Welcome
Do you ever feel you are sitting Canute-like by the shore opposing the tides of change? So many things to rail against: ‘unexpected item in bagging area’, remote controls (all) doctors’ receptionists (some), ‘missed package’ notes (when you’ve been at home and nobody’s bothered to knock), pedestrians who press the crossing button even when there is no traffic, news algorithms that limit your world view to Harry and Meghan. I could go on.
But you don’t expect to be nobbled by your own kind. So when the organisers of the new Open Art Fair (the old BADA Fair to you and I) state in their promotional information they are “avoiding the ‘A’ word, ie ‘antiques’” you start to wonder.
Have antiques really had their day and, if so, what about our own dear title? What of our latest columnist, the Cotswolds antiques dealer David Harvey... Is his goose really cooked? Should Fiona Bruce and pals be hanging up their hats?
We all know that these days every fair worth its vintage salt cellar has to have the word ‘decorative’ in its title, but does that mean antiques is a dirty word? I think not. Rather than being embarrassed about antiques, we should be praising them to the rafters, celebrating their exquisite craftsmanship and glorying in their utter beauty.
On another topic, if working with your spouse sounds on a par with enduring one of Dante’s circles of Hell, you may be surprised to read about two husband and wife teams in this month’s issue. On page 14, Anthony Bernbaum shows us the wonderful work of the arts and crafts jewellers Arthur and Georgie Gaskin and, on page 48, we look at the late-Victorian ‘power’ couple Evelyn and William De Morgan who were respectively an artist and ceramicist.
Elsewhere in the magazine we are celebrating St Patrick’s day with a look at Irish vernacular furniture, which is stunning in its simplicity and, as International Women’s Day looms (don’t tell me you won’t be celebrating), Paul Fraser considers the collecting market for five trailblazing women and their memorabilia.
Enjoy the issue.
GeorginaGeorgina Wroe, Editor
KEEP IN TOUCH Write to us at Antique Collecting, Sandy Lane, Old Martlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4SD, or email magazine@accartbooks. com. Visit the website at www.antique-collecting.co.uk and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AntiqueMag
We love
This art deco diamond-set bow brooch which has an estimate of £1,000-£1,500 at Halls’
spring auction on
March 18
FIRST WORD IN THIS ISSUE
ANTHONY BERNBAUM on the jewellery of Arthur and
Georgie Gaskin, page 14
POPSY KUNDI celebrates collecting vintage handbags, page 26
DAVID HARVEY the fine furniture dealer joins the team, page 34
WILLIAM MCNAB previews a single owner collection of whisky, page 52
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: Jo Lord
01394 389950, jo.lord@accartbooks.com Subscriptions: Sue Slee
01394 389957, sue.slee@accartbooks.com
Antique Collecting subscription £32 for 10 issues annually, no refund is available.
ISSN: 0003-584X
ANTIQUE COLLECTING 3
