Welcome
Many years ago as a cub reporter on the East London Advertiser in the early ‘80s, two things were likely to put the newsroom in a frenzy. One was a letter from the incarcerated reader Reggie Kray and the second was the arrival of a fax. How thrilled we were to gather round the magical machine, watching a printed sheet chug from its mechanical depths.
Mention this to anyone under the age of 40 and they would think you had taken leave of your senses. But those were the days of typewriters, carbon copies and landline phones. But our amazement was not so very different from the Victorians when they marvelled at the introduction of the Penny Post and the daily – or in some cases several – postal deliveries a day. Plus ça change, plus c ’est la même chose, as the French say.
Theirs was the golden age of letter writing which spawned a boom in the most beautiful desk accessories. This month the Wiltshire auctioneer Woolley & Wallis stages the second part of a 300-lot sale devoted to the genre. Have a look on page 26. Will there ever be a similar yearning for the fax machine? I highly doubt it, but you never know.
On the subject of nostalgia, on page 28, we go behind the scenes of a new exhibition at the Newmarket Museum of Horseracing, the theme of which is parlour and board games devoted to the sport of kings. It stems from the sizeable collection of 84-year-old Lexa Dudley. Rather than the games themselves, it is the era they conjure up that Lexa finds so exciting – the Edwardian front rooms they were played in, or the smoke-filled clubs packed with glamorous young things. Desk accessories, or board games, it seems all us collectors are moved by the magic of reconnecting with the past.
There may be more than just nostalgia that inspires the collector of the (not inexpensive) work of Cartie r. To celebrate this month’s unveiling of the first exhibition of the work of the iconic French jeweller in 30 years at the V&A, on page 38 we delve into the history of the Parisian brand, highlighting some of its most sought-after collections from Tutti Frutti to Juste Un Clou, with collecting guides to both the maison ’s jewellery and watches.
On page 18 we shine a light on the work of the incredible designer Archibald Knox, whose Celtic ranges made for Liberty & Co. in the first decade of the 20th century will be known to most. But there was more to the retiring Manxman than his metalwork, as we discove r. On page 47 Eric Knowles praises the dedication of the country’s metal detectorists, while Catherine Southon takes the temperature on the market for apothecary bottles on page 66. Enjoy the issue.
FIRST WORD
IN THIS ISSUE
MARIE-CLAIRE
THIJSEN Behind the scenes with the modern Middle Eastern art expert, page 8
RUPERT SLINGSBY Reveals his highlights from a special sale of Edwardian and Victorian desk accessories, page 26
SARAH DUNCAN The jewellery specialist shines a light on the iconic French maker
Cartier, page 38
Georgina Wroe, Editor
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 X and Instagram @AntiqueMag
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We love!
This pair of George III mahogany armchairs which has an estimate of £2,000-£4,000 at
Dreweatts’ sale of the collection of the late antique dealer Philip Astley-Jones on April 9.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO ANTIQUE COLLECTING Call 01394 389969 or email magazine@accartbooks.com
CATHERINE SOUTHON
Swoons when a collection of apothecary bottles makes an appearance, page 66
THE TEAM Editor: Georgina Wroe, georgina.
wroe@accartbooks.com Online Editor: Richard Ginger, richard.ginger@accartbooks.com
Design: Philp Design,
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ANTIQUE COLLECTING 3
