Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i Homes & Antiques

How many of you have used your mobile phones to capture holiday highlights this summer? I certainly have. Yet, reading Jenny Oldaker’s fascinating feature on antique photographs (p95), I was reminded of the joys, as well as the constraints, of the physical print. In the past, it was hard to know what you had captured on film until it was printed. Today, we are quick to delete the images we dislike. And yet, looking back at old photos, it’s often the candid, unvarnished shot that really sums up a moment, providing a powerful link between past and present. Will photographs of the 21st century be as rare and collectable as those from the 1840s? If you haven’t been away this year, let our houses in Mallorca, Italy and Sweden offer…

1 the ANTIQUE SAMPLERS As children buy new pens and notebooks for their return to school, our thoughts turn to samplers, the panels of needlework made by girls as young as eight in the 18th and 19th centuries. Originally, embroiderers created samplers to record their craft, but gradually they became practice pieces in needlework lessons where girls were taught a variety of stitches in preparation for managing or serving a household. Learning how to embroider letters from the alphabet, for example, would have been useful in the marking of linen sheets, napkins and undergarments so that they could be identified after washday. From a practical point of view, tiny buttonhole stitches made fastenings secure, while darning stitches would be used to mend clothes. Decorative motifs, such as flowers, birds and…

Small pieces of novelty silver, known in the antiques trade as ‘smalls’, are popular with collectors on the lookout for something quirky and easy to store and/or display. At Lawrences recently a pair of mid 19th-century grape shears in the form of a stork made £300, but that was nothing compared to a pair of Victorian pepperettes cast as fighting cocks, which went for £2,500. A similar-period pig pepper caster and mustard pot sold for £1,800. In the same sale, a rare Victorian frog vesta case made £2,120, while a fine agate bowl and cover with silver-gilt mounts leapt above its £1,800 estimate to make £5,250.…

Last month we visited the Chelsea factory, situated in fashionable west London and serving the rich and famous. Today, we move on to the fumes and noise of the industrial East End and porcelain production at Bow. A true ‘Cockney’, it is said, is someone who was born within the sound of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow church in east London. If a factory can be called a Cockney, then the Bow Porcelain Factory certainly was; it was built on the banks of the River Lea, between Bow and Stratford near today’s Olympic Stadium. The Bow factory is fascinating not only for its beautiful wares, but also for the way it experimented with porcelain, making some important innovations. I am, of course, biased; I am writing this from my stockroom…

Love of the profession is part of the fabric of her being, says Louise Phillips: ‘To use a well-worn expression – like a stick of rock, it runs through me.’ Her parents were avid collectors with wide-ranging interests and Louise grew up surrounded by a fascinating variety of objects. ‘When I was born, they lived in a modern apartment furnished with Hille furniture designed by Robin Day, but their real passion was early oak furniture,’ she explains. While her father pursued a career as a women’s fashion designer in the late Sixties, her mother alleviated the boredom of being left at home with a small child by starting her own business, Elaine Phillips Antiques, trading in 17th and 18th-century oak, Delftware, metalware, tapestries and treen. ‘To begin with she operated…

“At The Wallace Collection, I am the resident specialist for French paintings, which means I am responsible for thinking about exhibitions and displays, writing articles, and making sure we know everything that we possibly can about the works in our care. I also oversee the physical wellbeing of these works, so if something needs to be conserved, I work closely with our contract painting conservators throughout the process, advising on the aesthetic aspects of the restoration and ensuring that the frames contain the pictures safely. Our collection encompasses 5,500 objects, and we are particularly renowned for our French paintings. Our holdings are some of the best outside France, so it’s a real privilege for me to work so closely with these iconic works. The collection was built up by the…

With its elegant terraces, immaculate Italianate garden, and tantalising views of Lake Garda, it’s hard to imagine this villa as the dilapidated shell Jane Ross stumbled upon more than 50 years ago. ‘My mother was returning to her home after spending a year with her husband in the Villa Massimo (a German cultural centre). She had fallen in love with the country, but she wanted to live near the water. It was 1969 and she saw a rundown house set in an abandoned vineyard,’ explains her daughter, Anna Katharina Fröhlich. The building may at one time have served as a tavern for the nearby monastery, and featured on old maps, dating back some 500 years. ‘There was no electricity or running water, part of the house was a stable, and…

With an international reputation for the study of art history, The Courtauld has an excellent pedigree, and its Short Courses department offers accessible, intensive options for delving into the subject matter. September sees the rollout of the centre’s Autumn School courses, with three to choose from: Making Sense of the Arts of Islam, Making Sense of Twentieth-Century Art, and Making Sense of Key Concepts of Western Art: Nature, Life and Lifelikeness. ‘Our Autumn School courses are designed for art enthusiasts who lack formal art-historical training and feel they would benefit from a solid foundation in the key concepts, terminologies and concerns of western and Islamic arts,’ explains Dr Anne Puetz, head of short courses at The Courtauld. These expert-led courses offer live seminars over five days, plus a range of…

DANISH FLAIR This twirling Swan Chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen; both the aluminium base and the wool upholstery were in surprisingly good order. Estimate £400–£500 READING ROOM A Victorian walnut wood and pietra dura Betjemann’s patent book slide, c1860–70, has neo-Gothic arch ends with marble and malachite flower sprigs. Estimate £150–£200 MADE IN CHELSEA A Chelsea porcelain strawberry-leaf moulded sauce boat carries the red anchor mark dating it to 1755. It has a branch for a handle and endearing leaf feet. Estimate £800–£1,200…

Pantries and larders were common features in Georgian kitchens. Larders were used as an early form of refrigeration to preserve raw meat, and from the 18th century they were also used for food preparation and to store fruit, vegetables, bread, pastry, milk, butter or cooked meats. In fact, the name larder is taken from its original function: the larder was where raw meat was larded – covered in fat – to be preserved. Pantries, on the other hand, were where non-perishable foods such as jams, grains and flour, together with table linens and silverware, would have been stored. Nowadays, thanks to modern refrigeration, perishable items tend to be stored in the fridge, and ‘larder’ and ‘pantry’ are often used interchangeably to refer to the same thing. A walk-in space or…

Cart House We make a habit of checking in with the Bristol-based Cart House inventory every now and then, as rugs appear often. Mostly Turkish and Swedish kilims as well as Moroccan runners and Berber rugs. 07884 001200; cart-house.com Farnham Antique Carpets As well as a barn showroom in Crondall, Surrey, Farnham Antique Carpets also has a comprehensive website shop and a regularly updated Instagram account. There is an exceptional range of rugs and prices, with pieces from Persia, Anatolia, India, China and the Caucasus, dating from the 18th century to the present day. 01252 851215; farnhamantiquecarpets.com Joshua Lumley Long-established antique rug dealer Joshua Lumley is based in Kent and stocks old rugs from the main weaving centres of the world, including Morocco, Anatolia, the Caucasus, Persia, Turkmenistan, India and…

Serena Fokschaner wrote house story ‘Soul Searching’ Immersed in journalism since university, Serena writes about art and interiors for a wide range of magazines and broadsheets. Interviewees have included potters and painters, a royal carpenter, and a salvage hunter with a museum in his garden. ‘I read Great Expectations for the first time recently. What a book. All of life is there but, above all, it’s a book about kindness and friendship.’ Jessica Forrester gives her advice in ‘Ask an Expert’ Jessica has worked in auction houses since she was 14. Following an English Literature degree, she completed an MA in Arts Market Appraisal. She heads up Special Auction Services’ Dudley saleroom. ‘The Go-Between by L P Hartley. There’s so much that can be read into the subtle…

An auction due to take place at Sotheby’s in July has been postponed to allow a bid from the Friends of the National Libraries (FNL). The auction was scheduled to sell off the private Honresfield Library collection, which has been largely inaccessible for the past 80 years. It was put together by William Law (1836–1901), a mill owner from Rochdale, and has mostly remained within the family ever since. The collection is significant as it contains several important manuscripts by the Brontë sisters, including seven of Charlotte’s ‘little books’, 25 letters by Charlotte, and Emily’s holograph notebook of 31 poems, believed to have been lost. Other key works include letters from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra, the complete working manuscript of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Rob Roy, and an…

Betty Joel was only active in furniture making between 1927 and 1938, yet she left behind an important design legacy. Born in Hong Kong in 1896, the Far East was a pivotal influence on her style and taste when she returned to live in England after the First World War. Her sought-after pieces were featured in The Studio magazine and can be found in the collections of the V&A and Museum of the Home. While they’re still affordable, now is the time to invest. Recent sales at Cheffins include a walnut side cabinet, sold for £900 (est £400–£600), a walnut chest, which made £3,200 (est £600–£1,000), and an Ashton dining table, £250 (est £400–£600).…

About 20 years ago, I discovered an original – and affordable – Henry Moore lithograph in a small art gallery in Sussex. It’s called Sculptural Objects, and today it hangs in our kitchen. The lithograph is ‘signed in the plate’, which means Moore’s signature is included in the printed composition as a whole, rather than individually signed in pencil at a later date. Moore created the work for the School Prints series in 1949, an outstanding project with the noble aim of bringing modern art to the classroom. In 1935, Derek Rawnsley founded a company specialising in the hire of reproduction artwork for schools, which children from varying backgrounds could have access to. After Derek’s death in 1943, his wife Brenda took over the running of the company. Brenda was…

Spot a second-hand bookshop, ready to be explored, and your heart skips a beat? Do you enjoy inhaling the musty aroma of old books and spend hours rifling through dusty shelves, seeking out the prettiest covers and the most intriguing volumes? When the internet was in its infancy, some bibliophiles feared that the digital world would herald the end of the road for printed books. Indeed, sales of new books have steadily declined over the last few decades, but the turbulent events of the past year have given an unexpected boost to traditional books. Meanwhile, sales of vintage books have never been stronger. The internet has allowed a new breed of savvy online dealers to emerge, supplying beautiful second-hand books to a global customer base. With lockdowns, shop closures and…

A house with history is a house filled with memories, and this couldn’t be more true of the Bristol home of jewellery designer Gillian Stein. Set in a quiet cul-de-sac in Clifton, the semi-detached, four-bedroom, early Victorian property has been Gillian’s home for 40 years. Over that time she has filled it with furniture, art, antiques and collections reflecting her changing passions and interests down the years, and reminding her of the important people who have been in her life. Built in 1855, the house has retained many of the original decorative features, including the tiled floor in the entrance hall, elaborate ceiling mouldings in most rooms and panelled shutters. Gillian and her husband Matthew, who sadly died in 2017, purchased the house in the early 1980s and, apart from…

The peaceful lakes and forests of Dalarna County in central Sweden have long drawn in visitors from Stockholm and the south in search of somewhere to unwind, to be close to nature and to escape the pressures of city life. Driving towards the small town of Smedjebacken, on the northern edge of Lake Barken, the sight that greets you as the lake swings into view is enough to lift the spirits of any weary traveller. There, nestled on the still water beneath the huge open sky, is a cluster of small islands covered in pine trees. Glimpses of roof or window frame through the greenery reveal that each is the location of a secluded home. ‘When I arrive here, there is a feeling that nothing can disturb me,’ says Carina.…

If you want to up your antiques game, enrol on an illuminating online antiques course via Learning with Experts, where you’ll get one-on-one contact with Marc Allum. Firstly, Collecting Antiques is aimed at teaching would-be investors to buy wisely, giving students insights into buying art and antiques for investment. It also reveals Marc’s philosophy around investing in antiques, gives practical tips and aims to help bolster confidence in dealing with the antiques marketplace. The Antiques for Interior Design course, meanwhile, sets out to expand students’ horizons by giving a wide-ranging view of designing and decorating with originality. It covers a host of topics, including practical advice on how and where to buy pieces, and best ways to enjoy living with antiques and collectables. One particularly interesting element concerns art and…

Rugged charm With the importance of sustainability foremost in our minds, natural materials are more popular than ever in the home. The rustic texture of this jute rug will add a touch of rough luxe to any room. From Carpetright’s eco-friendly People and Planet range, prices start at £44.99. carpetright.co.uk Clutter busters Finding attractive and practical shoe storage is always a challenge, but this Chester shoe storage bench in Dove Grey, £350, from the Cotswold Company ticks all the boxes. Pair with the matching shelf storage, £250, to fully tame your hallway clutter. cotswoldco.com TILE STYLE Bert & May’s Antique Collection uses traditional materials and techniques, as well as motifs, to recreate the finishes that are so much a part of the appeal of the reclaimed tiles that inspired the…

Earn your stripes Invite classic French style into your kitchen with these traditional striped tea towels from cast-iron cookware specialist Staub. £9.95 each. uk.zwilling-shop.com Peck of pickled peppers With a gentle warmth and mellow aroma to pep up any number of dishes – from scrambled eggs to pasta sauces – Pasquale’s Peppers are a brilliant addition to your larder. Opt for zingy green or fiery red Italian Lazzaretto chillis in olive oil (£11 per jar), or elevate a sandwich with a dollop of delicious Scarlatto Dolce chilli jam (£6). pasqualespeppers.com DAILY GRIND It was a beautifully utilitarian cast-iron mill owned by his grandparents in the 1970s that inspired Guy Beardsley to design his own updated version – a vision that came to life during last year’s lockdown. A mixed set…

The Craftsman’s Cottage, Wiltshire This pretty stone cottage is the ultimate ‘try before you buy’ holiday home for anyone interested in contemporary British craft. From a deVOL kitchen to GP & J Baker wallpaper, though the three-bedroom property (an annexe sleeps two more) is also peppered with antiques, the idea is to showcase iconic British brands, as well as providing a restful, creative retreat. Sink into a Russell Pinch sofa, hang your coat on an Another Country hook in the hallway or toast your toes in front of the fire on a Ptolemy Mann rug. If you decide to buy your own, proprietor Amanda can oblige. thecraftsmanscottage.com Tulach Ard House, Ross-shire Built in the 18th century but renovated in sympathetic contemporary style, there are many reasons to book a stay…

I grew up in Stourbridge in the Midlands, the home of English glassmaking, so glass has always been part of my heritage. When I was 15, I got a local weekend job at Fieldings Auctioneers and my interest in glass grew from there. I started buying and selling glass online and at car boot sales. I enjoyed researching things and glass became more tangible to me; classic pieces of design that I might be able to afford. I’ve carried on collecting punchy pieces of studio glass by makers such as American anglophile Sam Herman and Sweden’s Vicke Lindstrand. Compared to studio ceramics, studio glass is very reasonable and a collecting field that is not as well known. After A Levels, I wanted to get an apprenticeship rather than go to…

26th Virtual Vintage Market An all-day event from 9am @thewealdenbazaar HOW TO SHOP Visit the Wealden Bazaar Instagram account at 9am and browse the vintage traders who will be announced in lists in several posts the day before the market. Each list includes the trader’s Instagram name, which you can click on to reach their account and what they are selling. The organisers also use a hashtag so you can see sellers’ stock in one place, so keep an eye out for this too. 24th–25th The Autumn Online Brocante 7pm Friday to 10pm Saturday @thedorsetbrocante; thedorsetbrocanteonline.co.uk HOW TO SHOP The brocante will open at 7pm on Friday and will close at 10pm on Saturday. When the event opens you will be able to view the 50 selected exhibitors…

Heaven on Earth I loved reading your article ‘Heaven on Earth’, especially after a lockdown visit with my sister and nieces to the Glasgow Necropolis. It is based on Père Lachaise in Paris, with architects David and James Hamilton creating many of the famous features at the entrance – one of which is known as the Bridge of Sighs, representing the separation between time and eternity. It is a fascinating place, with famous graves of merchants and monuments designed by Greek Thomson and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. While there, my sister and I began to discuss what type of gravestone we would like when the time came: she advised she would like a Celtic cross, I myself pointed out an angel that I would like. It had the inscription ‘we shall…

Echoes of Deco The Oh So Sisco rug, with its repeat pattern of curves and peacocks, from a collection by Matthew Williamson for The Rug Retailer, exudes Art Nouveau. Not surprising, as it takes its cues from San Francisco, a city that has this early 20th-century decorative style at its core. The rug collection, which comprises eight designs in a variety of colourways, is inspired by nature, animals and the Californian coastline, and features traditional Indonesian and Moorish motifs. From £395. therugretailer.co.uk Golden glamour Mazes, a new tile collection from Bert & May, has all the hallmarks of Art Deco architecture and design – opulence, precise lines, rounded corners and symmetry. The Marigold colour shown above works well with gold taps and brass lighting. £6.40 per tile. bertandmay.com FOR LITTLE…

Lizzie Farey was a small child when she first experienced the benign influence of nature. On family holidays she and her four siblings were bundled into the car and driven several hours from their home near Birmingham to the wilds of south-west Scotland. Here, Lizzie would strike out on solitary adventures, escaping her ‘noisy family’ to explore the local moorlands and bogs in search of still, secret spaces. ‘I would find these little places that made me happy,’ she remembers. ‘Little streams with ferns sticking out of the rocks where I would gaze into the water. I think from an early age I was very responsive to nature.’ As an adult, Lizzie – who was born in Singapore and whose family frequently moved due to her father’s job in the…

‘Antiquarian books have thrived in lockdown, thanks to the internet. Lots of casual buyers have been purchasing collectable copies of their favourite books and more seasoned collectors have had more time to curate their collections. If you studied English Literature at university and like Jane Austen, you might want a first edition of Pride and Prejudice, or if you studied science, you might want to buy an original edition of a Charles Darwin text. ‘Books here start at around £100, which might get you a first edition of a Roald Dahl book, but prices are typically from £500 to £2,000. At the upper end of the scale, we have a first edition of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859) for £275,000 and a first edition…

• The Lacquer Chest, Kensington Church Street, London ‘A fabulous shop with a fabulous hoard of antiques selected and sold by the owner, Gretchen Andersen, who has an eye for the unusual.’ lacquerchest.com • Maramia Cafe, Golborne Road, London ‘A delightful, family-run Palestinian restaurant with delicious, freshly cooked food, situated close to the iconic Trellick Tower in North Kensington.’ maramia.com • Riverside and Brackenwood garden centres, Bristol ‘I love my local garden centres. They provide me with inspiration and a great collection of plants for my urban garden.’ brackenwoodplantandgardencentre.com ; riversidegardencentre.com • Paris ‘Everything about it: people-watching in the cafes and restaurants; going to galleries; strolling around experiencing the ambience; the Marché aux Puces; the Basilique de Saint-Denis, which is my favourite church in the city and holds the tombs of the French kings…

Over the past 18 months or so, we’ve had to master the art of socialising, working and planning huge swathes of our lives via the internet. A handy side effect of this trend is that ever-more businesses have started offering their services remotely and, as such, there’s a greater number of online learning opportunities than ever before – all of them ready and waiting to put our new-found internet prowess to good use for personal growth and enjoyment. If you’re keen to gain new skills, there’s a course out there to suit you and you won’t even need to leave the comfort of home to enjoy it – the beauty of online learning means that, wherever you are in the world, you can benefit from expert teaching at a place…

A standalone larder cupboard makes a statement in kitchen An integrated larder makes for seamless kitchen cabinetry and a unified If you have the space, a walk-in pantry is every foodie’s dream…

“I’ve never seen anything like this fireplace in our drawing room. It’s the reason we bought the house. It was built around 1720 when the house was improved and the shape is designed to mirror the outside front. The unusual point in the centre made it hard to know what to hang above it, until I came across this beautiful bronze branch by my neighbour, the sculptor Dan Chadwick. I keep a pair of antique bronze candlesticks at each end, and you can just see two tiny dogs keeping them company – I like them all for their simple silhouettes. I was lucky to have the pair of Dutch panels from my parents to hang either side and I used my signature pale blue on the walls as it suits…