Sometimes, something pops up that leaves us flummoxed. One of the most frequently asked questions in my antique shop is where does all of your knowledge come from ? A good question that makes us look more impressive than we really are. The short answer is research and when something comes into stock we […]

A blind man walks into an antique shop and asks “Can I have a look around”… .. sounds like a very bad bar joke and totally politically incorrect, but this happened to me recently. In the hour he spent there I was humbled as to how he had not only overcome his disability, but had […]

As for predictions in the year ahead I think it will be a lot like looking into a crystal ball. 2014 has arrived and as usual in January I contemplate the year ahead and begin to plan what antique fairs I will be doing. This year is fairly full with fairs planned for Cape Town, […]

Between 1640 and 1666 when the Great Fire decimated London a cache of jewels was buried in a cellar in Cheapside. For the first time since its discovery a century ago the entire hoard is on view at a special exhibition in the Museum Of London Between 1640 and 1666 when the Great Fire decimated […]

They look like real Krugerrands but they are fakes- worthless as they contain no gold whatsoever. Made to catch you out but the Antique Plate Committee at Goldsmiths Hall in London is your guardian angel.           Today when out shopping we all recognise branded merchandise. We know that top brands such […]

As an antique dealer I am often asked how we value many of the pieces we sell. Most of the time the formula is pretty straight forward but sometimes the “The Oprah Effect” comes into play. As an antique dealer I am often asked how we value many of the pieces we sell. Most of […]