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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
In June this year, I wrote about the KlokHeta after a couple told me about their example of this weird and wonderful space-saving Deco device. For those of you who don’t know what it is, you can read the post by clicking here. One of the marvellous things about the internet is the amount of […]
National Antiques Week aims to promote antiques, vintage and collecting. Over the past year, a growing number of young people have seen the value and individuality of antiques, and the thrill of the hunt, and begun to buy antiques and vintage pieces for their homes. Furthermore, a report commissioned by the antiques trade from industry […]
Although the weather was nowhere near as good when I went in June with my Cracking Antiques co-presenter Kathryn Rayward, I still had a cracking day out at Ardingly antiques and collectables fair in Sussex this Tuesday. This time around, I accompanied my sister and my new brother-in-law, as they were de-Ikea-ising their flat to […]
I’m a big believer in synchronicity – if you come across something three times, then it’s worth paying attention to. When our Art Director came over this morning to ask me if I had come across Munny dolls and a shop called Kid Robot, that was strike three. I first came across these cult toys […]
I know it’s not the usual sort of thing I write about here, but I felt I must tell you about Judith Miller’s new book on Costume Jewellery. Judith’s first book on the subject, published in association with DK, rapidly became a landmark bestseller – and I can see this one doing exactly the same. […]
Last night I was the auctioneer at the sale of these rather unusual looking clocks. From 1971 until the ‘Big Bang’ in 1986, they presided over deals worth billions and billions of pounds, as they hung in the trading room of the London Stock Exchange in Threadneedle Street until the mid-1990s. Just think for a […]
Calling ALL Czech Glass and Fat Lava fans – your help is needed. And all it will cost you is a few moments of your time. Last week we heard the shocking news that the King’s Lynn Arts Centre is being threatened with closure by the local government. But, if you don’t live in King’s […]
Hot-footing it back from yesterday’s action packed and exhausting – yet highly enjoyable – Antiques Roadshow at Winchester Cathedral, next up on the agenda was a visit to London’s prestigious LAPADA antiques fair in Berkeley Square. Although no nightingales were singing, there was plenty to entertain, tempt and fascinate. I was joined by Judith Miller […]
I was instantly transported back to my childhood. And it made me smile. Relatively late in the day at today’s packed Antiques Roadshow, a very kind and friendly couple showed me something they had bought for their children back in the early 1970s – a Corgi Magic Roundabout Playground set. I was never lucky enough […]