Welcome

Napoleon Bonaparte: benign dictator and brilliant military commander, or warmongering tyrant? The reason I ask is because I suspect a lot of information on the founder of the First French Empire may be coming your way this month. It’s due to the release of Ridley Scott’s much-hyped film called, fittingly enough, Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role. We thought we’d get in first, devoting the larger part of magazine to France, its decorative arts and even its must-visit brocantes.

Ridley Scott has made no secret of the direction his film will take, portraying the famous dictator as a Hitler crossed with Stalin (to the outrage of the French).

Bony’s enduringly poor reputation in this country may be due to the fact his rise coincided with that of the Georgian satirists, such as James Gillray and George Cruikshank, who endlessly lampooned him and his grandiose aspirations. The ridicule stuck : from Dad’s Army’s Warden Hodges labelling bumptious Captain Mainwaring “Napoleon”, to anyone of small stature and fiery temper being said to have a Napoleon complex.

But, egotistical warmonger or not, the First French Empire was certainly responsible for some jolly fine furniture. We put the era and its decorative arts in the spotlight on page 16. Still in Gallic mood, as we approach the centenary of the L’ Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which gave birth to art deco, we consider the movement’s enduring style, see page 24. On page 28, the French interiors specialist and collector Marin Montagut reveals his favourite flea markets – if you are planning a trip across the Channel it is well worth a look.

Elsewhere, on page 36, we dip into the deliciously revealing autobiography of Antiques Roadshow expert and Fabergé legend, Geoffrey Munn. And, with November 16 marking the start of the four busiest malt whisky-buying weeks of the year, Mark Littler focuses on a 1926 cask which went on to produce four of the best-selling bottles of all time. Enjoy the issue and vive la France!

Georgina Wroe, Editor

PS Because next month’s magazine is a joint December and January issue it will be with you slightly later, expect delivery from the second week of December.

KEEP IN TOUCH Write to us at Antique Collecting, Riverside House Dock Lane, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1PE, or email magazine@accartbooks.com. Visit the website at www.antique-collecting.co.uk and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AntiqueMag

ONLY £38 for 10 issues

We love!

This Kangxi period (1661-1722) famille verte model of foreigners aboard a ship, which has an estimate of £7,000-£10,000 at Bonhams

New Bond St on

November 2.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO ANTIQUE COLLECTING Call 01394 389969 or email charlotte.kettell@accartbooks.com

FIRST WORD

IN THIS ISSUE

SALLY OLIVER Discover more about the coin specialist and valuer, page 8

SARAH WHITE Goes behind the scenes of a special sale of hats and their accessories,

page 34

GEOFFREY MUNN The Antiques Roadshow specialist reveals his royal encounters,

page 36

MARK LIT TLER Our spirits expert reveals how a single cask produced four bottles of whisky worth £4m, page 48

THE TEAM

Editor: Georgina Wroe, georgina.

wroe@accartbooks.com Online Editor: Richard Ginger, richard.ginger@accartbooks.com

Design: Philp Design, james@philpdesign.co.uk Advertising and subscriptions:

Charlotte Kettell 01394 389969, charlotte.kettell

@accartbooks.com

ANTIQUE COLLECTING 3