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NEWS All the latest YORKSHIRE’S FINEST The Bradford-born artist David Hockney has kicked off the West Yorkshire city’s tenure as UK City of Culture in 2025 with a nationwide art project. Draw! invites people from across the UK to share an artwork inspired by a particular theme. Face value A long-lost treasure from the collection of the writer and politician Horace Walpole (17171797) has gone on public display for the first time in more than a century. Visitors to Walpole’s gothic home, Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, have until April 2 to see the miniature, by the Italian Mannerist painter Lavinia Fontana (15521614) which recently reappeared at an auction in Texas. The sitter may be Bianca Capello (1548-1587) – one of Walpole’s great heroines, with her adventurous life being the inspiration for his 1764 gothic masterpiece novel The Castle of Otranto. Hockney called on would-be artists to draw “something you find beautiful” such as his 1989 illustration of mills, terraced houses and a little blue bus for the cover of the Bradford district telephone directory. The public can share their drawings by uploading them to www.bradford2025.co.uk/mydrawing or on social media with the hashtag #bradford2025 Clock this Horologists have until the end of next month to see one of the world’s rarest watches. The ‘Marie Antoinette’ perpétuelle, Breguet, no. 160, designed by Abraham-Louis Breguet for the last queen of France, is one of the treasures on show at the Science Museum’s Versailles: Science and Splendour. The exhibition, on until April 24, takes visitors on a 120-year journey through the evolution of science at Versailles, from the creation of the Academy of Sciences by Louis XIV in 1666, to Louis XV’s passion for exquisite scientific instruments. The watch, which includes a calendar, thermometer and independent second hand was only completed in 1802 after the deaths of both the queen and maker. Above The oil on copper miniature shows a noblewoman in gold-embroidered finery Right The ‘Marie Antoinette’ perpétuelle , Breguet, no. 160 watch is on show at the Science Museum, © Science Museum Group Above David Hockney, © Tommy London, Alamy Above right Cover artwork for the Bradford telephone book, 1989, © David Hockney 30 seconds with.. The textiles specialist Carolyn Houlston who, with her husband the period oak expert David, makes up the dealership Houlston What attracts you to textiles? One of my earliest memories is adoring my mother’s wonderful 19th-century chintz bedspread. Later, while working at Phillips auctioneers, I came across a tiny 18th-century Hollie point (flat lace) baby bonnet, that was magical. The work was so exquisite and meticulous I was awe inspired it could have been made at all, never mind have survived for so long. What is your most exciting find? That’s the thing about dealing, every item sourced is exciting. One such was a stunning, natural hand-dyed wool needlework coverlet worked in a flame-stitch or ‘bargello’ design. I believe it was made in Chipping Campden by Ethel Mairet (1872-1952) or one of her pupils. Mairet was an influential wool dyer and friend of Charles Robert Ashbee, founder of the Guild of Handicraft. I am infatuated with 17th-century flame-stitch so to find a later piece with such local and significant connections was thrilling. How did Houlston come together? The partnership was intuitive and obvious to us. Period oak and textiles complement one another, sharing a tactile craftsmanship so rare in modern life. Many of the textiles we stock are contemporary with our oak and the two quite simply sing in each other’s company as they would have done when first made. Aged over centuries, they have both survived as beautiful examples of timeworn human handiwork. Houlston is one of the dealers at this month’s CADA fair at Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, from March 20-23. 8 ANTIQUE COLLECTING
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In gourd we trust The London gallery Philip Mould & Co. has acquired a still life of a fruit and gourd by the British painter, printmaker, sculptor, critic, broadcaster and novelist, Michael Ayrton (1921-1975). Dated 1943, the oil on board conveys the sombre atmosphere of wartime Britain. With the memory of the Blitz still fresh and rationing firmly in place, the depiction of everyday produce such as fruit and vegetables assumes a heightened symbolic importance. Ayrton’s reputation has seen a recent revival thanks to his centenary exhibition, A Singular Obsession, at the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden in 2021, in which the present work was featured. oung and old courage any would-be antiquities collectors with a visit this month to the UK’s first child- Young and old Encourage any would-be antiquities collectors with a visit this month to the UK’s first childcentred museum exhibition based on the fascinating word of ancient Egypt. tred museum exhibition based on the fascinating word of ancient Egypt. The display, on at the Young V&A in London’s Bethnal Green until November, showcases more than 200 works exploring everything from a fully-painted inner sarcophagus of Princess Sopdet-em-haawt to a wooden funerary boat. Young visitors can also try their hand at deciphering the mysteries of hieroglyphs, discover meaning and messages communicated through colour and explore the making of everyday objects in ancient Egypt. Making Egypt runs until November 3. Above A wooden funerary boat, c. 3,000 years old, image courtesy of Chiddingstone Castle Above Michael Ayrton (1921-1975) Still life with fruit and gourd, 1943, oil on board, recently acquired by Philip Mould & Co. WILD TIMES The opulence and glamour of the Edwardian age is to be explored in an exhibition opening next month at the King’s Gallery Buckingham Palace. At the heart of the exhibition are two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and George V and Queen Mary and the glittering social circles they moved in. More than 300 objects from the Royal Collection will be on display – almost half of them for the first time – including works by the most renowned contemporary artists of the period. Artists and desgners on show include Carl Fabergé, Frederic Leighton, Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. Below Cigarette case by Fabergé, © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024/ Royal Collection Trust Above Hans Coper, photo by his wife Jane Coper HANS DOWN The only murals made by the celebrated studio potter Hans Coper (1920-1981) have gone on show in Hampshire, alongside photographs of the artist taken by his wife, Jane. Hans Coper: Resurface unites three works, all previously displayed in private UK locations: a Winchester military base, a Yorkshire secondary school and the entrance to a London offi ce, as well as 20 of the artist’s famous pots. German-born Coper fled to the UK in the face of growing Naziism. After internment in Canada he settled in Britain, initially given employment by fellow refugee and mentor Lucie Rie (1902-1995) who said of him: “I am a potter, but [Coper] was an artist”. The exhibition is on at The Arc, Winchester until March 24. Good Turner This summer, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of JMW Turner, (1775-1851) the artist’s links with the 17th-century West Sussex country house of Petworth are explored. The artist was a frequent guest at Petworth, at the request of the 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751-1837) who commissioned four landscapes of Petworth currently hanging in the Carved Room. Opening on June 21, the exhibition will include a range of Turner’s artistic studies of the Petworth landscape, with 10 rarely seen works on loan from Tate. Turner’s Vision at Petworth House and Park, West Sussex runs until November 16. Above Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) Petworth - Sunset over the Lake, with the Boathouse, 1827, © Ta t e ANTIQUE COLLECTING 9

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NEWS All the latest

YORKSHIRE’S FINEST The Bradford-born artist David Hockney has kicked off the West Yorkshire city’s tenure as UK City of Culture in 2025 with a nationwide art project.

Draw! invites people from across the UK to share an artwork inspired by a particular theme.

Face value A long-lost treasure from the collection of the writer and politician Horace Walpole (17171797) has gone on public display for the first time in more than a century. Visitors to Walpole’s gothic home, Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, have until April 2 to see the miniature, by the Italian Mannerist painter Lavinia Fontana (15521614) which recently reappeared at an auction in Texas.

The sitter may be Bianca Capello (1548-1587) – one of Walpole’s great heroines, with her adventurous life being the inspiration for his 1764 gothic masterpiece novel The Castle of Otranto.

Hockney called on would-be artists to draw “something you find beautiful” such as his 1989 illustration of mills, terraced houses and a little blue bus for the cover of the Bradford district telephone directory. The public can share their drawings by uploading them to www.bradford2025.co.uk/mydrawing or on social media with the hashtag #bradford2025

Clock this Horologists have until the end of next month to see one of the world’s rarest watches. The ‘Marie Antoinette’ perpétuelle, Breguet, no. 160, designed by Abraham-Louis Breguet for the last queen of France, is one of the treasures on show at the Science Museum’s Versailles: Science and Splendour.

The exhibition, on until April 24, takes visitors on a 120-year journey through the evolution of science at Versailles, from the creation of the Academy of Sciences by Louis XIV in 1666, to Louis XV’s passion for exquisite scientific instruments. The watch, which includes a calendar, thermometer and independent second hand was only completed in 1802 after the deaths of both the queen and maker.

Above The oil on copper miniature shows a noblewoman in gold-embroidered finery Right The ‘Marie Antoinette’ perpétuelle , Breguet, no. 160 watch is on show at the Science Museum, ©

Science Museum Group

Above David Hockney, © Tommy London, Alamy

Above right Cover artwork for the Bradford telephone book, 1989, © David Hockney

30 seconds with.. The textiles specialist Carolyn Houlston who, with her husband the period oak expert David, makes up the dealership Houlston What attracts you to textiles? One of my earliest memories is adoring my mother’s wonderful 19th-century chintz bedspread. Later, while working at Phillips auctioneers, I came across a tiny 18th-century Hollie point (flat lace) baby bonnet, that was magical. The work was so exquisite and meticulous I was awe inspired it could have been made at all, never mind have survived for so long.

What is your most exciting find? That’s the thing about dealing, every item sourced is exciting. One such was a stunning, natural hand-dyed wool needlework coverlet worked in a flame-stitch or ‘bargello’ design.

I believe it was made in Chipping Campden by Ethel Mairet (1872-1952) or one of her pupils.

Mairet was an influential wool dyer and friend of Charles Robert Ashbee, founder of the Guild of Handicraft. I am infatuated with 17th-century flame-stitch so to find a later piece with such local and significant connections was thrilling.

How did Houlston come together? The partnership was intuitive and obvious to us. Period oak and textiles complement one another, sharing a tactile craftsmanship so rare in modern life.

Many of the textiles we stock are contemporary with our oak and the two quite simply sing in each other’s company as they would have done when first made. Aged over centuries, they have both survived as beautiful examples of timeworn human handiwork.

Houlston is one of the dealers at this month’s CADA fair at Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, from March 20-23.

8 ANTIQUE COLLECTING

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