Gadrooning, also called nulling, is the term given to a decorative motif which is comprised of a series of repeating vertical convex flutes or curves. The style became particularly popular as an applied decoration in 18th and 19th century silver, furniture, porcelain, and glassware.
The term treen is derived from the old English word trēowen, meaning “of the tree” or to put it in more simple terms, wooden. In the antiques trade it is the collective name used to describe handmade functional items which are made predominantly from wood.
From the earliest civilizations until the birth of the Industrial Revolution wood was the major raw material used in the production of most objects. This was due to its durability and versatility as a medium, as well as the prolific abundance of material available and its inexpensive cost.
Piero Fornasetti was an Italian painter, artist and designer with an eclectic style. He was a very important figure in Italian industrial design culture, to such an extent that his name is internationally known. He was involved in a variety of disciplines, including painting, drawing, graphic and product design. In the course of his career he created over 13,000 works of art and was responsible for one of the largest outputs of objects and furniture of the 20th century.
One of the finest silversmiths of the Regency period, Paul Storr’s magnificent neo-classical designs were much admired by Royalty and the English aristocracy, adorning palaces, and stately homes throughout Europe. His creations remain much in demand with contemporary collectors and can be seen in the collections of Windsor Castle, the V&A Museum, Buckingham Palace, The New York Metropolitan Museum, and a host of other leading public and private collections worldwide.
We spoke to Kelli Ellis about her Instagram takeover, sustainability and upcoming trends in the antique trade.
Originally, the term teapoy was used to describe a small flat topped three-legged table and derives from the Hindi word tīn, meaning three, and the Persian word pāi, meaning foot. In the 17th century the term was usually spelt “tepoy” a name which bore no relation to the drink it at all and early examples are often mistaken for candle stands. However, the evolution of the term is intrinsically linked with the British passion for tea.
Established in 1814, Dent London quickly earned an unparalleled reputation for the accuracy of their clocks and marine chronometers, earning them the patronage of monarchs, and famed explorers, as well as some very famous public commissions.
Born in 1790, Edward John Dent was just three years old when his mother passed away and was apprenticed to his grandfather, a candle merchant, at the age of 14, finding lodgings with his cousin Richard Rippon.
Based in the beautiful city of Nancy in North-eastern France, Daum Frères is famed for producing some of the finest and most innovative art glass of the Art Nouveau period and remains one of the world’s leading master glass and crystal makers to this day.
For International Women's Day 2022, we interviewed our first female Chairman of BADA: Louise Phillips. Louise is a second-generation dealer, carrying on the business founded by her mother, Elaine Phillips Antiques.
How did you first discover a love for fine art and antiques?
My parents were collectors. As a baby I was taken to sales at the weekend in my carry cot and it went from there. As I grew up, I loved sourcing items of stock and still do.
One of the most celebrated ébéniste or cabinetmakers of the 19th century, Paul Sormani is famed for his magnificent luxury furniture reproduced in the styles of the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI periods and frequently surpassing the quality and craftsmanship of the originals.
Born in Venice, Italy in 1817, Sormani trained as a cabinetmaker, but it was in France that he established his reputation, opening his first workshop in the Saint-Nicolas district of Paris at the age of 30.
BADA Member Karen Taylor wrote this article for London Art Week 2021. Of the article, she says, "Female artists are an area of current collecting interest, and a field in which I specialise. I am currently working on another catalogue of the work of British women artists."
The BADA is publishing this article courtesy of London Art Week.
Marriage chests, also known as cassoni, hope chests or wedding chests, were historically used to store the linens and dowries of women before they were married.