NEWS

Religious life captured in Staffordshire pottery: a rare pair of figures depicting the American evangelists Dwight Lyman Moody and Ira David Sankey, shown alongside The Vicar and Moses, a humorous Ralph Wood group made in Staffordshire circa 1785. One of the pleasures of dealing in antiques is that objects often lead one into unexpected areas of history. A recent example is this rare pair of Staffordshire pottery figures, I discovered recently, depicting the American evangeli

This is the piece in my current collection that speaks to me most. It began as the upper part of a crucifixion figure, almost certainly Romanian, and has been rejuvenated so it might one day find a new home and be used again.

A clipped yew hedge and a single classical urn planted with geraniums create a strong focal point and demonstrate how simple structure can transform even a modest garden As a child I vividly remember being taken to nurseries which sold nothing but plants. Such afternoons wandering up and down endless rows of greenery seemed rather boring to me, but clearly gave my mother – who was a very keen gardener – enormous pleasure, frequently loading plants into my arms before rushing

Country house style shows how everyday objects, traditional fittings and well-chosen antiques create interiors that feel welcoming, practical and distinctly individual. Magazines, television programmes about auctions and house renovations, and much contemporary interior advice seem increasingly to promote a sleek minimalist ideal — with kitchens resembling operating theatres and bathrooms not unlike mortuaries! While this look undoubtedly has its attractions, and has proved

It is difficult to define quality. Quality antiques, like everything else in life, tend to just stand out as being special. If the item attracts and excites you, then it is always worth a closer look. I always feel reassured when it is something I may have seen in a stately home or a magazine, etc. I find that the design, veneers, and age are good indicators of quality. When I walk into an antique shop or a saleroom, certain things immediately attract me. I am always drawn to

One of the great pleasures of my early adult life was exploring quality antique shops around Clifton and in some of the market towns in the West Country. A trip to Wells was a particular joy, with a splendid shop in the market square near the cathedral. A friend of mine had a magnificent collection of period furniture, available to view on the ground floor of an imposing Georgian house in Bradford-on-Avon. Tetbury was also a favourite to visit. These were not just shopping tr

Whilst some may regard this as a secular age and perhaps falling church attendance might support this theory, nevertheless, there is a great interest and demand for religious artefacts, not only by those wishing to have a visible image to help with private worship in the privacy of their own home but often by interior designers who recognise and appreciate the artistic merit of these items. I am fascinated by church history and the wealth of interesting artefacts that someti