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WHAT’S GOING ON IN MAY

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From coronation events to a new TV series on the hidden treasures of the National Trust, May promises to be a bumper month for collectors

Crowning glor y Ranging from baubles to teapots, the country’s leading retailers have launched a number of lines to mark this month’s coronation of Charles III on May 6 – some of which may become the collectables of the future.

Highgrove Gardens is offering a range of Emma Bridgewater ceramics titled 3 Cheers for King Charles featuring the date of the coronation and a wrap-around crown design. The range is made at the Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke-on-Trent from cream-coloured English earthenware sourced from clay in Devon, Cornwall and Wales. Meanwhile, Fortnum & Mason’s range includes a musical tin that plays God Save The King as it spins.

Collectors can also make the most of a number of events to commemorate the event. Nicholas Merchant, in conjunction with BADA Friends, will present a zoom lecture called Crown Jewels Dynastic Jewels on May 3. The talk will explore how some of the most fabled gems in the world have been used to decorate the British Crown jewels.

Two crowns feature in coronations: St Edward’s Crown, named after St Edward the Confessor, placed on the monarch’s head during the crowning and the Imperial State Crown worn to process out of the abbey. Tickets are £10, to order email anne@bada.org

Above right The necklace has appeared on the open market for the first time with a price tag of £125,000

Above Fortnum & Mason’s coronation collection has been inspired by centuries of royal pageants

Right Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) Studio Experiments in Colour and Media © Royal Academy of Arts, London; photographer Prudence Cuming Association

Below right Petworth House © National Trust Images, John Miller

Below Fortnum & Mason’s coronation range includes a musical biscuit tin

Good collar A Victorian gold collar with links to an influential family dynasty has appeared on the open market for the first time in its history.

Hancocks London is selling the Spencer-Churchill necklace, comprised of eight 18 carat gold panels, which was commissioned in 1875 by John SpencerChurchill, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, for his wife Frances. The collar includes the initials of seven of their 11 children with the eighth locket displaying a ducal coronet set with tiny gems.

Frances was a childhood friend of Queen Victoria as well as being the goddaughter of the Duke of Wellington. She later became the grandmother of Winston Churchill.

Hancock London’s, managing director, Guy Burton, said: “From sentimental gift to a historic jewel – this is the story of a family necklace and the famous people it connects. It ’s an utterly unique piece of jewellery.” The Spencer-Churchill necklace is on sale for £125,000.

HOUSE OF FUN An exhibition showcasing paintings from the Royal Academy continues at Petworth House in West Sussex. Explorations in Paint presents work by nine current and recent Royal Academicians, including Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), the founder of the RA, with 2023 marking the 300th anniversary of the artist’s birth.

Petworth House houses one of the National Trust’s finest art collections, it also plays host to this month’s Petworth Park Antiques and Fine Art Fair from May 19-21, for more details see page 8. The exhibition continues until September 24.

6 ANTIQUE COLLECTING