Homes & Antiques July 2021

With brilliant features on collecting antique maps, weathervanes and Victorian insect jewellery, not to mention Rhiannon Batten’s fascinating piece on the history of Britain’s garden cemeteries, Heaven on Earth (p42) – the July issue of H&A has a distinctly outdoorsy feel. Our travel pages take us to the Isle of Wight and around Britain for heritage-themed mini-breaks (p122); but if it’s flea markets and fairs that you crave, turn to Rosanna Morris’s selection of the summer’s best antiques hotspots (p82). Those wanting to stay closer to home will find a comprehensive list of local antiques fairs and auctions from page 128 – what better way to reconnect with the wider world after a lengthy lockdown? Foreign travel is likely to be limited this summer, so let our houses transport you…

Chris Borgman assisted our design team this issue Chris is a freelance art director. He graduated in graphic design and has worked on a variety of newsstand titles. ‘I’ve been fortunate to have travelled to some amazing places. A couple of years ago my wife and I took a road trip around California in a campervan. It’s such a fantastic way to explore and to plan your own adventure. I’d love to visit the big five national parks in Utah next – the scenery looks incredible.’ Jenny Oldaker wrote ‘A World of Wonder’ & ‘48 Hours on the Isle of Wight’ Jenny is a Bristol-based freelance writer who works for various national magazines on travel, wildlife and lifestyle topics. ‘Some of my very happiest holiday memories are of the Isle of Wight, and Freshwater Bay…

Horsing around I was amazed when I read Luke Honey’s column in your April issue, where he explained how horse racing was so popular in the 19th century it led to various games being produced. This reminded me of a game I had stored away from my grandparents but, when I found it, I realised it was a dog racing game. I would never have realised how popular these types of games were if I had not seen your article. Thank you Luke Honey and Homes & Antiques. Clare Du Mughn, Leicestershire Silver lining I have just been looking through the December 2020 issue and admiring the beautiful table settings. The end of me two things to be hopeful for: dinner with friends, and using some of my collection of napkin rings. We also…

I was interested to read the article regarding the Staffordshire rabbits in the May issue of Homes & Antiques. I was born in Stafford and I was given a very similar rabbit by my grandad. He lived in Jersey for a while, and it was on one of his visits to us from Jersey when I was given this rabbit. I must have been about six years old at the time (I’m 70 this year). My rabbit has ‘Delphin Massier Vallauris (AM)’ on the base, so I did a bit of research (just on the internet) and found that it is the mark of Delphin Massier, a pottery in the town of Vallauris in the south of France. In 1860, the company began to produce vibrantly coloured majolica ware. In 1899…

1 the ANTIQUE PICNIC CASES In these pandemic times of summer staycations, the picnic will surely undergo a renaissance as we visit beauty spots in the countryside and on the coast. Travelling picnic sets first became popular in the early 20th century when the introduction of motor vehicles allowed people to go out for the day. Housed in portable wicker or leather cases or wicker hampers, the more sophisticated sets would contain items such as a kettle, saucepan, cutlery, enamel plates, cups, glasses, lemonade flasks, food containers and even ceramic butter and preserve jars, serving anything from two to six people or more. Some of them had a hinged front, which could be pulled down revealing all manner of drawers and cubby holes for picnic-alia. Later in the century, as cars became…

A recent sale at Chorley’s auction house made headlines when a white porcelain owl went for a staggering £40,000. Estimated at £15,000, it was far and away the star of the sale, which featured a rich array of rare early British ceramics. The striking creature was made by the Chelsea porcelain manufactory c1745–9 and caught the attention of bidders thanks to its naturalistic modelling on a rocky base captured in wonderful detail. ‘We are thrilled that the Chelsea owl received the attention it deserves and was fought over to reach a record price. Such a beautifully crafted object from the very early days of English porcelain, and one of only a few fragile survivors, is something to be treasured,’ says Emma Jenner-Fust of Chorley’s, who catalogued the sale. The Chelsea porcelain manufactory…