of 14, Sidney – the eldest – had left school to work as a grocer’s errand boy. He then took a job as a steward on White Star Line’s Olympic ocean liner, before transferring to its sister ship Titanic on 4th April 1912, just a few months after getting married. As the second third-class steward, his monthly wage was £5. Along with 78 per cent…

1 The Glass Fair @ Knebworth Antiques Fair This leading specialist fair features up to 70 exhibitors selling fine-quality collectable glass from all periods, including contemporary artists showing their own work. As usual there will be an exhibition which will highlight a particular type of glass. With refreshments and free parking a visit to the Glass Fair @ Knebworth makes a great day out. • Sunday 26th February, 10.30am–4pm. Admission £5 (accompanied children free) Knebworth House, Stevenage, SG1 2AX cambridgeglassfair.com 07887 762872 2 Marcel Fairs Antiques Fair • Saturday 7th January, Saturday 4th February, Mill Hill Fairs, St Paul's Church Hall, The Ridgeway, London, NW7 1QU. 9am–4pm. £1 . • Sunday 22nd January, Sunday 26th February, Sunday 26th March, Bushey Fairs, Bushey Golf & Country Club, High Street, Bushey, Herts, WD23 1TT. 9am–4pm.…

1 Three years of work went into Paul’s 1994 Pugin exhibition at the V&A. As with most exhibitions there, it ran for three months. 2 Paul doesn’t think of himself as an antiques professional: ‘Antiques is a hobby. My career really is as a writer, lecturer and a curator.’ 3 He has written over 40 books on subjects as varied as railways, travel, ceramics and, of course, Pugin. 4 In 27 years on the Roadshow, Paul’s favourite moment came when he met two descendants of the girls who had taken the Cottingley Fairies photos: ‘Talking to them, I really felt in contact with the story – one of the great hoaxes of all time’. 5 As a child, Paul was the model for the Andy Pandy puppet. His mother was…