February 2022

Homes & Antiques

Vintage. Antiques Roadshow. Heritage. Interiors

Homes & Antiques1 min read
Editor’s Letter
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 ro
Homes & Antiques1 min read
THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS (plus What They Enjoy Collecting)
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
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Home & Antiques
Editor Charlotte Packer Senior Production Editor Rachel Nott Senior Features Editor Katie Pike Acting Features Editor Poppy Benner Digital & Editorial Assistant Molly Malsom Shopping Editor Rosanna Morris Antiques Writer Caroline Wheater Art D
Homes & Antiques2 min read
Letters
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 I really enjoyed reading Willa Latham’s article about
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Pieces That Caught My Eye
1. A striking door knocker, such as this one, can transform a door. Find inspiration on p106 2. This silver rollerskate is typical of the wit and ingenuity applied to the design of pincushions in the late 1800s, p102 3. Carole Glover’s delightful c
Homes & Antiques4 min read
The Month February
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,
Homes & Antiques1 min read
In the Spotlight
A Victorian carriage with strong Devon connections has been donated to the National Trust’s Carriage Museum at Arlington Court in Devon. The carriage, which was owned by the Chichester family (one of the most prominent families in Devon for 500 years
Homes & Antiques3 min read
Behind the Scenes AT THE MUSEUM
“We tell the story of Petersfield and the surrounding villages through the museum’s 22,000 objects. Our collections range from artwork by a local artist called Flora Twort, who was working here during the 20th century, to historical costumes donated
Homes & Antiques3 min read
Style.now.
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
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Doulton Lambeth Pottery
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 Lamb
Homes & Antiques2 min read
Country Cupboard Antiques
We started collecting over 30 years ago, initially individually and then together. The first pieces we each had were a piece of Cornishware and a Clarice Cliff crocus jug. We amassed so much that we began selling duplicates and then had stands at fai
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Anti-slavery Pottery
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 t
Homes & Antiques3 min read
Cabinet of Curiosities
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 insid
Homes & Antiques4 min read
Dream Weavers
When he was a 16-year-old schoolboy, James Cohen fell in love at first sight. The focus of his affections was an antique rug. ‘The moment I saw it, it took my breath away. I wanted it more than I’d wanted anything in my short life.’ James – now a dea
Homes & Antiques3 min read
A Romantic Interlude...
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 por
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Scandi Rugs
Joshua Lumley is unusual in selling both Oriental and European carpets – Scandinavia has a centuries-old rug-making tradition. ‘During the first half of the 20th century, Swedish textile artists like Märta Måås-Fjetterström and Barbro Nilsson were hu
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Guide To Rug Types
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
Homes & Antiques4 min read
PROFILE John Bly
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
Homes & Antiques4 min read
REGENCY Romance
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
Homes & Antiques4 min read
Colour BALANCE
Despite the whistle-stop nature of her first viewing, Amelia Harvey immediately saw how she could transform this pretty Cotswolds cottage into a colourful bolthole. Her London home, with its bleached oak flooring and Crittall doors, ‘has a pared-back
Homes & Antiques3 min read
French Fairytale
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 si
Homes & Antiques3 min read
Upstairs DOWNSTAIRS
What would life have been like if you were employed as a cook-housekeeper or a housemaid and spider brusher in a grand country house, and how different would that existence have been from that of the wife or daughter of its owner? Erddig, the seat of
Homes & Antiques8 min readPopular Culture & Media Studies
Rising Stars
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
Homes & Antiques3 min read
Fabric Of Life
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 leader
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Guess The Hammer Price!
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 An 1890 carved hardstone cameo, both brooch and pendant, depicts a ‘Bacchante’ or fo
Homes & Antiques3 min read
Star Sales
A porcelain centrepiece by Flight, Barr and Barr Worcester was hotly contested at Bonhams when it went up for auction with the Twinight Collection of British Porcelain. The lobed dish, with shell-moulded handles, dates to 1814–16, and was painted by
Homes & Antiques2 min read
The Love Seat
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 conve
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Anatomy Of A Love Seat At A Glance:
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
Homes & Antiques4 min read
Collecting FINE FIGURES
‘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 Par
Homes & Antiques4 min read
Collecting PINCUSHIONS
No sewing box is complete without a pincushion. This simple tool spans folk art and high fashion, from humble pincushions made from fabric scraps to luxury models by top silversmiths. Robert Bush, a dealer in antique silver, explains what makes them
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Where To Buy
Folk art and Americana, including pincushions. mcclardsegotta.com Antiques dealer with more than 40 years’ experience in silver and collectables. robertbushantiques.co.uk Antiques store specialising in small silver collectors’ items. steppeshillfarma
Homes & Antiques4 min read
Knock Knock
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 m
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Where To Buy
74 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8LS outred.co.uk 103 High Street, Hungerford, RG17 0NB belowstairs.co.uk 533 Kings Road, London, SW10 0TZ hatchwellantiques.co.uk antiquedoorknockers.co.uk ■
Homes & Antiques1 min read
FOOD & TRAVEL
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 gr
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Making An Entrance
‘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 ‘Palladio London shared this image of a
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Knockers Of Note
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 the
Homes & Antiques5 min read
Two’s Company
2 eggs, any size80g flour100ml milk, skimmed milk, or milk with a splash of water added1–2tbsp oil, for baking 1 rump steak (about 230g)1tbsp oil1 small onion, chopped2 portabella mushrooms (about 200g total weight), sliced 1cm thick1tsp flour1 medi
Homes & Antiques3 min read
Six Of The Best ROMANTIC RENTALS
Though it stretches to sleep four, this whimsical Lincolnshire holiday cottage – the final project of Blenheim Palace architect Sir John Vanbrugh – is a great proposition for two. With a frescoed sitting room and snug, a tiny scarlet-hued library, de
Homes & Antiques8 min read
All The Fun Of The Fair
If you are new to buying antiques and vintage pieces, antiques fairs are brilliant places to start. Often large and informal, they are the perfect opportunity to get the measure of your own taste as well as what’s available. At every level you will f
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Benedict Foley’s 19th-century Cat Pincushion
“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 alwa
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Stockists
Andrew Martin andrewmartin.co.uk Annie Sloan anniesloan.com Au Bain Marie aubainmarie.com Autentico autentico-paint.com Barneby Gate s barnebygates.com Beedham Antiques beedhamantiques.co.uk Bonhams bonhams.com Carole Glover carolegloverpottery.co.
Homes & Antiques1 min read
Star Letter
Our star letter winner* will receive a bottle of Taittinger Brut Réserve worth £44›15 – taittinger.com * UK readers aged 18 or over only. Please include a daytime phone number. Please note that there may be a delay on the shipping of prizes due to

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