Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i Homes & Antiques

As I write, we are in our seventh week of lockdown, and working from home is now second nature. It no longer feels strange when a meeting is enlivened by the arrival of a child at a colleague’s shoulder, or is disrupted by the sudden loss of wifi. Such things have become unremarkable in the new landscape in which we find ourselves. The sadness of being separated from friends and family, however, remains undiminished. This is why our homes have come to mean more to us than ever. Whether consciously or unconsciously, we surround ourselves with things that connect us to the people and places that matter and give our lives meaning: from postcards and photographs, to antiques that are handed down through the generations. With this in mind, we…

Copper beauty My grandparents were married in 1912 and this copper lidded object was a wedding present. As a little girl I remember it being in their London dining room and was delighted when it was passed on to me in 1998. I hoped that it was a Liberty piece, but there are no marks apart from a hand-inscribed triangle with ‘151’ inside it and also ‘6493’ hand-inscribed separately on the base. The five small cabochons around the bottom are amber coloured glass I think and on the main lidded bowl are five brass ‘cabochons’. It clearly shows hand beating of the copper in the lid and bowl part. The photo also shows a Liberty salt. It has four turquoise cabochons and has the three-triangle L & Co Liberty mark…

Totally tropical Channelling a laid-back Caribbean hothouse vibe, the latest collection from Mind The Gap features lush foliage, colourful birds and maritime accents. The range includes 17 wallpapers, £175 for three rolls, and eight printed linens, from £109 per metre. Mix up a piña colada, the tropics are calling! +40 730 12 40 82; mindtheg.com Let’s go outside When the weather’s glorious, we long to head outside and feel the sun on our faces, but does your outdoor space feel inviting enough? Make the most of your garden, whatever its size, with a new bistro set, like this Nectar number from Dobbies, £349. The egg-yolk yellow will sing out against the foliage in your garden. dobbies.com SUMMER SCENTS It’s more important than ever – as we’re in them a great…

‘I’ve always been fascinated with the past and, growing up in West Sussex, I would visit Uppark and Petworth with my parents. There was an old doll’s house at Uppark that I loved and my favourite book was Kings and Queens of England and Scotland. ‘I joined Christie’s as an intern in the summer of 2008, after studying history at Oxford, then taking a Masters at The Courtauld Institute of Art. I began doing the photocopying and sending out letters to clients, then progressed to writing catalogue notes on drawings and paintings that came in for sale. We have a warehouse where all the paintings are kept – we handle art by the likes of Burne-Jones and de László and many lesser-known artists. It’s special to get so near to…

You should be careful what you wish for when it comes to homes, warns Lizzie Woolley. The longterm city dweller, who was in love with London and couldn’t dream of living anywhere else, had been batting off her husband’s pleas to move somewhere quieter for years. When eventually he persuaded Lizzie to view potential new homes in Brighton, she wasn’t bowled over by any of them. Although the location felt more cosmopolitan than Winchester and Chichester – the other areas they’d looked at – the city’s Victorian terraces didn’t have the magnetism she needed to pull her away from her beloved capital. ‘I’d lived in the same road in Brixton for 20 years,’ she explains. ‘First in a two-bedroom flat, then a four-bedroom house. We had two children and Paul…

Artists favour working with plaster as it can be shaped while wet and carved while dry, and collectors of the work enjoy the intimacy of the scarred, textured surface, which has been shaped by the artist’s hand. Both Pablo Picasso and cubist Alexander Archipenko created works in plaster. And although it’s Henry Moore’s bronzes that receive critical acclaim, the plaster maquettes he made in preparation for these pieces are now deemed works of art in their own right. Contemporary artists and makers, such as Brooklyn-based Stephen Antonson, are also using this ancient material. Stephen sculpts ingenious lighting, mirrors and furniture in clay before casting them in plaster of Paris, which results in practical pieces with a chalky, matt finish. ‘I’ve also seen people 3D printing in plaster,’ explains Zoe Laughlin.…

HISTORY OF THE DESIGN The Blue Italian design was launched by Josiah Spode II in 1816, and this decorative vignette provided the perfect showcase for his father’s revolutionary blue underglaze transfer printing process. It depicts a classic Italianate landscape – although the origins of the scene remain a mystery, as no single place in Italy seems to match the various elements. Nevertheless, it brought huge success for Spode and in the 1930s one catalogue recorded over 700 different items available. ‘It has certainly proved long lasting, perhaps due to its unique combination of European and Asian design – the classical Italian scene coupled with the Imariinspired border,’ says Paul Holdway, former Head Engraver at Spode, and one of the Trustees of the Spode Museum Trust. ‘This, along with the fine…

• The British Museum, London. (Room 25) britishmuseum.org • Horniman Museum & Gardens, London. horniman.ac.uk • Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, Cambridge. maa.cam.ac.uk • Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. prm.ox.ac.uk • World Museum, Liverpool. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ world-museum For further information read: Tribal Art: The Essential World Guide by Judith Miller (Dorling Kindersley)…

Most of us have a favourite haunt. A National Trust property, perhaps, or an art gallery, a museum or even a garden that has had such a profound effect on us that we feel compelled to return to it in our minds time and time again, long after we have left. From the vaulted galleries of the V&A, which houses over 2.3 million objects that span 5,000 years of human creativity, to humble historical properties carefully preserved for visitors, such as Dylan Thomas’s writing shed above his boathouse in Carmarthenshire, certain spaces and places resonate with you as soon as you first walk in. For antiques and interiors enthusiasts, the finest public collections can provoke a uniquely personal response, influencing their home decor decisions, professional projects, antique collections and entire…

@virtualvintagefair Virtual Vintage Fair consists of 30 dealers showing their vintage and antique wares daily on Instagram. @jpantiquemaps Head to Jonathan Potter’s Instagram to pore over maps of Roman Britain, Elizabethan London, seas and stars. @salvoweb For your salvage fix, head here, the marketplace for architectural antiques and reclaimed building materials. @rita_k_shopping Rita Konig’s little black book. See her ‘following’ list, which includes antiques dealer and maker Matthew Cox (above).…

If you think you know who lived in this month’s home, you could be in with a chance of winning this Blue Swallows half-pint mug, worth £19.95, from queen of colourful ceramics Emma Bridgewater. Based in the Potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, Emma’s factory has been making your everyday cup of tea just that little bit more special since 1985. To see the full range of products, visit emmabridgewater.co.uk Who lived here?  A. John Everett Millais B. Dante Gabriel Rossetti C. Frederic, Lord Leighton ENTER ONLINE homesandantiques.com/competitions ENTER BY POST Send your answer, name and phone number to: Homes & Antiques, Issue 334, Room with a Clue comp, PO Box 501, Leicester, LE94 0AA Closing date: 30th June 2020 at 11.59pm*…

Paul Atterbury gave his advice in ‘Ask an Expert’ Paul is a historian, writer and lecturer, and has been a familiar member of the Antiques Roadshow expert team for 30 years. ‘Whenever I have spare time in London, I go to the National Portrait Gallery. History, past and present, is made accessible, and sometimes comprehensible, by seeing face to face the people who made it. Portraits can often reveal more than the sitter intended us to know.’ Esther Curtis illustrated ‘Quintessentially Georgian’ Esther is a freelance illustrator in Bristol. Her trademark style combines hand-drawn elements and patterns with digital illustration to create her colourful textural pieces. Her current favourite things to draw are leopards and snapdragons. ‘I love the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. It’s an exotic treasure…

1 the COLOUR GET SET FOR SUMMER As the days grow longer and the weather improves, the time has come to spruce up your garden furniture. M&L’s Exterior Eggshell range is perfect for the job, and comes in 120 gorgeous shades from rich reds to moody blues. If you are overwhelmed by the choice, click on the link for the ‘Bolds’ gallery on the website, for an edited selection of the most vibrant colours. mandlpaints.com 2 the ANTIQUE PLANTERS: A POTTED HISTORY Decorative plant pots or jardinières (from the French word jardin) began to appear in British homes from the 1860s onwards, when the fashion for houseplants was taking off. The introduction of heated glasshouses and conservatories in the 18th century had made it possible to grow exotic plants in…

This illustrated guide unearths the history and influence of iconic flowers from across the globe, from spring daffodils to autumn chrysanthemums. (14.99, Yale University Press) In Happy Inside, former Editor of Elle Decoration Michelle Ogundehin outlines how curating a beautiful home can support your wellbeing. (£18.99, Ebury Press) They know how to create a good beach house over in the USA, and Summer to Summer: Houses by the Sea gives you a tour of some of the best. (£60, Vendome Press)…

We’re noticing an active market for decorative antique urns, benches and figures, which regularly fetch between £200-£800 depending on their size, age and condition – natural weathering and lichen are considered attractive. Recent highlights include a pair of terracotta Campana urns, which sold for £1,800, and a set of four stone composition models of putti that made £1,100. Garden troughs are popular too, with one rough-hewn example making £900 (est £400-£600).…

‘One of the nice things about collecting plaster elements is that they can still be bought for not too fierce money [prices start at around £500 for a small, decorative fragment]. There is something innately appealing about architectural plaster copies of ancient fragments. They are often facsimiles of otherwise unobtainable objects that garner their own integrity as they develop surface and patina. Buyers have a chance to take a small slice of history home. ‘The most readily available antique plasterworks are copies of architectural elements, or models of human parts. The piece that I’ve had the longest is an artist’s model of a human foot that can be hung on a wall. It never ceases to bring me pleasure when I look at it. ‘I also collect marble and Coade…

Think of toile de Jouy and charming images of rural idylls will spring to mind. ‘Pastoral romantic is the genre everyone thinks of. Ladies, gentlemen, arbours and fountains,’ says French antique textiles dealer Katharine Pole, who has been buying and selling toile fabric for 25 years. ‘But there are many different genres.’ Indeed, themes and motifs for this style of printed cotton covered diverse subject matter, from florals and fables to Greek mythology and scientific advancements. Now a generic term for fabrics bearing these scenes, ‘toile de Jouy’ is actually French for ‘cloth from Jouy’, and referred specifically to the printed cloth produced by Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf (1738-1815) in the French town of Jouy-en-Josas near Paris from 1760 to 1843. ‘Oberkampf at Jouy was one of the main manufacturers but there…

IN THE SHADE In the Victorian era women used parasols in the sunshine to shield their complexions. This novelty version has a mother of pearl, flamingo-head handle. Estimate £200-£400 MAPPING THE PAST The market for old maps is buoyant and this one is by a master cartographer, Dutchman Johannes Blaeu, and created in Amsterdam around 1657. Estimate £700-£1,000 DASHING DISPLAY With houseplants back in fashion, a striking way to display them is on a period tiered plant stand, such as this unusual art deco design. Estimate £80-£120…

Oasis in the desert During this lockdown, I’ve changed things around and put out more pictures and collections. I’ve been a collector my whole life and my house in Dubai is testament to this, with every surface adorned with a display. Obviously, this is very unusual in Dubai, as the majority of homes are modern. I love the retro quirky period and have always been determined to have a house that would make people smile. You can also see I have a big love of art! Lorraine Ludman, via email CHARLOTTE SAYS: Thank you for sharing this corner of your home with us! Brilliant bamboo I read with great interest the article ‘Collecting Bamboo Brush Pots’ in your April 2020 edition, as one has been sitting on my desk, holding…

THE GREAT INDOORS Allow interiors experts Sophie Robinson and Kate Watson-Smyth to guide you through the hottest trends and glorious celebrity homes. TALK ART Actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament talk all things art collecting with special guests including Tracey Emin, Sir Ian McKellen and Grayson Perry. HOSTEING LAURA JACKSON Forever the hostess and never the hosted, Laura Jackson invites herself to the homes of popular trendsetters to discuss interiors, food and travel.…

KEY: OLD / NEW…

EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE The bust of Nefertiti is crafted from limestone and covered in painted plaster. It is thought to date from around 1345BC and was made by Thutmose. DOMESTIC BLISS The famous Greek Temple of Athena at Elis was said to be coated in a polished plaster stucco, made with a heady mixture of milk and saffron. A MESSAGE FROM ABOVE Plaster frescos are among the most impressive uses of the material – and Michelangelo’s ceiling in Rome’s Sistine Chapel is one of the most iconic. MASTER OF PLASTER The decorative plaster of the Georgian era is perhaps the best known. The friezes at Harewood House were designed by Robert Adam.…

1790s It is thought by some that Spode produced the first printed ‘Willow’ patterns, based on the style of 18th-century Chinese porcelain. 1816 The Blue Italian design has become a decorative staple the world over, adorning all sorts of household objects. 1828 Spode’s Botanical series, featuring white flowers on a blue background, was a hit and can also be found printed in green and in brown. 1938 The intricate Christmas Tree pattern was designed by Harold Holdway and soon became a firm seasonal favourite. 1980 S The Woodland collection, first produced in the 1980s, evolved from earlier designs. The British Flowers border dates back to c1828.…

As an extra room attached to the house, or a space that transforms and opens up access to the garden, a good-quality conservatory will certainly add value to your property, perhaps in the region of 5 per cent. Although the same potential is not always as obvious for a greenhouse, a well-loved garden with a shed, garage or greenhouse is undoubtedly an asset. And a greenhouse can be more than just a growing space – a retreat, hideaway, office or studio – the list is endless. Increasingly, people are planning their greenhouses with seating or dining areas, including lighting, fridges and wifi, as well as patio areas. Whichever you are building, the first step is always the most important. Never rush it! You have to live with it, so take…

At the height of its popularity in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, women of all classes, including Marie Antoinette, hankered for toile de Jouy, but its appeal petered out in the 1820s. However, toile is popular today, both in interiors and fashion. Eye-catching outfits have graced the catwalks in the last year or so, with more emerging. Katharine Pole says you can build up an interesting collection of toile de Jouy textiles without breaking the bank. ‘A small piece of toile will cost about £50,’ she adds. Quilts and bed hangings command the most money, around £1,000 to £2,000. Katharine explains that value depends on rarity, the size of the piece and its condition (fabrics are sometimes stained). ‘You find a lot of quilted toile, which would have…

Tile Files I bought these tiles from an antiques centre in Shropshire about 20 years ago and wondered if you know anything about where they might have come from. Should I try to clean them and, if so, what should I use? Pam Smithies, Penrith Your colourful encaustic tiles were made by Maw & Co, a leading British tile maker of the 19th century. The company was started in Worcester in 1850 by George and Arthur Maw, then two years later they moved it to Shropshire, in search of better supplies of coal and clay. This type of gothic-inspired design was the height of fashion in the mid-to-late 19th century and a speciality of the works. By the 1880s Maw & Co’s state-of-the-art factory was making more than 20 million…

Reconnect with your treasures says stylist Hana Snow ‘While we’ve all been confined to our homes, I’ve loved having time to restyle my nest. All of a sudden, we have endless time to really take note of what we have. It’s time to think about the places where we found special pieces and to consider the items we love looking at in our homes – to notice their natural connection with the objects they have found themselves amongst. ‘A lovely task is to bring all your wonderful items to the table; the small antique pieces, collections and colour groups (we all have them even if we don’t consciously buy that way). Give everything a dust, shine the silver, refill oil lanterns, find candles that fit the holders. ‘From here, you…

1 MUSEUM ISLAND Berlin, Germany Berlin’s Museum Island – home to five of the country’s finest arts institutions – is usually overrun with tourists. And who can blame them? This UNESCO World Heritage site encompasses the Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode-Museum and Pergamonmuseum – each with its own cultural speciality. Art lovers flock to see the richly decorated relics of Ancient Egypt, the priceless masters of Renaissance Europe, the intricate Islamic art that dates back to the religion’s roots, and much more. But when you visit the island virtually (via artsandculture.google.com/project/ museum-island-berlin) you’ll have the entire space to yourself. Come face to face with the bust of Queen Nefertiti, or explore the 2,500-year-old Ishtar Gate, an archway to Babylon Come face to face with the bust of…