Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2022 i Homes & Antiques

Although Valentine’s Day is not a celebration we take especially seriously at H&A , there is no denying the saint’s influence on art and antiques over the centuries. And, with that in mind, you’ll find that a number of our features have a somewhat romantic air. On page 34, Willa Latham traces the history of the charming putti and whimsical depictions of Cupid that appear on so much early British porcelain, while our Style Now wishlist (p32) is devoted to loving cups. In his regular column, Luke Honey discusses the extraordinarily elaborate cages commissioned by wealthy enthusiasts for their beloved birds. And on our travel pages, Rhiannon Batten has sought out the best escapes for a romantic weekend away (p120). Elsewhere in this issue, Janet Gleeson examines the emergence of…

1 the ANTIQUE SENTIMENTAL JEWELLERY With Valentine’s Day coming up, our thoughts turn to special gifts for loved ones. Sentimental jewellery dates back to the late 17th century but its heyday was the period from 1760 to 1860. ‘Popular motifs include serpents representing eternal love, forget-me-not flowers, hearts, and ‘fede’ – two clasped right hands from the Italian mani in fede meaning ‘hands in trust’,’ says Jennifer Tonkin, Bonhams’ senior jewellery specialist. Also, from the late 18th century it became fashionable for lovers to exchange eye miniatures for viewing in private. ‘George, Prince of Wales, and Maria Fitzherbert famously exchanged eye miniatures. Only the owner of the miniature knew who the eye belonged to and many were lost or discarded after the owner’s death, making them less common today,’ adds…

Paper cuts The Victorians went wild for découpage – the art of decorating furniture and objects with paper cut-outs sealed with varnish. Now, decorative painting maven Annie Sloan has made it easier for us all to try découpage, with a botanical-inspired kit in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society. ‘It’s a delightful decoration technique with so much history,’ says Annie. Each kit costs £11.95. anniesloan.com KITCHEN CLASSICS The new Heirloom Collection by deVOL harks back to a time when things were truly made to last a lifetime. The company famous for its highly coveted – and hugely Instagramed – classic, Shaker-style kitchens has put together a collection of furniture and accessories that is inspired by the craftsmanship of the past and is faithful to styles that would have been found…

The movement for the abolition of slavery began in England in the late 18th century and ceramicist Josiah Wedgwood was among the champions. Plates, jugs and mugs produced by British potters to advertise the movement enabled abolitionists to declare their stance to guests and promote ideals of freedom and equality. Thanks to the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, museums and collectors are seeking out anti-slavery pottery to help chart this ugly time in our collective history. Woolley & Wallis recently sold eight pieces from the Robin Simpson Collection of Commemoratives, which made 10 times their estimate, including a pearlware jug of 1834, showing figures in a tropical landscape, which sold for £4,160, and a pearlware nursery mug, c1830, with figures in a plantation setting, which made £2,600.…

John Bly has a special place in the world of antiques. He’s been deeply charmed by fine furniture and decorative arts since he was a boy in the 1940s, and at 82 has endless stories to tell about his life in this curious, fascinating industry. Born in 1939, months before the outbreak of the Second World War, John’s earliest memories are of his wartime childhood; growing up in his family’s antiques shop in Tring, Hertfordshire, where his grandfather started the business in 1891. ‘My father took over the business and, when he went off to fight in the war, my mother and grandmother ran the shop. They would buy and sell pieces people would bring to them from London during the Blitz. Every night they would move stock into the…

When Jean Marc Durand bought a dilapidated stone house in rural France, it wasn’t just its age that made the prospect of restoration such a mammoth task; the house had been badly disfigured by clumsy renovations in the 1960s and was crying out for significant but sympathetic works to make it habitable again. Jean Marc was undeterred by the challenge and his confidence proved well placed – after three years of exhaustive renovation, the house is now not just habitable, it is also the epitome of idyllic French country living, from the considerately wrought architectural detail to an interior filled with carefully curated accessories and artwork. It hasn’t been an easy ride, however. With three levels to be redesigned, a host of structural changes were required and besides the upheaval…

Through many centuries, every needlework skill came together to create passementerie – the collective word for trimmings – first for fashion and military splendour, then to bring glamour to the interior. The French word reflects France’s style leadership from the 17th century in creating trimmings for the royal palaces of its kings, including Versailles. Later, England profited from the arrival of Huguenot weavers escaping religious persecution in France, with many settled in London’s Spitalfields by 1700. Upholstered furniture has always needed a trimming to cover edges and hide tacks, and these were centuries when the upholsterer gradually took on the role of interior designer in great houses. Passementerie was eye-wateringly expensive, but it defined the status of a room and its owner. Cost was surely why, at the end of…

Small settees, now often referred to as love seats, gradually appeared in the 17th century and evolved into a more comfortable replacement for the wooden settle. These small settees allowed for two people to sit together and facilitated private conversations in a public space. On a more practical note, they also accommodated women’s fashions, from the panniers or side hoops of the 17th and 18th centuries to full-blown crinolines of the 19th century. The earliest types of settee were made from oak and looked very much like an armchair, but of generous double form. The back may have been crested and elaborately carved, over a plain wooden seat; the arms and legs with turned details. George II and George III examples from the 18th century were upholstered, fitted with a…

‘I find that people often pick colours for their front door that they wouldn’t pick for inside their home – they’re a bit braver and I love that! Bright yellow is a very popular colour for a front door. Bright pink and turquoise are great also. Your front door is the first thing your guests will see, so why not be bold and expressive!’Annie Sloan, Colour and Paint Expert Celestial Blue, Little Greene ‘Soft greens and blues work beautifully with red-brick properties. This delicate hue is one of the oldest colours on our colourcard, originating from 1807.’ Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director, Little Greene Major Tom, Fenwick & Tilbrook ‘Palladio London shared this image of a gorgeous door for a red-brick Victorian property. They chose Major Tom – a deep teal…

Janet is an established freelance journalist, author and stylist, specialising in writing interiors and lifestyle features for a wide variety of national and international publications. (@janetmcmeekinwriter) ‘My vintage printer’s tray means a lot to me. It’s the perfect place to display treasures that I’ve collected, from an antique silver box containing my son’s first blonde curl, to an heirloom gold ring.’ Tamsyn is a photographer and stylist, who is passionate about telling the visual story of homes and collections. On her blog she shares her story of creating a beautiful home with thrifted, antique and vintage pieces. (@tamsynmorgans) ‘I collect old furniture and textiles, because I love the faded colours and the patina; they add layers of warmth and history to my home.’ Alice is a writer, stylist and online…

One area of collecting that has enjoyed buoyant prices in the past, but is currently very reasonable, is the art pottery of the Doulton Lambeth studio. Founded in the 1870s almost as a side project by Henry Doulton, who invited students from the Lambeth School of Art into the factory to work in salt-glazed stoneware, the studio grew from a handful of artists to several hundred, winning acclaim and exposition medals well into the 20th century. Distinctive, decorative and durable, Doulton Lambeth stoneware offers a huge range to choose from including stylish Art Nouveau, secessionist and Art Deco examples. Almost all were dated and signed by the artists using monograms. Prices start from around £30, and good examples by the more celebrated practitioners can be bought for less than £150.…

I’ve always liked the idea of an antique birdcage, ever since visiting the enchanting Yuen Po Street Bird Garden in Hong Kong. These days, I’m not sure that I would want to use one for the purpose originally intended. But with or without a bird inside, birdcages are fabulously decorative as objects in their own right, and they have an equally fascinating past. People have kept pet birds since ancient times. The Romans were especially fond of caged birds, and it’s thought that aristocratic Roman families hung up noisy magpies and ravens in their porches to guard their houses. Writers from this period tell us of luxurious birdcages made from gold, ivory cages made for sparrows, and talking parrots housed in silver, ivory and tortoiseshell cages. In the 16th century,…

At first glance, The Grange looks like any other Regency villa, of which there are many in and around Bath; this is until you notice pale antique lace hung at every window and a rather cool-looking 1986 jet-black BMW parked out front. The prettiness of the delicate window treatment and the retro chic of the car signpost what lies within – together they encapsulate the style of owners Laura and Dan Taylor, who live here with their two young daughters and a pair of languid Burmese cats. After studying Art, Laura became a fashion buyer, which led to her working in theatrical clothing. Here she developed a passion for costume, most notably the soft pastel colour palette of ballet dresses and slippers; an influence that sits at the core of…

WHAT IS IT: A small settee designed for two people (differing from a sofa, which is large enough for a person to recline in). DATES: 17th century to present day. KEY MAKERS: Makers are many and varied. It’s more important to focus on the period and style that you like, and what you think will work well in your home. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Quality and good condition. If 17th or 18th-century, original textile or needlework covers are a bonus. A love seat by a company like Howard & Sons is in demand and will reach a premium, even in poor condition. PRICE RANGE: 19th and 20th-century examples can be bought at auction in the low hundreds. Earlier forms from the 17th and 18th centuries tend to be in the…

Ancient Greek city states are thought to have had distinctly different approaches when it came to visitors announcing their arrival. While Spartans would advertise their presence at the door with a hearty shout, the refined Athenians came up with a more ‘sophisticated’ guest-alert system. A household slave would be chained to the door and assigned to answer it. It wasn’t uncommon for them to fall asleep, so a short iron bar was attached, enabling the visitor to rap on the door to wake them up. After it became apparent that this bar could be used as a weapon, the system evolved into a heavy wooden ring attached to the door – thought to be the earliest iteration of the modern door knocker. The Romans adopted the device and its use…

FOOD FOR THOUGHT At Hampton Manor, near Solihull, the focus is on short experiential stays for food lovers. With decor influenced by William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a bakery and fire-cooked feasts served in Victorian greenhouses, there are many reasons to put a stay on your wishlist. From this month, however, there are two more, with the launch of five new walled garden suites and a cookery school. hamptonmanor.com SPRING CLEANING One easy way to go a bit greener on holiday is to pack your own soap (and a soap case, or little cloth pouch, to wrap it in). One of our favourites at this time of year is this cold-processed daffodil version, handmade by Penlanlas in Wales. Coloured with daffodil petals and scented…

“The subject is obviously charming: a cat so busy drinking a saucer of milk that a mouse dances past, quite without trouble! I love how expressive the needlework is, and also that the silk appliqués on the felt ground are rather shredded. I have always loved objects that tell a story of other people’s hands. Some can now only be imagined, but part of its story I do know – when we first came to this house, we met a lady of a venerable age who had lived here whilst remodelling her own house nearby. The cat cushion was hers when she lived here but, when she returned to her own house, the cat went with her. We used to see her often; when she died, her daughters showed me…

Homes & Antiques, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST homesandantiques@immediate.co.uk facebook.com/homesantiques twitter.com/homes_antiques instagram.com/homes_antiques pinterest.co.uk/homesantiques Fantastic beasts I really enjoyed reading Willa Latham’s article about the porcelain painters of the 18th century and particularly Jefferyes Hamett O’Neale’s fabulous lion. Clearly the man had never seen a lion and was relying on a described image for his depiction, which explains its odd appearance. In Sheffield’s magnificent Cutlers’ Hall, there is a profusion of images of elephants whose ivory, in less enlightened times, was used for handles. There too, most of the elephants are rather weird looking and some are positively surreal as the artists had never seen one. Imagine describing an elephant! It’s interesting that these animals which are now so familiar to us were such rare and exotic beasts back then. Fiona Rusling, Sheffield…

As we time-travel through Britain in pursuit of the history of porcelain, let’s take a moment to pause briefly on our journey. It will soon be Valentine’s Day, and what better time could there be to have a look at the significant role of putti in porcelain design? Putti, also referred to as cherubs, cupids or little angels, are a popular Western design feature and we have been familiar with them since early Renaissance artworks of the 14th century. The word ‘putti’ is plural for the Italian ‘putto’, which means a winged angel, or a sweet little toddler boy. Nowadays, putto is deemed to be an old-fashioned word, but it can still be heard in Italy sometimes. In fact, it derives from an ancient word going back many centuries to…

Flatweaves are without pile and unknotted – they’re made on a loom by weaving colourful horizontal wefts through the vertical warps. As they have no backing, flatweaves are usually reversible. Knotted rugs and carpets comprise millions of knots tied by hand onto the warp and weft, which are then cut to create a short pile – a top-quality silk rug could have around 1,000 knots per square inch. In the Islamic tradition, prayer mats are placed between the ground and the worshipper for cleanliness. They have a niche or arched motif (mihrab) woven into the design, which is pointed towards Mecca during prayer.…

The antiques and auction world has always attracted a certain type. These people love their subject, are possibly a little unconventional, and are on a lifetime’s quest to learn about new things and to share that knowledge. What’s exciting is how the new generation are bringing their own approach to the field – fuelling new collecting areas, using social media to reach a wider audience, and caring about their impact on the environment. In tandem, a new, younger audience of buyers is discovering the fun of auctions and fairs for the first time, as well as the feelgood factor of supporting small businesses run by independent-minded people. ‘We have many dealers now in their 30s and 40s who joined us in recent years and who have firmly established their careers…

SILVER STAR Dating to 1905 and made in London by William Hutton & Sons, a silver Art Nouveau dressing table box is decorated with turquoise enamel motifs. Estimate £200–£250 PEARLY WHITE An 1890 carved hardstone cameo, both brooch and pendant, depicts a ‘Bacchante’ or follower of Bacchus, Roman god of wine, with seed pearls. Estimate £1,000–£1,500 FOOT REST A mid 19th-century stool with wool-work cover came from Lanwades Hall in Suffolk. It’s made of walnut and sits on porcelain casters. Estimate £400–£600…

‘Sculpture was seen as the most important art of the Victorian age – there was sculpture on buildings, sculpture in parks, sculpture everywhere, and Parian brought public sculpture to private interiors,’ says expert Paul Atterbury, explaining why Parian – a new ceramic material developed in the 1840s to make multiple small casts of well-known sculptures – became such a huge hit. Despite its popularity, no one knows who invented Parian. Was it Minton or Copeland, or was it a now forgotten company called T & R Boote? ‘Even if you go back to the magazines of the 1850s no one agreed,’ says Paul. The term ‘Parian’ was first coined by Minton, and refers to marble from the Greek island of Paros. Other factories called it by various names: ‘Statuary Porcelain’…

DURHAM CATHEDRAL The medieval sanctuary knocker at Durham Cathedral (the original is displayed in the Open Treasure exhibit) could be used by fugitives or criminals seeking safety. By rapping the knocker, they would be given 37 days of sanctuary within which time they could reconcile with their enemy or plan an escape. 10 DOWNING STREET Britain’s most famous door, the headquarters of British prime ministers since 1735, is presided over by a lion’s head knocker. This distinctive feature of the address was added during Lord Frederick North’s time, in residence between 1770 and 1782. HIS & HERS KNOCKERS Throughout history, the doors of some countries have featured two sets of knockers. Each would make a different sound when rapped to identify whether the caller was a man or woman and…

Tsar-in-the-hole FOR THE YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS 2 eggs, any size 80g flour 100ml milk, skimmed milk, or milk with a splash of water added 1–2tbsp oil, for baking FOR THE BEEF STROGANOFF 1 rump steak (about 230g) 1tbsp oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 portabella mushrooms (about 200g total weight), sliced 1cm thick 1tsp flour 1 medium tomato, halved, deseeded and chopped 100ml stock 1tbsp brandy or dry sherry 90ml soured cream chopped chives or fresh parsley, to garnish Make the batter: for the airiest result, do this the day before, refrigerate and bring back to room temperature before using. If this doesn’t fit in with your plans, don’t worry. Whisk all the ingredients (not the oil), plus a pinch of salt, till smooth (about 1½ minutes) and set aside. Pour…