Skip to main content
Read page text
page 8
NEWS All the latest Coining it in A hoard of 2,584 silver pennies from the time of the Norman Conquest has gone on display at the British Museum after being bought for £4.3m - making it the highestvalue treasure ever found in the UK. The South West Heritage Trust bought the hoard after metal detectorists discovered the cache, known as the Chew Valley Hoard, in 2019 while searching an area of north-east Somerset. Experts suspect the coins were buried for safekeeping in the turmoil of the Norman Conquest. Half the coins represent Harold II (1066) with the rest featuring William I. Above The hoard has gone on show at the British Museum EYES ON THE PRIZE The search is on to find the UK’s Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, the winner of which receives the world’s largest museum prize. The victor, selected from the country’s 2,500 museums, galleries and heritage sites will be awarded £120,000, with £15,000 going to each of the four other finalists. A shortlist of five will be announced in early May with the winner revealed in late June. Last year’s winner was the Young V&A in East London. Medallion man 60 new acquisitions go on show at the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Stoke-on-Trent this autumn to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the museum’s acquisition of the famous maker’s archive. Highlights include a reworking of Wedgwood’s abolitionist medallion by 17-year-old student Amy Sproston, titled I Am a Man and a Brother. The celebrations continue throughout 2025, with the collection’s first ever touring exhibition, Wedgwood: Artists and Industry, opening in Townsville, Australia in April. The Wedgwood Collection is made up of more than 175,000 ceramic works, manuscripts and photographs. Above Amy Sproston’s ceramic is titled I Am a Man and a Brother Above The Young V&A in Bethnal Green won the prestigious award in 2024 Right The work is a reworking of Josiah Wedgwood’s (1730–1795) famous medallion Am I not a Man and Brother? Beaton track Best known for his iconic fashion photography, Cecil Beaton’s love of gardens is explored this year at London’s Garden Museum. Beaton (1904–1980) was an influential British photographer, designer and diarist, celebrated for his work in fashion, portrait and war photography, as well as his contributions to stage and film design. But it is the role flowers played in his work and private life – from the lavish flower arrangements at his infamous parties to the floral costumes from My Fair Lady – which are explored in the exhibition opening on May 14. Left Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party is on at the Garden Museum from May 14 to September 21 30 seconds with... Furniture restorer Steven Swann founded Swann Antiques in 2020 in Southampton specialising in decorative antiques How did you start in the business? I had been buying and selling on and off for years, but fi ve years ago developed a real passion for all things wood. I love traditional, hand tools so, naturally, my hand turned to restoring pieces, as well as selling. It soon became apparent I have a particular love of 17th to early 20th-century furniture. What areas or items are selling well? Seating and storage. We all need somewhere to sit and, equally, somewhere to store our belongings. Both types of furniture resonate with the history of antiques, being among the earliest pieces ever created. Personally, I love a good primitive stool and a fine Georgian chest of drawers. These would be my desert island antiques – though I’m not sure how well the chest would fare in salty water. As always, quality sells well. Tell us some trade secrets Wax, wax, and wax some more! When I’m not out hunting for new stock, I spend a lot of my time waxing furniture. It ’s incredible how many pieces I’ve bought from people who’ve said they don’t like a particular item anymore because it looks tired. If you’ve never tried it, give it a go – you’ll be amazed at the transformation a little wax can bring to a piece. Another tip: if you’re at an auction, always check out the mixed lot boxes. Some of my best fi nds have come from these hidden treasures! Where are your favourite antique hunting destinations and why? I love a house call. I’ve always done well at these, and you can usually build up a great rapport with the seller while getting the tour. I also love antique and vintage emporiums – the messier, the better. I also enjoy a good fair. I recently discovered the Ford Airfi eld Market and Car Boot Sale near Arundel – it ’s great for buying and selling antiques and collectables. For more details on Steven’s stock visit www.swann-antiques.co.uk 8 ANTIQUE COLLECTING
page 9
Grand designs Architects’ inspiration for the country’s best-known 18th and 19th-century buildings is explored in an exhibition opening next month. Compton Verney in Warwickshire, itself built in the 1800s, is hosting the event, drawn from the collection of Sir John Soane (1753-1837) one of Britain’s most famous architects. At the time architects modelled their work on everything from pyramids to ancient temples, with some using their own initials as inspiration. Towering Dreams: Extraordinary Architectural Drawings runs from March 15 to August 31. Castle keep Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire has scooped a prestigious nationwide award. The castle, which was given to the family of Willoughby de Eresby in the 16th century by Henry VIII, has won the 2024 Historic Houses Collections Award which honours conservation and curation. Judges were particularly impressed by work carried out by castle staff on a silk doublet and trunk hose dating from 1600 to 1605 which was rediscovered in a poor condition in 2019. They likely belonged to Robert Bertie, 13th Lord Willoughby de Eresby and may have been worn by him to the coronation of James I in 1603. The castle houses a remarkable collection of art, furniture, and artefacts, showcasing the heritage of the Willoughby family and the estate’s historical significance. Above The restoration of the early 17th-century doublet and trunk hose impressed judges Above right Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire has won a prestigious award Above A montage of various buildings by Sir William Chambers (1723– 1796) © Sir John Soane’s Museum TREASURED ISLAND Robert Louis Stevenson’s life in the Pacific is the focus of a new exhibition at the University of Edinburgh. While the Edinburgh-born author is best known for classics such as Treasure Island, (1883) and Kidnapped (1886), in June 1888 he set sail from San Francisco to spend the next two years voyaging across the Pacific Ocean with his family. They eventually settled in Vailima, on the Samoan island of Upolu, where he lived until his death aged 44. In 1890, Stevenson purchased 314 acres of land and built a five-bedroom mansion called Villa Vailima. At first seen as a colonial figure, Stevenson soon became locally beloved as ‘Tusitala’ or teller of tales. Below Robert Louis Stevenson’s life in the Pacific is explored at the exhibition Above A suit, part of Christian Dior’s New Look, Paris, 1947, moves to V&A East Storehouse WHAT’S IN STORE (HOUSE)? The first of two new V&A East sites, called V&A East Storehouse, opens on May 31. The new facility is set to house more than half a million works – from vintage football shirts to Roman frescoes. For the first time, visitors will be able to book to see any piece they like in a scheme called ‘order an object’. The second site – the David Bowie Centre – will open on September 13, with visitors having the opportunity to personally view anything from the singer’s archive. Both sites are located in the new cultural quarter of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. Watch out The largest restoration of Rembrandt’s masterpiece, The Night Watch (1642), is under way at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Following five years of research using techniques such as digital imaging and artificial intelligence, eight restorers have embarked on ‘Operation Night Watch’ by removing the varnish from the painting. The Night Watch, one of the most famous Dutch Golden Age paintings, was made for Amsterdam’s Arquebusiers Guild Hall and is one of the earliest to portray a group in action. Right The varnish has started to be removed as part of the first stage, image courtesy of the Rijksmuseum ANTIQUE COLLECTING 9

Page Text

View plaintext

NEWS All the latest

Coining it in A hoard of 2,584 silver pennies from the time of the Norman Conquest has gone on display at the British Museum after being bought for £4.3m - making it the highestvalue treasure ever found in the UK.

The South West Heritage Trust bought the hoard after metal detectorists discovered the cache, known as the Chew Valley Hoard, in 2019 while searching an area of north-east Somerset. Experts suspect the coins were buried for safekeeping in the turmoil of the Norman Conquest. Half the coins represent Harold II (1066) with the rest featuring William I.

Above The hoard has gone on show at the British Museum

EYES ON THE PRIZE The search is on to find the UK’s Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, the winner of which receives the world’s largest museum prize.

The victor, selected from the country’s 2,500 museums, galleries and heritage sites will be awarded £120,000, with £15,000 going to each of the four other finalists.

A shortlist of five will be announced in early May with the winner revealed in late June. Last year’s winner was the Young V&A in East London.

Medallion man 60 new acquisitions go on show at the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Stoke-on-Trent this autumn to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the museum’s acquisition of the famous maker’s archive.

Highlights include a reworking of Wedgwood’s abolitionist medallion by 17-year-old student Amy Sproston, titled I Am a Man and a Brother.

The celebrations continue throughout 2025, with the collection’s first ever touring exhibition, Wedgwood: Artists and Industry, opening in Townsville, Australia in April. The Wedgwood Collection is made up of more than 175,000 ceramic works, manuscripts and photographs.

Above Amy Sproston’s ceramic is titled I Am a Man and a Brother

Above The Young V&A in Bethnal Green won the prestigious award in 2024

Right The work is a reworking of Josiah Wedgwood’s (1730–1795) famous medallion Am I not a Man and Brother?

Beaton track Best known for his iconic fashion photography, Cecil Beaton’s love of gardens is explored this year at London’s Garden Museum.

Beaton (1904–1980) was an influential British photographer, designer and diarist, celebrated for his work in fashion, portrait and war photography, as well as his contributions to stage and film design.

But it is the role flowers played in his work and private life – from the lavish flower arrangements at his infamous parties to the floral costumes from My Fair Lady – which are explored in the exhibition opening on May 14.

Left Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party is on at the Garden Museum from May 14 to September 21

30 seconds with... Furniture restorer Steven Swann founded Swann Antiques in 2020 in Southampton specialising in decorative antiques How did you start in the business? I had been buying and selling on and off for years, but fi ve years ago developed a real passion for all things wood. I love traditional, hand tools so, naturally, my hand turned to restoring pieces, as well as selling. It soon became apparent I have a particular love of 17th to early 20th-century furniture.

What areas or items are selling well? Seating and storage. We all need somewhere to sit and, equally, somewhere to store our belongings. Both types of furniture resonate with the history of antiques, being among the earliest pieces ever created. Personally, I love a good primitive stool and a fine Georgian chest of drawers. These would be my desert island antiques – though I’m not sure how well the chest would fare in salty water. As always, quality sells well.

Tell us some trade secrets Wax, wax, and wax some more! When I’m not out hunting for new stock, I spend a lot of my time waxing furniture. It ’s incredible how many pieces I’ve bought from people who’ve said they don’t like a particular item anymore because it looks tired. If you’ve never tried it, give it a go – you’ll be amazed at the transformation a little wax can bring to a piece. Another tip: if you’re at an auction, always check out the mixed lot boxes. Some of my best fi nds have come from these hidden treasures!

Where are your favourite antique hunting destinations and why? I love a house call. I’ve always done well at these, and you can usually build up a great rapport with the seller while getting the tour.

I also love antique and vintage emporiums – the messier, the better. I also enjoy a good fair. I recently discovered the Ford Airfi eld Market and Car Boot Sale near Arundel – it ’s great for buying and selling antiques and collectables.

For more details on Steven’s stock visit www.swann-antiques.co.uk

8 ANTIQUE COLLECTING

read next page

My Bookmarks

Buy this Book
Skip to main content