Antiques Magazine Archive, February 2017

As we career headfirst into April we’ve already celebrated equinox, or perhaps it’s passed you by without you even knowing it was here. It’s significant for the arrival of spring and the soon-to-be-oh-so-welcome summer.

Of course, the equinox is when the plane of the earth’s equator passes through the very centre of the sun. This happens twice a year, once in March and the second in September. So no, it’s perhaps not quite an official signifier of spring after all, but in March it certainly feels like it.

Get away from the chocolate Easter egg obsession

Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more extravagant, perhaps a markedly more ostentatious display of affection, you could try looking on www.antiques.co.uk. I go on there sometimes just to see what will come up if I key in certain words. For instance, today I keyed in “spring,” and I got a Victorian Marquetry Inlaid Circular Breakfast Table, an Imperial Jade and Diamond ring and leather Victorian Rocking Chair, amongst other things. When I keyed in ‘Easter,’ I got just the one item, an Easter island head carved in malachite stone. Whatever takes your fancy, that’s what I say.

Once upon a time in Russia (and I’ve always wanted to say that), there was a jeweller/artist/goldsmith working for the Russian Imperial Court. He would go on to create the world-famous Faberge egg, named after himself of course. Yes, Faberge eggs are for the rich. All his eggs were and still are decorated with the finest jewels and the most precious objects imaginable. They are symbolic of a dynastic and passionate world for which there is no equivalent today. They embody the world from which they came.

Faberge himself was born in the middle of the 19th century and travelled the world before settling down to a goldsmith course in France, England and Germany. He learnt his craft well, and his exquisite eggs were representative of his talent and dedication to even the minutest of details.

Time to book your next trip,maybe for half term, its mountains and snow for us but wherever you go enjoy the break.

Valentine’s Day and those famous cards

It’s amazing how quickly this time of year comes around again. It’s almost Valentine’s Day and you’re going to be thinking hard about what to buy your loved one on that special day. You’ll also be looking for a card, something that conveys a message really well, unfortunately a lot of mass made cards today are a little cheesy to say the least. You might like them, but for many they’re a little repetitive and the cards too much like the last one you picked up.