khassandraLondon antiques
December 4th 2006 23:35
London antiques….
If you are a lover of antiques what better place to go? The rich history of England lends itself to be I believe the leading place to enhance your collector pieces.
CHINA: I always separate this category into useable and decorative. In the useable column one can always find special pieces in most small to large fairs. I speak of huge serving plates and soup tureens and accompanying serving utensils. It seems that size commits some wonderful pieces to the ‘don’t want’ mentality, as storage for less than ‘normal’ size dinnerware is hard to accommodate. Many a meal is enhanced in their display. I also look for dressing table pieces- china sets to display rings, and cosmetic ‘bits’. Decorative candlesticks and what I call ‘putter-outers’ the metal candlestick snuffers (but wait I digress here).
In decorative, my all time favourite is old Clarice Cliff pottery. The wonderful hand painted thirties deco pieces ranging from wall vases, vases, teapots, jugs, cups and saucers and little jam jars with lids, spoons and serving plates. I was fortunate to start my collection a long time ago scouring the antique fairs on the ‘circuit’ around Egham, Ascot and surrounding areas. Even then prices for similar articles at the large fairs around Notting Hill, behind Baker street etc. and fixed locations around Chelsea had long skyrocketed. In the later period, Claris Cliffe pottery was turned out in a factory so you miss out on authentic hand painted versions. Even the signature is mass-produced making them less unique.
Carltonware is another favourite. I loved collecting little jars in fruit, vegetable or floral shapes and designs. They are also more affordable.
Then I went through my pottery animal phase. Rabbit vases, bowls, sitting outside mushroom houses, book ends- you name it, the more kitsch I had it!
These are Incredibly cheap but quite hard to find ‘nice’ ones.
They did not hold my attention for long and are now long since gone.
REALLY USEBLE: I always liked products from the twenties- purchases include little cocktail recipe books, cigarette boxes, smoking tables- circular metal tables just large enough to place a drink with an circular ash tray on the side and a metal attachment to hold the matchbox.
Clothing: Recycled clothing using fantastic georgette and silk fabrics resewn into new skirts or jackets. I avoide those with a musty smell!
DISPLAY: Posters- especially old advertising topics are popular buys. I have one for Lucky Strike cigarettes where Mitzi the Light Opera Prima Donna declares " It’s toasted, no throat irritation, no cough" !!
I also collect old magazines, and revel in checking out the ridiculously cheap prices for products of the era….especially homes and cars!
I have to also declare a love of antique furniture with a preference for pine or mahogany. Round or rectangular dining tables, smokers chairs, bath units where you can place a basin in the hole on the top shelf. Anything with barley sugar legs…but then you also need the space.
On one occasion I saw a wonderful kitchen wall unit- it looked like it came from the kitchen of ‘Upstairs Downstairs". Spanning a whole wall space from ceiling to floor it was magnificent. Heavy deep and large drawers in three layers at the bottom, a long wide shelf for storage mid way, and on top smaller shelves to place canisters or mugs. My other favourite is old pharmaceutical cabinets, dozens of little drawers sitting side by side in a large unit. I am also a proud owner of several antique writing box.
There is nothing more therapeutic than browsing around an antique fair or market. To conclude I have to confess a weakness for antique jewellery. I once took a trip north past Chester (home of wonderful award winning pork pies!) to Yorkshire to a fair that lasted several days. Although not so popular nowadays as they have fewer facets than modern cuts- I love rose-cut diamonds, and old rose gold jewellery. Other good gift ideas are tie pins with semi precious stones or 9 or 18carat plain pins to dress up an outfit. One can treat oneself to these for a reasonable outlay. If you tire of a purchase you can always sell it on and use the earnings for another buy!
I prefer travelling antique fairs to those in fixed shops- there are always surprises and generally a wider range.
If you fancy a treat, look up your local district calendar of fairs and have a good day out. Who knows? you may become addicted to collecting.
If you are a lover of antiques what better place to go? The rich history of England lends itself to be I believe the leading place to enhance your collector pieces.
CHINA: I always separate this category into useable and decorative. In the useable column one can always find special pieces in most small to large fairs. I speak of huge serving plates and soup tureens and accompanying serving utensils. It seems that size commits some wonderful pieces to the ‘don’t want’ mentality, as storage for less than ‘normal’ size dinnerware is hard to accommodate. Many a meal is enhanced in their display. I also look for dressing table pieces- china sets to display rings, and cosmetic ‘bits’. Decorative candlesticks and what I call ‘putter-outers’ the metal candlestick snuffers (but wait I digress here).
In decorative, my all time favourite is old Clarice Cliff pottery. The wonderful hand painted thirties deco pieces ranging from wall vases, vases, teapots, jugs, cups and saucers and little jam jars with lids, spoons and serving plates. I was fortunate to start my collection a long time ago scouring the antique fairs on the ‘circuit’ around Egham, Ascot and surrounding areas. Even then prices for similar articles at the large fairs around Notting Hill, behind Baker street etc. and fixed locations around Chelsea had long skyrocketed. In the later period, Claris Cliffe pottery was turned out in a factory so you miss out on authentic hand painted versions. Even the signature is mass-produced making them less unique.
Carltonware is another favourite. I loved collecting little jars in fruit, vegetable or floral shapes and designs. They are also more affordable.
Then I went through my pottery animal phase. Rabbit vases, bowls, sitting outside mushroom houses, book ends- you name it, the more kitsch I had it!
They did not hold my attention for long and are now long since gone.
REALLY USEBLE: I always liked products from the twenties- purchases include little cocktail recipe books, cigarette boxes, smoking tables- circular metal tables just large enough to place a drink with an circular ash tray on the side and a metal attachment to hold the matchbox.
Clothing: Recycled clothing using fantastic georgette and silk fabrics resewn into new skirts or jackets. I avoide those with a musty smell!
DISPLAY: Posters- especially old advertising topics are popular buys. I have one for Lucky Strike cigarettes where Mitzi the Light Opera Prima Donna declares " It’s toasted, no throat irritation, no cough" !!
I also collect old magazines, and revel in checking out the ridiculously cheap prices for products of the era….especially homes and cars!
I have to also declare a love of antique furniture with a preference for pine or mahogany. Round or rectangular dining tables, smokers chairs, bath units where you can place a basin in the hole on the top shelf. Anything with barley sugar legs…but then you also need the space.
On one occasion I saw a wonderful kitchen wall unit- it looked like it came from the kitchen of ‘Upstairs Downstairs". Spanning a whole wall space from ceiling to floor it was magnificent. Heavy deep and large drawers in three layers at the bottom, a long wide shelf for storage mid way, and on top smaller shelves to place canisters or mugs. My other favourite is old pharmaceutical cabinets, dozens of little drawers sitting side by side in a large unit. I am also a proud owner of several antique writing box.
There is nothing more therapeutic than browsing around an antique fair or market. To conclude I have to confess a weakness for antique jewellery. I once took a trip north past Chester (home of wonderful award winning pork pies!) to Yorkshire to a fair that lasted several days. Although not so popular nowadays as they have fewer facets than modern cuts- I love rose-cut diamonds, and old rose gold jewellery. Other good gift ideas are tie pins with semi precious stones or 9 or 18carat plain pins to dress up an outfit. One can treat oneself to these for a reasonable outlay. If you tire of a purchase you can always sell it on and use the earnings for another buy!
I prefer travelling antique fairs to those in fixed shops- there are always surprises and generally a wider range.
If you fancy a treat, look up your local district calendar of fairs and have a good day out. Who knows? you may become addicted to collecting.
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