#TT #antiquesroadshow #antiquestweetshow – all these hash tags and more were flying around the internet last night as Antiques Roadshow became one of the top topics being talked about across the world on Twitter for the first time. Of course, a large percentage of the tweets were from people questioning why it was trending, thus […]
Since the nationwide National Antiques Week campaign last November, I’ve had a lot of emails asking me where the chair I’m sitting on in the poster (below) came from. That particular example is owned by the photographer who took the shot, Graham Rae, but I’m delighted to say that if you like it, it’s not […]
It’s not that I’ve been lazy since the New Year (doesn’t that seem like a long time ago?!) with my blog. It’s just that my time has been completely taken up with my next book – on Caithness Glass. Although planning started over two years ago, for various reasons I wasn’t able to start it […]
With Kate & William’s wedding looming, I’ve been interviewed a fair few times over the past few weeks about what royal wedding memorabilia I like, and which ones I think will be collectable in the future. I don’t collect royal memorabilia, and I knew few people in their 20s or 30s that do, however it […]
A quick, but important, one here. On my trip to Novy Bor, I was taken to the Crystalex factory shop. A selection of ‘interesting’ decorative pieces and tableware was available, but the things that caught my eye were those in the photos below. The collectors amongst you will recognise the glass in the first photo […]
It’s not often that you get to meet the people behind the designs you collect, even though there’s more of a chance with postwar pieces. While I was in Novy Bor, I was lucky to meet Karel Wünsch, one of the best and most innovative postwar Czech glass designers who is globally renowned for his […]
If you’re wondering what I’m looking so fondly at, you’ll need to buy a copy of this month’s BBC Homes & Antiques to find out. And I can guarantee that it’s not a question mark! The feature I’m in could be titled ‘An antique is for life, not just for Christmas’, as it reveals the […]
My main reason for visiting the Czech Republic last week was to attend the opening of a major retrospective exhibition of the work of eminent Czech glass designer and maker Frantisek Vizner. I was kindly invited as the guest of the Ajeto Glassworks, whose smart and spacious museum in Novy Bor was the location of […]
Could you become Britain’s next Antiques Master? The BBC are searching for passionate amateur antiques aficionados to take part in the second series of their quiz hosted by my good friend Eric Knowles and much-loved comedienne and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig. Contestants battle it out over a series of exciting challenges using amazing antiques to prove […]
It started with a question, and I never expected the answer to turn out like it did. Last week’s amazing visit to the Ajeto Glassworks in Novy Bor, Czech Republic, brought me into contact with a vibrant, charming and talented young Australian glassmaker called Jasper Dowding (above). Even though it seemed to pass in minutes, […]
Any of you Fat Lava fans who haven’t come across Kevin Graham yet are missing a major trick. Kevin has been collecting and researching West German studio and factory ceramics for well over a decade now, and runs the highly popular and successful ‘Pottery & Glass Forum‘, which is free to join. I’d encourage you […]
I’ve just got back from visiting our stand at the wonderful Winter Olympia Fine Art & Antiques Fair in London, where I’ve been supporting this year’s National Antiques Week. As you can see, the campaign has enjoyed a terribly smart stand, courtesy of the venerable LAPADA antique dealers’ association. If you don’t know Olympia’s legendary […]